Simple & Continuous Verb Review

Goal: Know the six patterns by heart so you can form sentences quickly when you see the cards.

Mastering the balance between Actions and Background.

Verb Charts

Verb forms:

V1 (base) V1-3rd V1-ing V2 (past) V3 (past participle)
verb verb-s verb-ing past simple verb past participle
walk walks walking walked walked
eat eats eating ate eaten

Formula chart — tense × patterns

Tense Affirmative Negative Question
Present Simplesubject + V1(-s)subject + do(es) not + V1Do(es) + subj + V1?
Past Simplesubject + V2subject + did not + V1Did + subj + V1?
Future Simplesubject + will + V1subject + will not + V1Will + subj + V1?
Present Cont.subj + am/is/are + V1-ingsubj + am/is/are not + V1-ingAm/Is/Are + subj + V1-ing?
Past Cont.subj + was/were + V1-ingsubj + was/were not + V1-ingWas/Were + subj + V1-ing?
Future Cont.subj + will be + V1-ingsubj + will not be + V1-ingWill + subj + be + V1-ing?

Example: verb: help | subject: he

Tense Affirmative Negative Question
Present SimpleHe helps.He doesn't help.Does he help?
Past SimpleHe helped.He didn't help.Did he help?
Future SimpleHe will help.He won't help.Will he help?
Present Cont.He is helping.He isn't helping.Is he helping?
Past Cont.He was helping.He wasn't helping.Was he helping?
Future Cont.He will be helping.He won't be helping.Will he be helping?

1. The Six Meanings

Each meaning has one pattern.

Habit /
Fact

Present Simple
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week/month
  • I walk to work.
  • She drinks coffee every morning.
  • They don't eat meat.
  • He doesn't play soccer.
  • Do you speak Spanish?
  • Does she live here?

Finished
Action

Past Simple
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
yesterday, last week/month/year, ago, in 2020, when I was young
  • I walked to the store yesterday.
  • She ate breakfast at 8:00.
  • They didn't watch the movie.
  • He didn't call his mom.
  • Did you finish the project?
  • Did she see the email?

Plans /
Promises

Future Simple
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
tomorrow, next week/month/year, soon, later, in the future
  • I will help you tomorrow.
  • She will call you later.
  • They won't arrive on time.
  • He won't forget.
  • Will you come to the party?
  • Will she finish the report?

Now /
Near Future

Present Continuous
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week
  • I am studying right now.
  • She is cooking dinner.
  • They aren't watching TV.
  • He isn't working today.
  • Are you listening?
  • Is she coming tomorrow?

Interrupted
Background

Past Continuous
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
when, while, at that moment, at 6:00 yesterday, all day/night
  • I was sleeping when you called.
  • She was reading a book.
  • They weren't paying attention.
  • He wasn't driving fast.
  • Were you waiting long?
  • Was she working at 9:00?

In Progress
Later

Future Continuous
Present Past Future
TIME WORDS:
at 3:00 tomorrow, this time next week, when you arrive, all day tomorrow
  • I will be working at 3:00 PM.
  • She will be sleeping when you arrive.
  • They won't be traveling tomorrow.
  • He won't be studying then.
  • Will you be waiting for me?
  • Will she be using the car?

2. Matching Challenge

Meanings × Tense Names

  • 1. habit / fact
  • 2. completed action
  • 3. plans / promises
  • 4. now / near future
  • 5. interrupted background
  • 6. in progress later
E C B A F D
  • A. Present Continuous
  • B. Future Simple
  • C. Past Simple
  • D. Future Continuous
  • E. Present Simple
  • F. Past Continuous

3. Simple vs. Continuous

What's the difference?

Present: Habit / Fact vs. Now

Simple (Habit)

Regular actions.
"I drink coffee every morning."

Continuous (Now)

Right now.
"I am drinking coffee right now."

1. I am talking on the phone right now.

2. I talk to my mom every Sunday.

Past: Finished vs. Background

Simple (Finished)

Specific time.
"I cooked dinner at 6:00."

Continuous (Background)

Already in progress.
"I was cooking dinner when you called."

1. I slept for 8 hours last night.

2. I was sleeping when the alarm rang.

Future: Fact vs. In Progress

Simple (Fact / Plan)

General future.
"I will work tomorrow."

Continuous (Progress)

Active at that time.
"I will be working at 10:00."

1. I will watch the movie later.

2. At 10 PM tonight, I will be watching a movie.

4. Negative & Question

Same Helper, Different Order

Helping Verbs (Auxiliaries)

TenseNegativeQuestion
Present Simpledon't / doesn't + V1Do / Does ...?
Past Simpledidn't + V1Did ...?
Future Simplewon't + V1Will ...?
Present Cont.am/is/are not + V1-ingAm/Is/Are ...?
Past Cont.was/were not + V1-ingWas/Were ...?
Future Cont.will not be + V1-ingWill ... be ...?

5. Must-Know: "To Be"

Conjugating "Be"

SubjectPresent (be)Past (be)
Iamwas
you / we / theyarewere
he / she / itiswas

6. Fill in the verb tables

Let's do the first one together.

1. Verb: make | Subject: she

Forms: make / makes / making / made / made

TenseAffirmativeNegativeQuestion
Present SimpleShe makes.She doesn't make.Does she make?
Past SimpleShe made.She didn't make.Did she make?
Future SimpleShe will make.She won't make.Will she make?
Present Cont.She is making.She isn't making.Is she making?
Past Cont.She was making.She wasn't making.Was she making?
Future Cont.She will be making.She won't be making.Will she be making?

2. Verb: take | Subject: they

Forms: take / takes / taking / took / taken

TenseAffirmativeNegativeQuestion
Present SimpleThey take.They don't take.Do they take?
Past SimpleThey took.They didn't take.Did they take?
Future SimpleThey will take.They won't take.Will they take?
Present Cont.They are taking.They aren't taking.Are they taking?
Past Cont.They were taking.They weren't taking.Were they taking?
Future Cont.They will be taking.They won't be taking.Will they be taking?

3. Verb: look | Subject: he

Forms: look / looks / looking / looked / looked

TenseAffirmativeNegativeQuestion
Present SimpleHe looks.He doesn't look.Does he look?
Past SimpleHe looked.He didn't look.Did he look?
Future SimpleHe will look.He won't look.Will he look?
Present Cont.He is looking.He isn't looking.Is he looking?
Past Cont.He was looking.He wasn't looking.Was he looking?
Future Cont.He will be looking.He won't be looking.Will he be looking?

4. Verb: buy | Subject: I

Forms: buy / buys / buying / bought / bought

TenseAffirmativeNegativeQuestion
Present SimpleI buy.I don't buy.Do I buy?
Past SimpleI bought.I didn't buy.Did I buy?
Future SimpleI will buy.I won't buy.Will I buy?
Present Cont.I am buying.I'm not buying.Am I buying?
Past Cont.I was buying.I wasn't buying.Was I buying?
Future Cont.I will be buying.I won't be buying.Will I be buying?

5. Verb: travel | Subject: we

Forms: travel / travels / travelling / travelled / travelled

TenseAffirmativeNegativeQuestion
Present SimpleWe travel.We don't travel.Do we travel?
Past SimpleWe travelled.We didn't travel.Did we travel?
Future SimpleWe will travel.We won't travel.Will we travel?
Present Cont.We are travelling.We aren't travelling.Are we travelling?
Past Cont.We were travelling.We weren't travelling.Were we travelling?
Future Cont.We will be travelling.We won't be travelling.Will we be travelling?

7. Correct Patterns

The Secret to Winning the Game

The Pattern Formula

WHO + VERB + WHAT + WHERE + WHEN

This is the "Golden Path" for every sentence!

Can we move the info?

Mostly, NO. You must keep WHO + VERB together.

Standard: They played soccer in the park last weekend.

Option: Last weekend, they played soccer in the park.

8. Quick Check: Correct Word Order?

Is the sentence in correct order? Circle T or F.

Quick Check: Correct Word Order?

1. My brother studies English at the library every Tuesday. T    F T
2. Last summer, they visited their grandparents in Florida. T    F T
3. Pizza will order I tomorrow for dinner. T    F F
4. Runs she every morning in the park. T    F F
5. On weekends, we usually cook dinner together. T    F T
6. The email sent he yesterday to his boss. T    F F

Ready to Play?

Grab your cards and let's go!