ALL SIMPLE TENSES in English - present simple | past simple | future simple

Summary

In this lesson, Arnel explains the simple tenses in English—present, past, and future—focusing on their structure and usage. He covers grammatical rules for each tense, including examples of habits, repeated actions, states, and single actions. The video also explores how to use the tenses with specific times and addresses common mistakes. Arnel emphasizes that the present simple can be used for scheduled future events, while the past and future simple tenses are used for actions at specific times or for predictions. The lesson is engaging and practical, providing clear examples to help learners understand these essential tenses.

Takeaways

• 😀 The English language has 12 basic tenses, which are divided into present, past, and future tenses. This lesson focuses on the simple tenses: present, past, and future.
• 😀 Present simple tense is used for habits, repeated actions, and facts. It follows the structure: Subject + base verb (add 's' or 'es' for he/she/it).
• 😀 Past simple tense is used for actions that occurred and finished in the past. It follows the structure: Subject + past verb (verb number 2).
• 😀 Future simple tense is used to describe actions that will happen in the future. It follows the structure: Subject + 'will' + base verb.
• 😀 The verb 'be' is an exception and has specific forms in all tenses: 'am/are/is' in the present, 'was/were' in the past, and 'will be' in the future.
• 😀 Simple tenses can describe repeated actions, habits, and states (such as feelings or situations that don't often change).
• 😀 A key feature of the simple tenses is the use of specific time references to clarify when actions occur, particularly for past and future tenses.
• 😀 The future simple tense can be used for promises, predictions, and single future actions. Example: 'I will buy a new phone.'
• 😀 Present simple can also be used for scheduled future events, such as train departures or movie start times, which are outside of our control.
• 😀 The past and future simple tenses can also describe single actions that are not repeated, such as 'I made an omelette for breakfast.'
• 😀 Practice examples are encouraged, including thinking about personal habits, past actions, and future predictions to better understand the use of simple tenses.

Q & A

What are the three main types of simple tenses covered in the video?

The three main types of simple tenses covered are the present simple, past simple, and future simple.

How do you form the present simple tense?

The present simple is formed by using the subject + base verb (bare infinitive). For 'he,' 'she,' or 'it,' you need to add 's' or 'es' to the verb.

What is the structure for the past simple tense?

The past simple is formed by using the subject + the past tense form of the verb (verb number 2).

How is the future simple tense formed?

The future simple is formed by using the subject + 'will' + base verb.

What are some common uses of the simple tenses?

The simple tenses are used for habits, repeated actions, states, and facts.

Can the present simple be used for future events? If so, how?

Yes, the present simple can be used for scheduled future events that are not under our control, such as train departures or movie start times.

When do we need to include a specific time with the past simple and future simple?

The past simple and future simple usually require a specific time context, such as 'when I was in high school' for the past, or 'starting January 15th' for the future.

What is the difference between using the simple tenses for repeated actions versus single actions?

The simple tenses can describe both repeated actions (e.g., 'I wake up at 6am every day') and single actions (e.g., 'I bought a new phone yesterday'). For single actions, you need to indicate a specific time or event.

How is the present simple tense used for describing states?

The present simple is used to describe states or situations that are true in the present, such as 'I have long hair.' A state is not an action but a condition or feeling.

What is a common mistake when using the present simple tense?

A common mistake is using the present simple to describe single actions, like saying 'I buy a new phone today.' This should be done with the past simple or future simple, depending on the time reference.