English Verb Tenses and Grammar Structures
This page provides a comprehensive overview of various tempi verbali inglese (English verb tenses) and related grammatical structures. It serves as a verbi in inglese tabella (table of English verbs) and a specchietto tempi verbali inglese (summary of English verb tenses).
Present Tenses
Present Simple
The Present Simple is used for actions in the present, typically habitual actions or general truths.
Example: I go to school every day.
Present Continuous
This tense describes actions in progress at the present moment.
Example: I am studying English right now.
Present Perfect
The Present Perfect is used for unfinished actions in the past with a connection to the present.
Highlight: Key words often used with this tense include: just, already, yet, never, ever, still.
Present Perfect Continuous
This tense is used for unfinished actions that started in the past and continue into the present.
Example: I have been learning English for two years.
Past Tenses
Past Simple
Used for completed actions in the past.
Example: I went to the cinema yesterday.
Past Continuous
Describes actions in progress at a specific time in the past.
Example: I was watching TV when the phone rang.
Past Perfect
Used for past actions that occurred before another past action.
Highlight: Often used with words like just, already, after, before, by the time.
Past Perfect Continuous
Describes a past action in progress that continued up to a certain point in the past.
Example: I had been studying for three hours when my friend arrived.
Other Structures
- Used to: Expresses habitual actions in the past that no longer occur.
- Would: Used for repeated past actions (not with stative verbs).
- Be used to: Means "to be accustomed to".
- Get used to: Describes the process of becoming accustomed to something.
Vocabulary: Reflexive Pronouns - myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves.
The page also mentions time expressions like "for" (used with periods of time) and "since" (used with a starting point), which are crucial for present perfect continuous esempi (examples of present perfect continuous).
