Present perfect continuous
Use the Present Perfect Continuous when you’re interested in the activity.
Affirmative: S + have / has + been + v-ing + O/C : I have been going to a pottery class.
Negative: S + have / has + not + been + v-ing + O / C : I have not been going to a pottery class.
Question: Wh-word + have / has + S + been + v-ing + O / C? : Where have you been going to?
Have / Has + S + been + v-ing + O / C? : Have you been going to a pottery class?
Present perfect
Use the present perfect when you’re interested in the result.
Affirmative: S + have / has + Past Participle (v3) + O /C : I have made 8 vases.
Negative: S + have / has + not + Past Participle (v3) + O / C : I have not made 8 vases.
Questions: Have / has + S + PP (v3) + O / C? : Have you made 8 vases?
Wh-word + have / has + S + PP (v3) + O / C? : What have you made?
Reported Questions
- Generally the order becomes Subject + Verb
- The question turns into a statement. Use a “.” instead of “?”
- The verb tense changes the same way it changes in reported statements.
Simple Present: “Is your father a doctor?”
Simple Past: He asked me if my father was a doctor.
- Note the use of if / whether when reporting Yes / No questions
- With direct questions with “WH-words”, we do not use helping verbs: do, does, did
Simple past: “ Where did you go?”
Past Perfect: He asked me where I had gone.
Simple past
(action verbs)
Use: finished action in the past.
Affirmative:
- Regular S + V-ed + O / C : I peeled a banana
- Irregular S + V2 + O / C : I ate a banana
Negative:
- S + didn’t + V-base + O / C : I didn’t eat a banana
Question:
- Yes / No: Did + S + V-base + O / C ? : Did you eat a banana?
- Wh-: Wh-word + did + S + V-base + O / C : Why did you eat a banana?
Simple Past
(verb to-be)
Affirmative:
- I, he, she, it + was + o / c : I was home.
- They, you, we + were + o / c : They were at school.
Negative:
- S + was / were + not + O / C : We weren’t in San Francisco
Question:
- Yes / No: Was / were + S + O / C ? Were you home?
- Wh-Q : Wh-word + was / were + S + O / C? Where was she?
Past Continuous
Use: Continuing action in the past (longer actions)
Affirmative:
- I, she, he, it + was + V-ing + O / C : She was drinking water
- We, you, they + were + V – ing + O / C : Were were eating bananas
Negative:
- S + was / were + V – ing + O / C : He was not eating a banana
Questions:
- Yes / No: Was / were + S + O / C : Were you eating a banana?
- Wh-Q: Wh-word + was / were + S + O / C? : Why were you eating a banana?
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