First of all, the simple present tense is mainly used for:

1, which means regular or habitual action. It seldom snows here.

2. Indicates the current feature or state. He is always ready to help others.

3. Universal truth. Facts speak plainer than words.

4. Story screen introduction, background description and action explanation. (Tom enters the room and sits at the table)

Doctor: Young man, what's wrong with you?

Tom: Doctor, I have a cold.

5. The adverbial clauses of time, condition, concession and mode indicate the action time that will happen.

Unless it rains, we will go for an outing tomorrow.

The adverbials of time used with this tense are always, often, never, rarely, universally, once, once a week, now and so on.

Second, the general past tense is mainly used for:

1, indicating actions or situations (including habitual actions or states) that occurred at some time in the past.

When did you read this novel? She often came to help us in those days.

I didn't know you were so busy when talking about the past.

When it comes to the situation of the dead, Lei Feng is a great commune fighter.

Adverbials of time used with this tense usually include:

Yesterday, last night, another day, two months ago, at 1985, and then, just now, when, after, as soon as possible, adverbial clause, indicating the time when the main sentence action began.

Third, the present perfect tense is mainly used for:

1, which indicates the actions or situations that have occurred since this period, that is, the sum of many actions.

We have learned four English songs this month. How many times have you read this novel?

We haven't seen each other for days.

2. Indicates the behavior that has occurred and has an impact on the present.

The delegation has left (indicating that it is not here now). Look what you have done. Look what you've done.

The adverbials of time used with this tense are: ready, yet, just, ever, never, by now, so far, recently, until the end of this month, because, for phrases, the adverbial clauses of time are guided by the conjunction since.

The difference between simple past tense and present perfect tense:

Simple past tense: focus on specific situations (time, place, way, object, details, etc. ) When the action happened in the past.

Present perfect tense: only the action (fact) that has happened and its influence are mentioned, and the specific situation when the action happened is not explained.

Have you had lunch? What did you have for lunch?

I have been to the Great Wall, and I went with my father last summer.

Note: the actions expressed in the present perfect tense are often repeated, so the following sentence is wrong:

Have you seen the news program at half past six? Did you watch the news program at 6: 30?

The present perfect continuous tense is mainly used to indicate that an action that started in the past continues to the present, even to the future, and it emphasizes that the action lasts for a long time. I have been writing an article. I have been writing an article. (still writing)

I wrote an article. I wrote an article. (completed)

It has been raining these days.

past perfect tense

1, the past perfect tense is a relative tense, indicating the past, which can only be displayed when comparing two actions that happened in the past.

As soon as we got to the station, the train had already left.

Note: when the action expressed in the main clause is immediately followed, that is, there is no obvious time interval or gap between the two actions, the main clause can use the simple past tense. Where did your brother study before joining the army?

2. The past perfect tense can indicate all actions or the end of actions at a certain moment in the past.

For example, by the end of last month. By eight o'clock, we had reviewed four books and he had finished his homework.

There are often adverbial clauses of time used with this tense: by 1985, by eight o'clock, by then, by the end of last month, by time when, when, only, before, etc. A that represents the time when the main clause ends.

(6) The present continuous tense is mainly used for:

1, indicating the action being done now or at this stage. Listen, someone is crying. What are you doing these days?

It is not a simple present tense, but a regular action or state, but it contains some emotional colors.

How do you feel today? How do you feel today? (Appears cordial)

He is good at his lessons. His class is very good. (like)

You are always rowing. You are always boasting. (boring)

3. Verbs go, come, leave, arrive, etc. Indicates when the action will take place. They are going to Shanghai.

Adverbials of time used with this tense usually include: now, these days, recently, this week, etc.

7. The past continuous tense is mainly used to indicate the ongoing action at a certain moment or stage in the past.

At that time, she worked in a certain department of the People's Liberation Army. At that time, she worked in a certain department of the People's Liberation Army.

What were you doing this time yesterday?

Adverbials of time used with this tense are commonly used: nine o'clock, this time last night, these days, that time, etc.

The adverbial clause of time guided by when indicates the time when the main sentence moves.

I was reading a newspaper when he came in.

note:

1, and the adverbial clause of guiding time is often used in the past continuous tense when describing past actions.

I read a magazine while waiting for the bus.

2.when is used as a coordinate conjunction, meaning "at this time". When connecting two sentences, the first sentence is mostly the past continuous tense.

I was reading a newspaper when he came in.

The difference between simple past tense and past continuous tense:

Simple past tense: emphasize the action that started or finished at a certain time in the past.

Past continuous tense: emphasize the action that was going on at a certain moment in the past.

Try to distinguish the following two sentences:

We were building a reservoir last winter. We were building a reservoir last winter. (it may not be built yet)

We built a reservoir last winter. We built a reservoir last winter. (completed)

The simple future tense is mainly used to indicate the action or situation that will happen.

Tom will have a bike of his own.

Adverbials of time used with this tense are commonly used: tonight, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week, three hours later, two days later, etc.

The difference between the general future tense and the future situation of other structural tables;

General future tense: mainly from the perspective of time to express the action or situation that will happen.

Plan to be structured: ① Plan or prepare to do something (subjectively). When there is a warning that something is going to happen.

They will compete with us in study. It will rain.

According to the above differences, the following sentences are wrong:

I will be eight years old next year. I will be eight years old next year.

Be about to do something: it means "about to do something" and "about to do something", emphasizing the urgency of time.

We are about to discuss this problem. We will discuss this problem at once.

Be to do sth structure: it means that something will be carried out as planned, arranged or stipulated, or something will definitely happen.

What time does the train leave? All these things happen for a reason.

Transitive verbs and intransitive verbs

In English, whether you can follow the object directly after pressing the verb can be divided into transitive verbs and transitive verbs.

1. Transitive verb: the word marked with vt in the dictionary is a transitive verb. Transitive verbs must be followed by an object with action (that is, an object), which can be followed directly. See. I can see a boy.

2. intransitive verbs: in the dictionary, words marked with vi are intransitive verbs. An intransitive verb cannot be directly followed by an object with action (that is, an object). If you want to follow the object, you must first add a preposition after it, such as to, of, at, before you can follow the object.

Specifically, what prepositions are added after each verb means reciting verb phrases, such as listening and watching … ..

3. Object (the object of action): a noun or pronoun, or a word or phrase equivalent to a noun (such as a gerund). Other words are not considered as action objects.

4. For example: "Look"

See. I can see a boy.

(2) Look (6). ) x objects (that is, objects cannot be added directly). Look! She is singing.

Look carefully! (Note: Caution is an adverb, not a noun, so it is not an object. )

(3) Look at it ...+Look at me carefully! Me is a pronoun and used as an object. )

Linking verb

The serial verb itself has a certain meaning, but it cannot be used as a predicate independently. They must form predicates together with predicates.

Predicates are usually used by nouns, adjectives or words or phrases equivalent to nouns or adjectives to explain what or how the subject is.

First of all, the types of connecting verbs are:

1. "Existence" class: indicates existence or has certain characteristics or state. This kind of conjunction emphasizes "existence". Common ones are: be (yes), look (look), feel (touch), seem (seem), appear (seem, appear), prove (prove), smell (smell), taste (taste), sound (sound) and so on. For example:

The story sounds true.

Those oranges taste good.

2. "Persistence" category: indicates the persistence of a certain situation or state. This kind of conjunction emphasizes "persistence". Common ones are: hold, hold, stay, continue, stand, etc. For example:

Why don't you put the meat in the refrigerator? It will stay fresh for a few days.

It's already ten in the morning. The shop is still closed. What happened?

3. "Change" category: indicates the change from one situation or state to another. This kind of conjunction emphasizes the situation or state after "change" Common ones are: change, turn, length, walk, etc. For example:

Put the fish in the refrigerator, or it will go bad in hot weather.

Second, matters needing attention

1. Some connecting verbs are usually not used in passive voice and progressive tense. Such as: feel, taste and other words. For example:

-Do you like this material?

-Yes, it feels soft.

Generally speaking, connecting verbs mainly use adjectives or participles as predications. For example:

Be careful when you cross this very busy street. If not, you may be knocked down by a car.

3. Common connecting verbs that can be used as predicative with nouns are: be, become, apparent, seem, prove, remain, turn, etc. Note: When turn and noun are used as predicative (indicating subject identity), no article is added. For example:

Twenty years later, he became a teacher.

China's population growth is still a problem.

4. The connecting verb can also be followed by infinitive (to do/to be), which are common: appear, seem, keep, prove, see, etc. For example:

Traveling abroad is certainly good for the old couple, but it is not known whether they will like it.

Peter proved to be a very interesting guide during the long journey. We all had a good time.

Terminating verbs and continuous verbs

The final verb refers to an action that does not last for a period of time, that is, the action is completed in an instant or in a short time. For example, verbs like get arrive are not used with time periods.

Termination verb: indicates that an action cannot be continued, that is, it ends immediately after the action occurs. For example: start, arrive, borrow, ... the affirmation of the final verb can't last, so it can't be used with adverbials indicating a period of time, while the final negation can be used with adverbials indicating a period of time.

First, the concepts of progressive verbs and terminal verbs.

In English, verbs can be divided into progressive verbs and terminal verbs according to the way and length of action.

The progressive verb indicates an action that can continue, and this action can continue or have a lasting impact. Such as: learning, writing, standing, lying, knowing, walking, observing, having, waiting, watching, singing, reading, sleeping, living and staying.

The ending verb, also known as discontinuous verb, instantaneous verb or instantaneous verb, indicates an action that cannot be continued and ends immediately after the action takes place. For example, open, close, finish, start, come, go, arrive, arrive, leave, move, borrow, buy, etc.

Second, the characteristics of the use of progressive verbs

1. The progressive verb can be used in the present perfect tense, and its perfect tense can be used with an adverbial indicating "a period of time". Phrases that mean "a period of time" include: two years, the past three years, since last year, how long, etc. I have been learning English since I came here to learn English.

2. The progressive verb cannot be used with the adverbial of "time point" indicating a short time. For example, it rained at eight o'clock yesterday morning. Rain is a continuous verb and at eight means "time point", which is obviously contradictory. If you use continuous verbs to express an instant action, you can use terminating verbs such as come, begin and get. The last sentence can be changed to: It began to rain at eight o'clock yesterday morning. Another example (frontal) is:

-When did you meet Jack?

Two years ago.

-So you've known each other for over two years.

-That's right.

Third, the use characteristics of ending verbs.

1. The final verb can be used to indicate the completion of the action, so it can be used in the present perfect tense. For example:

The train has arrived.

Did you join the computer group? Did you join the computer group?

2. The action of the ending verb is extremely short and cannot last. Therefore, it cannot be used with adverbials indicating a period of time (only affirmative). For example:

(1) He has been dead for three years.

He has been dead for three years.

He has been dead for three years.

He died three years ago.

It has been three years since he died.

It has been three years since he died.

He has been here for five days.

He has been here for five days.

He has been here for five days.

He came here five days ago.

He has been here for five days.

It has been five days since he came here.

Die and come in sentences (1) and (2) are terminal verbs and can't be used with adverbials indicating "a period of time". So, how to express it correctly? The following four methods can be adopted:

(1) Convert the ending verb in the sentence into the corresponding progressive verb as the first correct expression in the above two cases. Here are some examples: leave → leave, borrow → keep, buy → own, start/start → start, die → die, move → live in, end → end, join → be a member, open something. Keep sth. Open, get sick → get sick, get up → get up, catch a cold → catch a cold.

(2) Change the adverbial indicating "a period of time" in the sentence to an adverbial indicating a fixed time in the past, such as the second correct expression of the following two situations.

(3) Use the sentence pattern "It is+period time+since…" to express the original intention, such as the third correct expression of the above two situations.

(4) Use the sentence pattern "time+has passed+since …" to express the original intention, such as the fourth correct expression of the above two situations.

The final verb can be used in the negative form of the present perfect tense to become a continuous state, so it can be used with adverbials indicating a period of time. For example:

He hasn't left here since 1986.

I haven't heard from my father for two weeks.

4. The negative form of the terminal verb is used with till/till to form a sentence pattern of "not+ terminal verb +till/till ...", which means "until ...". For example:

You can't leave here before I arrive. You can't leave here before I arrive.

I can't go to bed until I finish painting tonight. I didn't go to bed until I finished painting this evening.

5. The ending verb can be used in the adverbial clause of time guided by when, but not in the adverbial clause of time guided by while. When means "point time" (the predicate verb of the clause is the ending verb) or "period time" (the predicate verb of the clause is the progressive verb). While indicates a long time or process, and the predicate verb of the clause is a progressive verb. For example:

When we arrived in London, it was already twenty o'clock. (Reach is the final verb)

Please take good care of me while we are away. (Be away is a continuous verb phrase)

6. In the perfect tense, the final verb cannot be used with how long (affirmative sentences only). For example:

How long have you been here?

How long have you been here?

When did you come?

The terminating verb is not used in the progressive tense. If it is a continuous tense form, it should be translated into the future tense.

Analysis of Ending Verbs and Continuous Verbs

English verbs can be divided into progressive verbs and terminal verbs. These two verbs frequently appear in the English test questions of the senior high school entrance examination every year. The author classifies them for students' reference when studying. First, the action indicated by the progressive verb can not only last, but also have a lasting impact. Common verbs of this kind are: be, have, keep, know, learn, lie, live, read, sing, sleep, stand, stay, wait, walk, watch and so on. Progressive verbs are widely used, but they are mostly used in sentences in the present perfect tense, and are often used with adverbials or adverbial clauses indicating a period of time, such as for, how, long, since and so on. For example: 1. I have learned more than 1 000 Chinese characters since I came to China. We have lived in Linqing since we came here. I have kept this photo for about three years. I kept this photo for about three years. Second, the ending verb is also called an instantaneous verb or a discontinuous verb, which means that the action cannot continue, that is, once the action occurs, it will end immediately and produce some kind of result. This kind of common verbs are: accept, arrive, become, start, borrow, break, buy, grasp, close, come, die, end, fall, finish, get, give, go, join, leave, let go, reach, receive, close, start, stop and so on. When the terminal verb is used in the present perfect tense, we should pay attention to the following three points: (1) The terminal verb can be directly used to indicate the completion of an action. For example: 1. They have arrived in Shanghai. They have arrived in Shanghai. Did he go to London? Did he go to London? (2) The ending verb indicates that the action is extremely short and cannot last. Therefore, in the present perfect tense, it can't be used with adverbials indicating a period of time, and there are guides such as since and for. The old man has been dead for a week. The old man has been dead for a week .. He came here three days ago. He came three days ago. In the above two sentences, die and come are both terminal verbs, which can be used in the present perfect tense, but cannot be used with adverbials that indicate a period of time guided by since or for. So, how should the above two sentences be translated into English? Please see the following four translations: 1. Turn a terminating verb into a continuous verb. The old man has been dead for a week. He has been here since three days ago. 2. Change a period of time in the original sentence to a time indicating "past", and change the tense from the present perfect tense to the general past tense. The old man died a week ago. He came here three days ago. 3. Use the sentence pattern of "Now is+Time+Since ……". For example: ① It has been a week since the old man died; He has been here for three days; 4. Use the sentence "How long has it been+since …". It's been a week since Friends. He has been here for three days. (3) The usage of special ending verbs. 1. In the clause guided by while (indicating a period of time), the predicate verb cannot use the terminal verb, but it can be changed to when, so that the predicate verb in the clause can use the terminal verb. Because when can represent both a "point" and a "segment" of time. For example, when he arrived in America. He found his English poor. When he arrived in America. He found his English poor. (plus) 2. When the negative expression of the ending verb is used with till, it means "It is not till …" and so on. Don't get off the bus until it stops .. Don't get off the bus until it stops. 3. The final verb can't be used with the how long leading sentence. For example: How long have you borrowed the magazine? When did you borrow the magazine? How long have you kept this magazine? (positive)

Usage differences between ending verbs and postponing verbs

Wen-Ying Huang China high school

English verbs are the focus and difficulty in learning. There are many classifications of verbs in English. Verbs can be divided into notional verbs and auxiliary verbs according to their meanings; According to whether verbs indicate action or state, they can be divided into behavioral verbs and state verbs; According to whether the action indicated by the verb can be delayed, it can be divided into progressive verbs and ending verbs.

Verbs that can express behavior or state are called "progressive verbs" and also called "progressive verbs", such as: be, keep, have, like, study, live, etc.

Some verbs that express transience are called "terminal verbs", which can also be called "instantaneous verbs" or "instantaneous verbs", such as die, join, leave, become, return, reach and so on.

The present perfect tense of a terminal verb cannot be modified by adverbials indicating a period of time (such as phrases such as since and for guidance), while the present perfect tense of a terminal verb only indicates the causal relationship of the action, not the continuation of the action, so it cannot be modified by adverbials indicating a period of time.

For example, it can be said that the Red Cross has started to work for the earthquake-stricken areas.

But don't say: The Red Cross has been working for the earthquake-stricken areas for three days.

Because start is the final verb, the action it represents is very short. When the Red Cross set out, the action of setting out was over, which could not last for two days.

During more than ten years' teaching career, I found that students were at a loss about how to solve this contradiction. Let me sum up four ways to solve this contradiction.

Use ago time adverbial phrase to replace time adverbial guided by since or for;

It has been two years since Mr. Richard came back from America. (error)

Mr Richard has been back from America for two years. (error)

He came back from America two years ago.

2. Replace simple sentences with It is… since… complex sentences.

It has been two years since Mr. Richard came back from America.

Note: The above two methods are applicable to all terminal verbs.

3. Replace the terminating verbs with corresponding adjectives and adverbs.

It has been two years since Mr. Richard came back from America.

4. Use deferred verbs instead of ending verbs.

He has been online for six hours. (error)

He has been online for six hours.

However, it should be noted that the negative form of the final verb can be used with the adverbial of time guided by since or for. Because the negation of the ending verb indicates a continuous state.

I have been receiving letters from my African friends for half a year. (error)

I haven't heard from my African friends for half a year .. (right)

In addition, there are differences between ending verbs and postponing verbs in translation, which are easy to be confused. Next, I'll summarize the meanings of ending verbs and postponing verbs:

1. In the adverbial clause of time guided by the conjunction since, the past tense of the ending verb and the past tense of the postponing verb have different meanings.

A. In the adverbial clause of time guided by since, if the predicate of the sentence is the past tense of the terminal verb, the time indicated in the clause is "from that moment".

He has been studying hard since he came to our school.

He has been studying hard since he came to school.

B in the adverbial clause of time guided by since, the predicate is the past tense of the postponed verb, so the time indicated in the clause is counted from the end of the action indicated by the postponed verb.

I haven't heard any noise since I went to bed.

I haven't heard anything since I woke up.

There are two different situations in the translation of adverbial of time guided by preposition for:

A. The adverbial of time guided by the preposition for and the negative form of the present perfect tense of the deferred verb have two different meanings when used together.

He hasn't lived there for six months.

He hasn't lived there for six months. He lived there for less than six months. )

The adverbial of time guided by the preposition for is used with the negative form of the present perfect tense of the ending verb, which has only one meaning.

Mary hasn't left here for six months.

Mary hasn't left here for six months.

Sentences contain phrases or clauses guided by till or till, and the predicate verbs in the clauses can be continuous or terminal, but we should pay attention to two situations:

If the verb in the main sentence is a progressive verb, the verb can be positive or negative, but the meaning is different.

He listened to the radio until his father came back.

He listened to the radio until his father came back.

He didn't listen to the radio until his father came back. ..

He didn't listen to the radio until his father came back.

If the predicate verb in the main sentence is the terminal verb, it can only be used in the negative form.

Mr Smith didn't get married until he was 45. (right)

Mr Smith didn't get married until he was forty-five.

Mr Smith didn't get married until he was 45. (Wrong.