going to, or present continuous for the future?
I am....................(study) tonight as I have always intended.
I am going to study tonight as I have always intended.
Explanation: an expressed intention
Give examples of at least three signal words that suggest the use of the past tense.
an hour ago/a year ago
yesterday/the day before yesterday
last year/last week
in 2010/in 1564/in the 19th century
He (run) for his life.
He ran for his life.
I............be going now. I am sorry I've no choice. Bye!
Which one? MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, COULD, MUSTN'T, DON'T HAVE TO?
must
Explanation:
a common use when your time is up and you must leave the meeting for somewhere else.
Must - a strong personal obligation
Did he went there?
Did he go there?
No need to indicate the past tense twice.
Look! The pavements are icy. The old man is........ (fall).
The old man is going to fall.
Explanation: prediction based on evidence
Form a question:
He went to the cinema yesterday.
Did he go to the cinema yesterday?
Where did he go yesterday?
Explanation: we use the 'helping' verb do in the past to form questions.
She (dedicate) her first novel to her parents.
She dedicated her first novel to her parents.
You look pale. You.............see a doctor.
Which one? MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, COULD, MUSTN'T, DON'T HAVE TO?
You should see a doctor.
Explanation:
the most likely communicative intention is a suggestion
You must to do this immediately, or else!
You must do this immediately, or else!
Modal verbs are followed by verbs in their base form, i.e. work, do, swim, etc.
We are...................(to Barcelona) next week. We have already bought the tickets.
flying
Explanation: arrangment (you bought the tickets)
Form a negative sentence:
She cried on the pavement.
She didn't cry on the pavement.
Explanation: the 'helping' verb do forms the past tense and negative. The main verb remains the same.
He was a habitual liar: he (lie) morning and night.
lied
I'm busy now, but we............go to the cinema later.
Which one? MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, COULD, MUSTN'T, DON'T HAVE TO?
could
An explanation:
A polite way of making an alternative suggestion or request.
We are going to the cottage every weekend.
We go to the cottage every weekend.
Regular activity in the present.
I am.....................(clean) the house.
I am going to clean the house.
Explanation: your own decision that does not involve anyone else.
- He is not happy.
- It can't be! He............so happy yesterday.
was
It was late and the children (lie) in bed.
lay
to lie (= not being truthful): past tense 'lied'
to lie ( = to lie down; assume a horizontal position): past tense 'lay'
to lay (= lay bricks; lay the table; lay foundation): past tense 'layed'
The doctor ran some tests. I............take these pills daily.
Which one? MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, COULD, MUSTN'T, DON'T HAVE TO?
have to
Explanation:
an external obligation, a rule
It doesn't raining now.
It isn't raining now.
Do not combine two present tenses.
I am.................(meet) Sarah for lunch tomorrow.
I am meeting Sarah for lunch tomorrow.
Explanation: a firm arrangment that involves someone else.
Past tense in English is used in the three following situations:
1. completed actions
She sent the email a week ago.
2. Past habits and repeated actions
When we were little, we played tennis every summer.
3. ??? Give also an example
past states - something that was true for a period fo time
Example: We spent a lot of time in Portugal in 2024.
Mum (hang) the shirts on the line in the garden.
Mum hung the shirts on the line in the garden.
Explanation:
They hanged a man as a punishment.
They hung a picture on the wall.
These things happen! It wasn't your fault. You..........take it personally.
Which one? MUST, HAVE TO, SHOULD, COULD, MUSTN'T, DON'T HAVE TO.
mustn't
Explanation:
a well known phrase, meaning that it is not the person's responsibility. It is a prohibition of sorts, albeit metaphorical.
I am going to eating.
I am going to eat.
After going to, we use the base verb form. If you want to use the colloquial form 'gonna', it is also followed by the base form of the verb, for example, I'm gonna eat. 'Gonna' is not a recommended form for academic English.