Verb Tenses Review - Beginners and Talkers

1. Simple Present
- Use it to talk about regular events or permanent situations. (Routine, habits, free time activities)
Formula - verb (verb+s) - do/does subject verb - don't/doesn't verb
aff.: I work as a teacher. / He works as a teacher. / I live in NYC. / She studies English twice a week. / She finishes work at about 6pm.
int.: Do you work as a teacher? / Does he work as a teacher?
neg.: You don't work as a teacher. / She doesn't work as a teacher.

to be
aff.: You are a teacher. / She's happy.
int.: Are you a teacher? / Is she tired?
neg.: You aren't a teacher. / She isn't hungry now.

Note: "have/has got" looks like Present Perfect but it's used to talk about the present.
I have a car. = I've got a car.
I don't have a cat. = I haven't got a cat.
Do you have a dog? = Have you got a dog?
I have to study hard. = I've got to study hard.
Do you have to work in the morning? = Have you got to work in the morning?
I don't have to work on weekends. = I haven't got to work on weekends.

2. Present Continuous
- Use it to talk about events that are in progress or temporary situations.
Formula - to be verb+ing
aff.: I'm working at the moment. / I'm living in NYC. / She's thinking about her job.
int.: Are you working at the moment? / Is he having dinner now?
neg.: I'm not working at the moment. / He's not working here anymore.

3. Simple Past
- Use it to talk about regular events in the past, events that happened at a specific time in the past, permanent situations in the past.
Formula: verb (in the past) - did subject verb - didn't verb
aff.: I did my homework last night.
neg.: I didn't do my homework last week.
int.: Did you do your homework last night?

5. Present Perfect
- Use it to talk about an event that happened in the past with an important consequence in the present. The event and the consequence are important. When the event happened exactly is not relevant.
- Formula: have/has verb (3rd column) - have/has subject verb (3rd column) - haven't/hasn't verb (3rd column)
aff.: I've brushed my teeth, now I can go to bed.
int.: Have you started the book?
neg.: I haven't taken a shower so I can't go to bed.

5.1. Present Perfect - Just
- Use it to talk about an event that has just happened, an event that has happened a very short time ago.
Aff.: I've just arrived from the gym. I need a shower. / Jane's just called. She wanted to know if we're going to meet her at the pub. / He's just travelled abroad. You won't be able to contact him soon.

5.2 - Present Perfect - Already
- Use it to talk about an event that has happened before you expected.
Aff.: Renan's already taken classes with Lu. / The students have already learned the present perfect. / The fireman has already saved the cat so you don't need to worry about it.
Int.: Have you already seen the new Spider Man movie? / Has the kid already finished his homework? / Has Duda already cooked dinner?

5.3 - Present Perfect - Yet
- Use it to talk about events that haven't happened until now, but you expected them to.
Int.: Has Duda cooked dinner yet? I'm really hungry! / Have you learned the simple present yet?
Neg.: We haven't arrived at the party yet so you can't talk to the birthday boy. / They haven't presented the results yet, but when they do, you'll be very pleased.

5.4 - Present Perfect - Ever
- Use it to talk about an event that has happened in your life (life experience).
Int.: Have you ever been to Paris? / Have you ever tried Russian food? / Have you ever gone skydiving?
- It's very common to answer these questions using already, yet, and never. And you can talk about one particular experience using simple past.
Yes, I've already been to Paris. I loved it. / I've never tried Russian food. / I haven't gone skydiving yet. I'm thinking about doing it next year.
- Present Perfect talk about events that have happened inside a certain period of time. This period of time could be a short one or a long one. It's usually not over or it has just finished.
"I've taken a shower." (Depending on your culture, the period is the day or the week.)
"I've had a flu shot." (This year)
"I've already been to Paris." (In my life)

5.5 - Present Perfect - How long...?
- Use it to talk about how long an event has happened. For this particular instance, you can also use (and it's probably better) Present Perfect Continuous when you have dynamic verbs (not stative verbs).
Aff.: I've lived here for 5 years. / She's had her car for a couple of months. / They've played football for only one week, but the coach is already very pleased by their performance.
Int.: How long have you worked for this company?

Present Perfect - Talkers and Thinkers

Nunca seremos perfeitos! Faz parte da condição humana. Mas podemos aprender a usar o Present Perfect, se não for de maneira perfeita, pelo menos satisfatória. Vamos lá.

Present Perfect

- Quando usamos

Para falar de coisas que aconteceram, mas o "quando" não é importante. A ação ou o evento é que importam. As suas consequências para o presente também são geralmente importantes.

Para falar de algo que começou no passado, mas que continua até o presente (se bem, que nesse caso, em geral, a gente usa o present perfect continuous)

- Fórmula:

subject + have + verb(3rd column)

Para he, she it: subject + has + verb(3rd column)

Note:

- O verbo auxiliar (have/has) sempre está presente.

- 3rd column é o past perfect. Quando temos em nossas mãos uma tabela de verbos, eles são geralmente apresentados assim: go - went - gone. O que nos interessa é a 3a coluna, sacou?

- Advérbios podem ser usados. Mas nunca use algo que fale de um tempo determinado no passado. Nesse caso, você usaria o simple past (I went to the movies last night.).

- Os advérbios e time expressions usados no present perfect servem pra dar a idéia de que a ação ou evento ocorreu dentro de um período de tempo que ainda não acabou. Difícil de entender? Nem tanto. Por exemplo, hoje já acabou? Não. Se tivesse acabado, seria ontem. Então você pode falar de hoje usando present perfect. A sua vida já acabou? Não. Se tivesse acabado você não estaria aqui lendo esse texto. Então você pode falar da sua vida e das coisas que já aconteceram nesse período de tempo usando present perfect. Não deixe de analisar os exemplos lá embaixo.

- Alguns advérbios e time expressions: already ('já'), yet ('ainda' na negativa ou 'já' na pergunta), ever ('já' na pergunta sobre coisas que você já fez na vida), recently, lately (ambos 'ultimamente'), just (indica que acabou de acontecer), today, this week, last week...

- Sempre que permitido, contrair o auxiliar (I've, She's, They've...)

- Sobre a contração com he, she, it, as pessoas sempre confundem o has com o is (be). Mas se você prestar atenção no resto da frase conseguirá distinguir um do outro facilmente. Open your eyes!

Sample sentences:

- Affirmative:

I've taken a shower today.

She's just broken her leg.

My father has already been to Rio.

I've worked a lot recently.

They've visited many different cities lately.

- Negative:

I haven't done my homework yet.

She hasn't called me this week.

They haven't written their compositions yet.

My sister hasn't cleaned her bedroom this week.

- Interrogative:

A: Have you talked to your mother today?

B: No, I haven't. I haven't talked to her today. But I'll call her this evening.

---------

A: Who has broken that vase?

B: Tommy has. Tommy has broken the vase while he was playing soccer in the living room.

---------

A: Have you visited your father this month?

B: Yes, I have. I've visited him twice this month.

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A: Has Keira finished her homework yet?

B: No, she hasn't. She hasn't finished it yet.

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A: Have you ever drive a Ferrari?

B: No, I haven't. I've never driven a Ferrari.

Simple Present - Anyone

Vamos falar de uma coisa simples: Simple Present.

Quando usamos: para falar de atividades regulares e/ou permanentes.

Fórmula:

- Subject + verb (no simple present)

Note:

- Para 3a pessoa do singular (he, she, it), o verbo flexiona (em geral, acrescentamos o "s" ao verbo).

- Verbos auxiliares: do/does (usados em negativas, interrogativas e short answers)

- Advérbios de tempos são bem comuns nesse tempo verbal: always, usually, sometimes, rarely, never...

Sample Senteces:

- Affirmative

I study English every day.

My sister lives in Las Vegas. She works for Universal Studios.

George watches TV in the evening.

I always read a book in the evening.

- Negative

I don't like waking up early.

My father doesn't live in an apartment.

Tony doesn't speak Japanese.

I never drink beer on Mondays.

- Interrogative

A: Do you study English every day?

B: Yes, I do. I study English every day.

-----------------------------------------

A: Does Sheila live in San Francisco?

B: Yes, she does. She lives in San Francisco.

-----------------------------------------------

A: Does your mother drive?

B: No, she doesn't. She doesn't drive. She usually takes a bus.

---------------------------------------------------------------

A: Do you usually go out on Friday nights?

B: No, I don't. I don't usually go out on Friday nights. I usually stay home.

Verb Patterns - Anyone

Se você estuda ou estudou inglês, eu tenho certeza que você já passou por isto. Você ouve ou lê uma frase e pensa assim: "Caracas! Eu jamais diria essa frase desse jeito!"

Isso é por que você é falante nativo de uma outra língua que não o inglês. Cada língua tem sua particularidade em relação a como as estruturas são formadas, como as frases são construídas. E você se torna realmente fluente em uma língua, quando tem um bom arsenal de frases prontas na cabeça. As pessoas costumam dizer que pra saber uma língua tem que ter vocabulário, tem que saber o que as palavras significam. Isso ajuda, obviamente. Mas a palavra sem contexto não diz nada.

Te provo isso com uma pergunta: você alguma vez na vida já disse ou escreveu uma frase na sua língua nativa totalmente original? Já criou uma frase que ninguém tinha usado antes?

Olha, se você não é o João Guimarães Rosa, a sua resposta certamente será não. Isso por que a gente aprende a falar imitando o que a gente ouve a nossa volta. Com a nossa língua mãe, isso acontece quando a gente é bem pequeno. Você começa a entender alguma coisa já na barriga da sua mãe (só reconhece o tom de voz nessa época). Depois, com dois ou três começa a falar tudo o que ouve. Nessa época a mãe fica tentando controlar o que a criança ouve, por que sabe que o moleque vai repetir depois.

Então, quando você se deparar com uma frase dessas, que faz você parar para pensar, quando você se surpreender com alguma estrutura, levante as mãos para o céu e agradeça: você está sendo apresentado a uma oportunidade de aprendizado única.

E como lidar com essas frases. Bom, só de você parar para pensar na frase já é um começo. Mas eu não escreveria este texto comprido só pra dizer isso, né?

Faça assim, perceba o padrão apresentado pela estrutura e depois tente criar uma frase partindo daquele padrão. Vou usar uma estrutura que a galera costuma achar estranha pra exemplificar.

Como você traduziria a seguinte frase para o inglês?

"Eu quero que você limpe seu quarto."

resposta: "I want you to clean your room."

Então, olha pra frase de novo e percebe como o verbo se relaciona com as outras palavras, formando uma estrutura mais ou menos fixa.

I want you to clean your room.

o padrão aqui é:

want s.o. to do s.th.

[s.o. = someone (alguém), s.th. = something (alguma coisa, do s.th. = fazer alguma coisa)]

Daí a gente pode tentar criar outras frases.

"Você quer que eu faça seu dever de casa?"

"Do you want me to do your homework?"

"Eu quero que ela me ligue."

"I want her to call me."

Vamos tentar com outra estrutura.

"Posso te fazer uma pergunta?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

Achou o padrão?

ask s.o. s.th

Perceba que, nessa estrutura, o verbo ask significa perguntar ou fazer uma pergunta. Isso reforça o que eu disse antes, a palavra só tem sentido dentro de uma frase, dentro de um contexto. Veja.

"Vou pedir dinheiro pro meu pai."

"I'm gonna ask my dad for some money."

Achou o padrão?

ask s.o. for s.th.

E olha aí! Nesse caso o verbo ask quer dizer pedir.

Esse último exemplo é muito bom também pra você perceber como às vezes, de uma língua pra outra, a ordem muda. Ao invés de "chutar" como a coisa funciona, esteja atento aos exemplos e imite-os nas suas frases.

Vamos pra outra.

"Vou comprar um presente pra minha mulher."

"I'm going to buy my wife a present."

buy s.o. s.th.

Pra essa frase, você também poderia dizer...

"I'm going to buy a present for my wife."

buy s.th. for s.o.

Mas a primeira é bem mais comum.

E essa?

"Eu vou comprar pra ela."

"I'm going to buy it for her.

buy it for s.o.

Em inglês, não se omitem termos com a mesma frequência que o fazemos em português.

Agora, cê não tava achando que eu ia colocar toda combinação possível aqui, né? Tô passando a batata pra você. Comece a fazer isso com as frases com a qual você encontrar por aí, na sua aula, no seu trabalho, no seu reader, em um filme...

Have fun!

Moe's Tavern - Anyone

Em filmes em inglês, você já deve ter visto um bar ou um restaurante cujo nome tinha um "apóstrofe s". Como no desenho dos Simpsons. Tem um personagem que chama Moe. E ele é dono de bar. Como chama o bar do Moe?

Moe's!

Esse "apóstrofe s" não é uma contração do verb to be. Ele indica posse. Veja:

The Genitive Case

Use a noun and 's to indicate possession.

- That's Jack's laptop.

(That's his laptop.)

Attention: In the sentence above, the first 's is the contracted form of verb to be. Pay attention to the sentence structure to notice if you have verb to be or the genitive case. A genitive case structure can always be replaced by a possessive adjective.

- My father's car's a Honda.

(His car's a Honda.)

- My girlfriend's hair smells like roses.

(Her hair smells like roses.)

Where there's a will, there's a way - Beginners and Talkers

Tem um negócio que a galera erra muito. Principalmente quem tá começando.

Tenta traduzir pro inglês essa primeira frase que eu escrevi aí em cima. Se você começar com "have", já errou.

Em inglês, a gente usa o there to be.

Traduções (ou versões, pra nenhum tradutor/intérprete querer me bater) na maioria das vezes não ajudam muito quem está aprendendo. Mas aqui é legal a gente brincar com isso pra poder comparar. Veja aí.

Tem um negócio que a galera erra muito.

There's something people get wrong all the time.

Tem um cara ali me olhando.

There's a guy over there looking at me.

Tem muito tempo que não te vejo.

There has been a long time since I last saw you.

Tinha uma menina na minha sala que usava calcinha fio dental.

There was a girl in my class who wore thongs.

Tem algum outro jeito de fazer isso?

Is there another way to do it?

Não tem nada que a gente pode fazer.

There's nothing we can do.

Se tem vontade, tem jeito.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

(Essa é uma frase bem comum um inglês. Acho que é um ditado. Alguém aí sabe se é um ditado mesmo?)

Não tem mais ninguém?

Is there no one else?

(Essa é a primeira fala do Aquiles no filme Tróia, logo depois que ele mata o soldado mais forte do exército inimigo.)

Tem ovo na sua geladeira?

Are there any eggs in your fridge?

Tem menina gata na sua sala?

Are there any hot chicks in your classroom?

(chick: pode ser pintinho de galinha ou, na gíria, menina, "mina")

Não tem dinheiro na carteira daquele cara.

There's no money in that guy's wallet.

Tem muita coisa pra fazer em BH.

There are a lot of things to do in BH.

Não tem uma única pessoa aqui que sabe o que tá fazendo.

There isn't a single person here who knows what they're doing.

Quem quiser contribuir com mais pares de frases, be my guest!

Rule #1: smoking is strictly forbidden!

Vamos colocar os pingos nos i's.

Checking if something is allowed. --> Use CAN ou MAY*

(Isso é permitido?)

A: Can I ask you a question?

B: Sure.

A: Can I use your car tonight?

B: I'm sorry, I'm going to drive my girlfriend home after class.

A: Mr. Wilson, may I go to the bathroom?

B: No, Tommy, you may not. Finish your assignment.

A: Can I smoke in here?

B: Please don't! But you can smoke outside, in the parking lot.

A: Dad, can I go to the beach with my friends on the weekend?

B: Who exactly are your friends, Liz?

A: Well, you know.

B: As a matter of fact, I don't.

A: You know, dad, Tara, Susie, Christine... Brad...

B: I'm sorry, Liz. You're too young. You can't go to the beach with your boyfriend.

Checking if something is necessary. --> Use HAVE TO.

(Isso é necessário/obrigatório?)

A: Do the students have to wear a uniform here?

B: Yes, they do. It's for their own protection.

A: Do you have to get up early every day?

B: Yes, I do. I have to be in the office by 8 o'clock.

A: Do I have to get a dictionary?

B: Well, you don't have to, but you definitely should get one. And make sure it's an English-English dictionary.

A: Why is Ted leaving?

B: He has to be home before midnight. His parents are really tough.

Checking if something is advisable. --> Use SHOULD.

(Isso é uma boa idéia?)

A: Look, Liz gave me her phone number. Should I call her?

B: Well, she gave you her phone number. I think you should call her.

A: My co-workers always surf the web during office hours. Do you think I should talk to my boss about it?

B: I think you should talk to them first. Maybe it's not a big problem. Maybe it doesn't interfere with their work.

A: I bumped into a car in the parking lot last week. I was talking on the phone.

B: You should be more careful when you drive. It seems you crash your car almost every week!

A: My English hasn't been improving lately.

B: You should study a little more.

A: I'm too stressed out. I can't concentrate.

B: Man, you should definitely go on vacation.

Saying something is forbidden --> Use CAN'T

(Isso é proibido.)

A: Hey, you can't smoke in here!

B: Sorry, I'll put it out.

A: I can't come with you guys to the bar tonight.

B: Why not?

A: I have to write a huge law paper.

A: You can't talk in here. This is a library!

B: Sorry, we won't talk anymore.

C: We promise!

A: It's so unfair. Girls can wear skirts, but I can't wear shorts to work.

B: Well, we can't pee standing. So I guess we're even.

Saying something is optional --> Use DON'T HAVE TO

(Isso fica a seu critério. Se quiser fazer, você faz. Se não quiser, não faz. Cada um com seus problemas e eu não tenho nada a ver com isso. :P)

A: Do I have to bring something for your mother when I come for dinner on Friday?

B: You don't have to bring anything. She would love it if you brought a bottle of red wine, though.

A: Let me do the dishes for you.

B: Oh, you don't have to do that, honey.

A: You don't have to cook dinner for me, but you do it every Friday anyway.

B: Because I love you, sweetpea.

A: Who were you talking to on the phone earlier? Sorry! You don't have to tell me that. I'm being invasive.

B: No, darling, it's okay. I know I don't have to tell you, but I want to. I want to tell you everything.

* Eu já vi pessoas que preferem que o MAY seja sempre usado para pedir permissão. Especialmente pessoas mais maduras, mais conservadoras. O que se percebe no dia-a-dia, no entanto, é que o CAN acaba roubando a cena.

Nobody's Perfect - Talkers and Thinkers

Ninguém é perfeito. Especialmente quando se trata dos perfect tenses. Então vamos sobrevoar seus usos mais comuns.

1. Present Perfect

Talk about something that has happened, something that has been completed.

Focus on the event. "When" is not important.

Talk about an event (or events) which has (or have) happened within a period of time which hasn't finished yet.

Talk about somebody's life experience.

(Note: Sometimes native speakers use simple past here. Especially Americans.)

A: Have you done your homework yet?

B: No, I haven't. But I've already started it.

A: My car is looking good now, isn't it?

B: It really is! Have you washed it?

A: Somebody has eaten the last slice of pizza.

B: It wasn't me. I promise.

A: Are you done with your test?

B: No, I haven't finished it yet.

A: Have you ever been to Europe?

B: No, I haven't been there yet. But I'd love to. Actually, I've been saving some money and I might be able to go there next year.

A: Have you ever owned a Japanese car?

B: No, but I've heard they're pretty reliable.

A: Have you ever tried Thai food?

B: No, I haven't. Is it any good?

A: Have you seen your mother this week?

B: No, I'm going to have dinner with her on Saturday, though.

A: I haven't had a break since I got here. I'm totally worn out!

B: Let's take 5, then. I need a cigarette anyway.

A: This is the first time I've driven out of town. I'm so excited.

B: And you're doing a great job. Now, will you please keep your eyes on the road?

2. Present Perfect Continuous

Talk about events that started in the past but continue up to the present, events that are not complete, events that are in progress.

Sometimes people use it to talk about an event which had been happening and just stopped.

A: Where have you been? I've been looking for you all over!

B: I was in the restroom. Chill out!

A: God! I need a break.

B: You certainly do! You've been working too much recently.

A: I've been having trouble with this new Windows Vista.

B: Who hasn't?! Get a jacket and join the club.

A: Is it wet outside?

B: I'm afraid so. It's been raining.

A: Gee! You're all sweaty! Have you been running?

B: Wait! (sigh) Let me catch my breath and I'll tell you.

(Note: some verbs are not to be used with the progressive form - ING. e.g.: be, know, like, hate, have indicating possession, understand)

A: You can trust him. I've known him since we were little kids.

A: I've always liked that girl.

B: Well, she's always been really nice to you. Why don't you ask her out?

A: How long have you had this shirt?

B: I don't really know. Does it look too old?

It's All Relative - Thinkers and Talkers

Jen plays in a rock band that’s really hot right now.

à (The band) It’s really hot right now.

à SOMETHING: use that or which

à The band is the subject in the second part of the sentence

Nina is an interesting woman who sits across from me at work.

à (Nina) She sits across from me at work.

à SOMEONE: use who or that

à Nina is the subject in the second part of the sentence

She’s a new friend (who/that) I met through Mike.

à (She) I met her through Mike.

à SOMEONE: use nothing, who or that

à She is the object in the second part of the sentence

It’s a new band (which/that) Jen started.

à (A new band) Jen started it.

à SOMETHING: use nothing, which or that

à A new band is the object in the second part of the sentence

Note: Object and Subject

Pra quem não lembra das aulas de português, sujeito (subject) é quem executa a ação representada pelo verbo na frase (embora nem todo verbo necessariamente indique uma ação, essa é uma maneira simples de você entender a coisa) e objeto (object) é quem sofre a ação executada pelo sujeito.

Jack ate a Big Mac this morning. subject: Jack / object: Big Mac

Help - Beginners

Quando o cabra começa a aprender inglês, ele se estranha com esses tais auxiliary verbs. E não é de se estranhar? A gente não tem do's e don't's em português.

E aí eu só tenho uma dica pra te dar, cabra! Tem que praticar.

- Moral do dia -

Estranho é igual sabonete: quanto mais você usa, menor ele fica.

Pára de brigar com o que é diferente daquilo que cê tá acostumado e "abraça a causa". Tem coisa que é assim por que Deus (Alá ou o Universo) quis assim.

E olha aí um resumo da ópera:

Simple Present

Do I need this?

Do you speak English?

Does he have a car?

Does she have a boyfriend?

Does it work?

Do we need that?

Do you guys study here?

Do they live around here?

I don't think so.

You don't song very well.

He doesn't eat red meat.

She doesn't talk to strangers.

It doesn't taste good.

We don't have any time left.

You guys don't understand it.

They don't swim that well.

Simple Past

Did (pra todo mundo!)

Did I say something wrong?

Did you call me last night?

Did he go out last Friday?

Did she say anything about me?

Did it break?

Did we learn something here?

Did you guys get high?

Did they come here yesterday?

I didn't say a word.

You don't know me.

He didn't wash your car.

She didn't do the dishes.

It didn't work.

We didn't break your toy car.

You guys didn't finish your homework.

They didn't come here yesterday.

If I study hard, I'll learn it. - Talkers

Do you have trouble using "if" to talk about possibilities in the future? Don't worry, be happy.

Remember, the idea is: something will happen if something else happens first. Difficult to understand? Let's move on to practice. Think about real life situations. You and your friends are talking about your plans for the weekend.

Your Friend: "So, what are you going to do next weekend?"

You: "If the weather is good, I'll go to the club."

The idea here is: you want to go to the club. But you need the weather to be good to go to the club.

Pay attention to the structure.

If "simple present", "simple future".

It's always possible to invert the sentence. Watch this:

"I'll go to the club if the weather is good."

But be careful. If you invert it, pay attention to where "if" is, because it's always close to the "simple present". Also, you're not going to use the comma if you invert it.

There are ways for you to make this structure more interesting. Instead of using "simple future" all the time, you could use:

- going to

"If I have enough money, I'm going to travel abroad."

- simple future with probably

"If I work hard, I'll probably get a promotion."

- might (this indicates you have no idea about what's going to happen, anything could happen.)

Your friend: "What are you going to do on your next vacation?"

You: "I have no idea. If I have enough money, I might take a French course in Canada... or I might take a cruise with my wife. If I don't have money, I might stay home... or I might spend sometime with my mother-in-law."