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Fun Easy English Classroom March 1
 

Classroom
Today


Learn about
English tense
Tense

Today in the Fun Easy English classroom you are going to learn about tense an important part of English grammar.
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Grammar: Tense

Definition of Tense.
  • Tense shows the time of the action, event, or condition and includes the following:
  • past tense - the action, event, or condition occurred before the present and includes the following:
  • simple past
  • past perfect
  • past progressive
  • past perfect progressive
  • present tense - the action, event or condition occurred or is occurring now and includes the following:
  • simple present
  • present perfect
  • present progressive
  • present perfect progressive
  • future tense - the action, event, or condition will occur after the present and includes the following: 
  • simple future
  • future perfect
  • future progressive
  • future perfect progressive
  • Tense is closely related to aspect
  • The table below shows the relationship between tense and aspect
Aspect and Tense Table
tense & aspect aspect
simple perfect progressive perfect progressive
tense past simple
past
past
perfect
past
progressive
past
perfect
progressive
present simple
present
present
perfect
present
progressive
present
perfect
progressive
future simple
future
future
perfect
future
progressive
future
perfect
progressive
From YOUR Teacher: Tense

Hey are you a little tense about learning a little tense? .... A bit of a joke there. Anyway this is probably one of the most difficult concepts to understand in American English grammar.
 
Test: Grammar Tense

It is very important to use the correct verb tense and aspect. In the following test, choose the correct sentences.
1.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  John was knowing the answer, so he raised his hand.
     b.  John knew the answer, so he raised his hand.
2.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  My friend had already been cooking dinner when I arrived.
     b.  My friend had already cooked dinner when I arrived.
3.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  Did you find your car keys?
     b.  Did you found your car keys?
4.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  Last year, I traveled to New York.
     b.  Last year, I have traveled to New York.
5.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  John and Joan have been going to the park three times this week.
     b.  John and Joan have gone to the park three times this week.
6.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  John is have a new car.
     b.  John has a new car.
7.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  The teacher comes to the class on time.
     b.  The teacher is came to the class on time.
8.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  John has known Joan for many years.
     b.  John has been knowing Joan for many years.
9.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  It rains outside. We should close the windows.
     b.  It is raining outside. We should close the windows.
10.  Choose the correct sentence.

     a.  I have read that book several times.
     b.  I have been reading that book several times.
 
Additional Lessons
About These Lessons

The following classroom lessons are great for students who want additional conversation, listening, and reading practice.
  • Conversation Lesson - Intermediate Level. Let's Learn English conversation lesson with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, and a new words section.
Conversation Lesson 8 - The Best Barbecue
(Intermediate - Conversation, Listening, Reading)

In this lesson Anna goes to a barbecue battle in Washington, D.C. She learns that there are secret ingredients in the sauces. And people are VERY loyal to their favorite kind of barbecue.
Lesson Video

Watch the video and then read the video script.
Video Script

Anna: Thanks for meeting me.
Kelly: Sure.
Anna: I’d like to get your advice on my latest project.
Kelly: Of course. I heard you were sent to cover a big food festival that has all kinds of barbecue. So, how did it go?
Anna: Well, things started out great! But then, well, maybe you should watch it yourself.
Prof. Bot: Hi English learners! Your lesson today is about my favorite food -- barbecue! Your assignment is to find passive sentences. What are those, you might ask? In passive sentences the subject receives the action!
For example, “Anna was sent to cover a food festival.”
Passive sentences have a form of the BE verb + the past participle of the main verb. This lesson is LOADED with passive sentences. Hey! That’s a passive sentence, too!
Okay, now, it’s Barbecue Time!
Anna: Today, a Barbecue Battle is being held in Washington, D.C. This festival, which is known as one of the biggest food festivals in the United States, brings together barbecue lovers from all over the country! Barbecue is meat that is cooked over an open fire or on a grill.
Chicken, pork and beef are all common meats to grill on a barbecue! No matter which meat you like to barbecue, the sauce is very important. Sauces are taken very seriously by chefs. Most ingredients are kept secret!
So, can you tell us what is in your barbecue sauce?
Chef 1: No, I can’t tell you.
Anna: So, tell us, what is the secret ingredient in your barbecue sauce?
Chef 2: (says nothing.)
Anna: Sauces are made by the barbecue chefs themselves. Most sauces are made with a tomato sauce, vinegar, and spices.
Prof. Bot: How many passive sentences did you find? Here is one I found:
Today, a Barbecue Battle is being held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Now you try. Turn this sentence from passive to active.
Barbecue is loved by Prof. Bot.
Professor Bot loves Barbecue!
Good job! And yes, I do.
Anna: There are some areas of the U.S. that are known for their tasty barbecue. The states of Texas, North and South Carolina and the cities of Memphis and Kansas City are known as the Barbecue Belt. People who are loyal to barbecue are really loyal to their favorite barbecue. That is why this festival is called a battle! Let’s ask a couple of people which barbecue is best.
Person 1: Texas, of course!
Person 2: Carolina barbecue is the very best.
Person 3: Kansas City!
Person 4: Memphis style!
Person 3: Kansas City!
Person 5: Texas!
Person 3: Kansas!
Person 5: Texas!
Person 3: Kansas!
Person 5: Texas!
Person 3: I say Kansas.
Person 5: Texas!
Person 3: She keeps saying Texas, I say Kansas.
Anna: This is Anna Matteo reporting.
Anna: Kelly, people feel so strongly about barbecue. Unbelievable! So, what do you think of my project?
Kelly: This is what I think. There is no way that Texas has the best barbecue. I am from Kansas City and we have THE best barbecue in the whole country. My mother and father owned a barbecue restaurant, which was really famous! So, I know barbecue! Anna, I know barbecue! I know barbecue! I know barbecue!
Prof Bot: Oh my. Kelly knows a lot about barbecue! And you know more about passive sentences! Be sure you go to the website to learn even more! Ah! Now, if you excuse me .. I'm hungry
Listening

Now practice listening to only the audio portion of the conversation.
New Words
  • barbecue - n. a flat metal frame that is used to cook food over hot coals or an open fire
  • barbecue - v. to cook (food) on a barbecue or to broil or roast (meat, fish, etc.) over hot coals or an open fire
  • battle - n. a fight between people or groups in which each side tries to win a contest (such as a game or an election)
  • brown sugar - n. a type of sugar that is brown because it contains a dark syrup (called molasses)
  • chef - n. a professional cook who usually is in charge of a kitchen in a restaurant
  • grill - n. a metal frame that is used to cook food over hot coals or an open fire - v. to cook (food) on a metal frame over fire
  • loyal - adj. having or showing complete and constant support for someone or something
  • molasses - n. a thick, brown, sweet liquid that is made from raw sugar
  • sauce - n. a thick liquid that is eaten with or on food to add flavor to it
  • spice - n. a substance (such as pepper or nutmeg) that is used in cooking to add flavor to food and that comes from a dried plant and is usually a powder or seed
  • spicy - adj. of food. flavored with or containing strong spices and especially ones that cause a burning feeling in your mouth
  • sweet - adj. containing a lot of sugar
  • tasty - adj. having a good flavor
  • tomato - n. a round, soft, red fruit that is eaten raw or cooked and that is often used in salads, sandwiches, sauces
  • vinegar - n. a sour liquid that is used to flavor or preserve foods or to clean things
Conversation Lessons

Study all 30 English intermediate conversation lessons. Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, and a new words section. These lessons are for intermediate students.
Conversation Lessons

Study all 52 English beginner conversation lessons. Let's Learn English conversation lessons each with a conversation video, a video script, audio listening practice, video speaking practice, video pronunciation practice, a new words section, and a writing activity. These lessons are for beginning students.
Source: Voice of America
 
Additional Information
Avoid Ineffective Study Methods

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Pronunciation by Training Your Ears

The complete lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
Improve Your Long-Term Memory by Spacing Practice

The lesson includes an audio program explaining this topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section, and other important information.
Click for the complete lesson
Audio Program

Listen to the audio program explaining this topic.
 
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