SIMPLE TENSES
The simple tenses are used when we relate to actions that happen at the exact instant which the sentences refer to. They are: Simple Present, Simple Past and Simple Future.
In affirmative sentences, we generally use the verbs denoting actions according to the subject of each sentence.
In negative sentences we add “not” right before the verbs to deny the action, and it’s usually introduced by an auxiliary verb that assures the action happens in that circumstance in time.
In interrogative sentences we use the auxiliary verbs before the subjects so we are certain of the time the action is to happen. It’s also possible to make negative questions just by introducing the denial word “not” contracted on the auxiliary verb or immediately after the subject and before the main verb, because it will be denied.
Every time we use an auxiliary verb to determine the circumstances for the main verb, this main verb will come in an infinitive form, since the time of the action is guaranteed by the specific auxiliary verb of each verb tense.
The subjects can be nouns or pronouns, personal pronouns more commonly, because all of the subjects can be reduced to and represented by a personal pronoun.
The simple tenses are used when we relate to actions that happen at the exact instant which the sentences refer to. They are: Simple Present, Simple Past and Simple Future.
In affirmative sentences, we generally use the verbs denoting actions according to the subject of each sentence.
In negative sentences we add “not” right before the verbs to deny the action, and it’s usually introduced by an auxiliary verb that assures the action happens in that circumstance in time.
In interrogative sentences we use the auxiliary verbs before the subjects so we are certain of the time the action is to happen. It’s also possible to make negative questions just by introducing the denial word “not” contracted on the auxiliary verb or immediately after the subject and before the main verb, because it will be denied.
Every time we use an auxiliary verb to determine the circumstances for the main verb, this main verb will come in an infinitive form, since the time of the action is guaranteed by the specific auxiliary verb of each verb tense.
The subjects can be nouns or pronouns, personal pronouns more commonly, because all of the subjects can be reduced to and represented by a personal pronoun.
CONTINUOUS/PROGRESSIVE TENSES
The continuous or progressive tenses are used when we relate to actions that demand some specific period of time to happen, meaning they relate to the moments that surround the simple tenses showing that the actions are being developed at that moment. They are formed by using the verb TO BE (which determines states, feelings and emotions) plus the present participle form of the main verbs (-ING Form) what will show that the action IS HAPPENING for the time being.
The correct presentations and uses of the verb TO BE will determine the verb tenses of the actions since the participle forms are participative in structures remaining timeless, either in the present or the past form.
In affirmative sentences we use the verb TO BE in an affirmative way, having its correct conjugation according to each of the personal pronouns plus the main verb on the –ING Form.
In the negative sentences we use the verb TO BE with “not” (the denial element) also presented according to each of the personal pronouns plus the main verb on the –ING Form.
As the verb TO BE determines specific situations, as said before, it will serve itself as the auxiliary verb in the Present and Past tenses. For that, in the Present and Past verb tenses, we will use it as the auxiliary verb that will be necessary to start the interrogative form.
In the Future Progressive, as in the Simple Future, it will be necessary to use the auxiliary verb “Will” because of its function of determining the future tense for the verbs, so the verb TO BE will constantly be submitted to this auxiliary verb, either for the affirmative, negative or interrogative forms in the sentences.
They are: Present Continuous, Past Continuous and Future Continuous/Progressive.
The continuous or progressive tenses are used when we relate to actions that demand some specific period of time to happen, meaning they relate to the moments that surround the simple tenses showing that the actions are being developed at that moment. They are formed by using the verb TO BE (which determines states, feelings and emotions) plus the present participle form of the main verbs (-ING Form) what will show that the action IS HAPPENING for the time being.
The correct presentations and uses of the verb TO BE will determine the verb tenses of the actions since the participle forms are participative in structures remaining timeless, either in the present or the past form.
In affirmative sentences we use the verb TO BE in an affirmative way, having its correct conjugation according to each of the personal pronouns plus the main verb on the –ING Form.
In the negative sentences we use the verb TO BE with “not” (the denial element) also presented according to each of the personal pronouns plus the main verb on the –ING Form.
As the verb TO BE determines specific situations, as said before, it will serve itself as the auxiliary verb in the Present and Past tenses. For that, in the Present and Past verb tenses, we will use it as the auxiliary verb that will be necessary to start the interrogative form.
In the Future Progressive, as in the Simple Future, it will be necessary to use the auxiliary verb “Will” because of its function of determining the future tense for the verbs, so the verb TO BE will constantly be submitted to this auxiliary verb, either for the affirmative, negative or interrogative forms in the sentences.
They are: Present Continuous, Past Continuous and Future Continuous/Progressive.
GENERAL OBSERVATION: It’s important to remember that in the Portuguese Language the verbs are conjugated according to each personal pronoun, which means all the verbs have a great variation in forms and the Portuguese Language has more verb tenses than the English Language.
These many variations of conjugations make possible to determine the subject of the sentences according to the verb tense that is presented which allows the use of a hidden subject.The verb conjugation in English doesn’t vary as in Portuguese. There are just a few variations of the verbs use making impossible the use of the hidden subject, but there is the non-existent subject as in Portuguese.
So it’ll be always necessary to indicate or determine the subject for each sentence, mainly in longer or compounded periods, when there will be a new sentence after each conjunction. That’s when the personal pronouns are used to replace or represent the subjects.
