Module 2: The Simple Tenses

References:      English for Maritime Students;  www.englishclub.com; www.englishpage.com; web2.uvcs.uvic.ca; 
www.english-the-easy-way.com

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

I.                     THE SIMPLE TENSES

         (This module intends to equip the learners with the knowledge on how to construct sentences in the simple tense.)

         The simple tense is classified into three: a) the simple present tense, b) the simple past tense, and c) the simple future tense.

A.   The Simple Present Tense

          The simple present tense is one of the most common tenses in English. It is formed from the present infinitive of the verb.

1. How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

           There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with -s and the other doesn't.

Subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		Do		Base

There are three important exceptions:

1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.
2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives.

Here are the rules, using the example verb "sail":

Subject	Verb Form	Example
I	simple form	I sail
You	simple form	You sail
He	simple form + S	He sails
She	simple form + S	She sails
It	simple form + S	It sails
We	simple form	We sail
They	simple form	They sail

         

         In other words, only THIRD PERSON SINGULAR subjects (he, she and it) have to have a verb with -S.

2. -s or -es ?

          With most verbs, the third person singular form is created simply by adding -S. However, with some verbs, you need to add -ES or change the ending a little. Here are the rules:

Verb ending in...	How to make the 3rd person singular	Example
S	Add –ES	He passes
Z	Add –ES	She waltzes
Sh	Add –ES	She wishes
Ch	Add –ES	He watches
X	Add –ES	She mixes
consonant + y	Change Y to I, then add -ES	It flies
[anything else]	Add –S	He sings

2. How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

        We use the simple present tense when:

              a. the statement is always true - habitual action

Example:

The Maritime English instructor checks the students’ attendance everyday

b. the action is general- state of being or statement of fact

              Example:

The Philippines is a party to the SCTW 1978 Convention.

c.  the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future     - something that is generally true or true at all times

              Example:

Seafarers are required to attend skills upgrading courses.

d. the action is not only happening now - state of being or action in the past as though it was occurring in the present

              Example:

The IMO adopts the STCW ’78 Convention.

                    B.   The Simple Past Tense

           The simple past tense is used to express action done or condition existing at a definite past time.

          We can use several tenses to talk about the past, but the simple past tense is the one we use most often.

1.           How do we make the Simple Past Tense?

     To make the simple past tense, we use:

• past form only
  or
• auxiliary did + base form

           Here are examples of the past form and base form for irregular verbs and regular verbs:

	V1 base	V2 past	V3 past participle
regular verb	work explode like	worked exploded liked	worked exploded liked	The past form for all regular verbs ends in -ed.
irregular verb	go see sing	went saw sang	gone seen sung	The past form for irregular verbs is variable.
			You do not need the past participle form to make the simple past tense.

          
          The structure for positive sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	main verb
		Past

          The structure for negative sentences in the simple past tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	not	+	main verb
		did				base

          The structure for question sentences in the simple past tense is:

auxiliary verb	+	subject	+	main verb
Did				base

          

          The auxiliary verb did is not conjugated. It is the same for all persons (I did, you did, he did etc). The base form and past form does not also change. Here are some examples with the main verbs go and work:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I			Went	to school.
	You			Worked	very hard.
-	She	Did	not	Go	with me.
	We	Did	not	Work	yesterday.
?	Did	You		Go	to London?
	Did	they		Work	at home?

          

          Exception: The verb to be is different. We conjugate the verb to be (I was, you were, he/she/it was, we were, they were); and we do not use an auxiliary for negative and question sentences. To make a question, we exchange the subject and verb.

	Subject	main verb
+	I, he/she/it	was		here.
	You, we, they	were		in London.
-	I, he/she/it	was	not	there.
	You, we, they	were	not	happy.
?	Was	I, he/she/it		right?
	Were	you, we, they		late?

2.           How do we use the Simple Past Tense?

            We use the simple past tense to talk about an action or a situation - an event - in the past. The event can be short or long.

          
          Here are some short events with the simple past tense:

The car exploded at 9.30am yesterday. She went to the door. We did not hear the telephone. Did you see that car?
past	present	Future
The action is in the past.

          
          Here are some long events with the simple past tense:

I lived in Bangkok for 10 years. The Jurassic period lasted about 62 million years. We did not sing at the concert. Did you watch TV last night?
past	present	Future
The action is in the past.

          

          It does not matter how long ago the event is: it can be a few minutes or seconds in the past, or millions of years in the past. It does not also matter how long the event is. It can be a few milliseconds or millions of years. We use the simple past tense when:

• the event is in the past
• the event is completely finished
• we say (or understand) the time and/or place of the event

          Examples:

·                                      The IMO amended the 1978 STCW Convention in 1991, 1994, 1995 and 1997.
                 
                The Philippines deposited with the IMO its instrument of Accession to the 1978 STCW Convention on February 22, 1984.


          
                C. The Simple Future Tense
     

          The simple future tense denotes an action, which will happen or will occur at some future time. The simple future tense is often called will, because we make the simple future tense with the modal auxiliary will.

1.   How do we make the Simple Future Tense?

The structure of the simple future tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb WILL	+	main verb
		Invariable		Base
		Will		V1

          For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we insert not between the auxiliary verb and main verb. For question sentences, we exchange the subject and auxiliary verb. Here are example sentences with the simple future tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	will		Open	the door.
+	You	will		Finish	before me.
-	She	will	not	Be	at school tomorrow.
-	We	will	not	Leave	yet.
?	Will	you		Arrive	on time?
?	Will	they		Want	dinner?

          When we use the simple future tense in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb:

I will	I'll
you will	you'll
he will she will it will	he'll she'll it'll
we will	we'll
they will	they'll

          
          For negative sentences in the simple future tense, we contract with won't:

I will not	I won't
you will not	you won't
he will not she will not it will not	he won't she won't it won't
we will not	we won't
they will not	they won't

2.   How do we use the Simple Future Tense?

a.    No Plan

          We use the simple future tense when there is no plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision spontaneously at the time of speaking.

        Examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

          We often use the simple future tense with the verb to think before it:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I will have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

b.   Prediction

         We often use the simple future tense to make a prediction about the future. We are saying what we think will happen.

        Examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

c.    Be

          When the main verb is be, we can use the simple future tense even if we have a firm plan or decision before speaking.

        Examples:

• I'll be in London tomorrow.
• I'm going shopping. I won't be very long.
• Will you be at work tomorrow?

II.            EXERCISES:

1. Underline the correct tense/form of the verb inside the parenthesis.

1.    The captain (is, was, will be) the master of the vessel.

2.    The sea (was, is, will be) rough yesterday.

3.    The crew (will sound, sounded, sounds) the alarm last night.

4.    Navigators (use, used, will use) Decca and Loran as aids to navigation.

5.    The officer of the watch (gives, gave, will give) orders to the helmsman an hour ago.

6.    The cadets (will finish, finished, finish) the course next week.

7.    We (proceeded, proceed, will proceed) to Hamburg tomorrow.

8.    The STCW Convention for Seafarers (will be adopted, was adopted, adopts) by IMO in 1978.

9.    Shipowners (will require, required, require) all seafarers to undergo training in Maritime English in the near future.  

10. The chief mate (submits, will submit, submitted) a report to the captain regularly.

2. Word Stress Drill

          Stressing means giving force/s to a word or syllable so as to give it prominence. The syllable with the strongest stress in an utterance constitutes the core with which unstressed syllables are grouped to form a rhythm unit.

cómpetence                 respónsibility            ófficer

advénture                    obtáin                      cadét

condítion                     hotél                        séaman

educátion                    commánd                  instrúctor

captáin                        convéntion                éngine

III.          VOCABULARY

   Study the following words and phrases and use each in a sentence:

1. standard of competence – the level of proficiency to be achieved for the proper performance of functions on board ship in accordance with the internationally agreed criteria.
2. evaluation criteria – the entries appearing in column 4 of the “Specification of Minimum Standard of Competence” tables in Part A of the STCW Code and provide the means for an assessor to judge whether or not a candidate can perform the related tasks, duties and responsibilities.
3. International Maritime Organization (IMO) – a specialized agency of the United Nations system devoted to maritime affairs, especially safety.
4. management level – the level of responsibility associated with serving a master, chief mate, chief engineer officer or second engineer officer on board a seagoing ship.
5. support level – the level of responsibility associated with performing assigned tasks, duties or responsibilities on board a seagoing ship under the direction of an individual serving in the operational or management level.
6. independent evaluation – an evaluation by suitably qualified persons, independent of, or external to, the unit or activity being evaluated, to verify that administrative or operational procedures at all levels are managed, organized, undertaken, and monitored internally in order to ensure their fitness for purpose and achievement of objective.
7. operational level – the level of responsibility associated with serving as officer in charge of a navigational or engineering watch or as designated duty engineer for periodically unmanned machinery spaces or as radio operator on board a seagoing ship.
8. certification – the issuance or recognition of certificate, license or other valid documents under the authority of the government agency concerned, authorizing the holder to serve as stated in the document or as authorized by national regulations.
9. watchkeeping – the maintenance of a continuous state of vigilance by sight, hearing or other available means with regards to any significant change in the operating environment affecting the safety of the ship or the maintenance of the safe and efficient operation and upkeep of machinery affecting the safety of the ship.
10. Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention (STCW), 1978 – a convention of the IMO which contains provisions to set global standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.