英語的時態(tài)很多，限于篇幅，我們只就一些需要特別注意的，考試中常常出現(xiàn)的時態(tài)加以歸納。

（一）一般現(xiàn)在時

1. 表示自然現(xiàn)象與普遍真理。
The Sun rises in the east.
Actions speak louder than words. 行動勝于語言。

2. 在時間、條件從句中表將來。
I’ll tell him when he comes.
They will do it if they are not very busy tomorrow.
注意：如果if從句表示一種愿望時，可用will+動詞原形，will相當(dāng)于情態(tài)動詞。
If you will be quiet, I’ll tell you what happened.

（二）現(xiàn)在進行時

1. 動詞go, come, leave, stay, start, do, begin, arrive等動詞的進行時表示一個最近計劃和安排要做的事。多用于口語。
What are you doing next Saturday?
You may catch the Golden Queen which is sailing to Brazil this afternoon.
你可以乘坐金皇后號，這艘船今天下午將駛往巴西。

2. 進行時與always, constantly, forever等詞連用表示感情色彩。
He is continuously finding fault with me. 他不斷地挑我的毛病。
These kinds of persons are always doing things like that. 這種人經(jīng)常那么干。
3. 在由while引起的狀語從句中，動詞要用進行時。
While you are resting, I’ll read you today’s news.
While I was having my breakfast the morning post came.

（三）現(xiàn)在完成時
1. 在時間、條件狀語從句中，用現(xiàn)在完成時代替將來完成時。
I’ll give this dictionary to you as soon as I have finished reading it.
If you have done the experiment, you will realize how difficult the theory is.

2. 現(xiàn)在完成時可用于下列句型：
This /That /It is the first … that …
This /That /It is the best … that …
This /That /It is the only … that …
This is the first time that I have played table tennis.
It is the only party that I’ve ever really enjoyed in my life.
That is the most interesting film that I’ve ever seen.

3. 無論since作介詞還是連詞，句子應(yīng)用完成時。
Great changes have taken place since the reform and opening to the world.
I haven’t seen her since I last saw her.

4. 當(dāng)since, before作副詞用置于句末時，應(yīng)用完成時。
I haven’t studied English before.
We haven’t met each other since.

5. 在it is … since結(jié)構(gòu)中，主句的謂語通常用一般現(xiàn)在時，也可用現(xiàn)在完成時，但從句通常為終止性動詞的過去時。
It’s a long time since I saw you last time.
It is four years since Tom left school.

6. 終止性動詞appear, begin, set up, buy, die, join, start, come, fall, finish, leave, lend, sell, lose, stop, etc.的完成時不能與for連用。
不能說：He has got up for 2 hours.
只能說：He got up 2 hours ago.
He has been up for 2 hours.
It is 2 hours since he got up.
7. by + 將來時間狀語用將來完成時，by + 現(xiàn)在時間狀語用現(xiàn)在完成時。
By this time next year we’ll have graduated.
By now I have seen the film three times.

（四）過去完成時
1. by + 過去時間狀語用過去完成時。
By last year I had learned 2000 English words.

2. 在no sooner … than, hardly … when, scarcely … when, barely … when等句型中，主句中的謂語用過去完成時，從句中的謂語用過去時。
No sooner had we got all the crops in than it began to rain.
She had hardly finished his speech when the audience started cheering.