Weekly outline

  • General

  • Communication Space

  • Contact Details

    Contact us

    Faculty of Letters and Foreign Languages

    Department of English

    Teacher of Lecture and TD: Dr. Mouna Boulberhane

    Contact:   mouna.boulberhane@centre-univ-mila.dz 

                      boulberhanemouna@gmail.com

    Target audience: Second year students of English

    Fundamental Unit: 

    Credit: 04

    Coefficient: 02

    Availability at university (Teachers’ Office, Humanities Building: number 05).

    Additional sessions that are programmed remotely, either by individual contacts (by email) in case of need.

  • Course Description

    English Grammar Tenses

    Level: Second Year English (Semester 3) \  Unit: Fundamental \ Credit: 04 \ Coefficient: 02 \ Teaching Time: 03 Hours Per Week

    English Grammar Tenses:  are verb forms that indicate the time and sometimes the duration of an action or event. They help us understand when something happens — in the present, past, or future — and how it happens, whether it’s a regular habit, an ongoing action, a completed event, or something that will happen later. Each main tense (present, past, and future) includes four aspects: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous, making a total of twelve tenses in English. Understanding these tenses is essential for forming correct and meaningful sentences in both spoken and written communication.


    • Course Objectives

      Aims and Objectives

      By the end of this course, students will be able to:

      • Identify the different English tenses and their basic structures (present, past, future; simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous).
      • Distinguish between tenses based on time expressions and contextual clues in a sentence.
      • Apply the correct tense to express actions appropriately in writing and speaking.
      • Analyze sentence patterns to determine the appropriate tense in both formal and informal contexts.
      • Use a variety of tenses accurately to communicate time relationships in narratives, descriptions, and explanations.

      • Pre-requisites

        Prior Knowledge

        To benefit fully from this course, students should:

        • Have a basic understanding of English sentence structure, including subject-verb agreement and word order.
        • Be familiar with common English verbs and basic vocabulary for everyday communication.

        • Have some experience with basic grammar terminology, such as "verb," "subject," "object," and "tense."

        • Know how to form affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in simple tenses.

        • Pre-Course Diagnostic Test Quiz


          This diagnostic test is designed to assess your initial understanding of key grammar items related to English tenses. In this matching activity, you will pair each grammar term with its correct definition or example. The goal is to identify your current level and help guide future lessons.

      • Course Plan

        Course Plan

        In this semester, learners will explore the twelve tenses in the English language, focusing on their forms, functions, and usage in both spoken and written communication. The course will cover:

        • Present (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous)
        • Past (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous)
        • Future (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous)

        • Course Plan of GRAMMAR File


          The objective of this Grammar course is to help students develop a solid understanding of 

          key grammatical structures essential for effective communication.


      • General Introduction


        Tenses, or English verb tenses, are grammatical tools used to express time in language. They help us understand when an action takes place — whether in the past, present, or future. Tenses are fundamental in structuring sentences, as they provide context and clarity about the timing of events.

        Each tense reflects a specific aspect of time and can show whether an action is ongoing, completed, repeated, or planned. For example, the present simple describes habits and routines, while the present continuous shows actions happening right now. The past tenses recount events that have already occurred, and future tenses express predictions or intentions.

        Understanding tenses is essential for clear, accurate, and meaningful communication. They allow speakers and writers to organize thoughts logically across time, build coherent narratives, and avoid confusion in both written and spoken English. Mastery of tenses also improves reading comprehension and helps learners become more confident users of the language.

        Mind Map for the Module of Grammar (L2\ English \ Semester 01 and 02):

        A mind Map

      • Lesson One Summary: The Simple Present Tense

        1. Definition: The Present Simple tense is one of the most commonly used tenses in English, forming the foundation
          for everyday communication. It appears frequently in both spoken and written language.

        2. Specific Objectives: At the end of the course, students will be able to apply the Present Simple accurately in both spoken and written contexts to describe daily life and routines. Also, they will easily analyze errors in Present Simple usage within various contexts and identify corrections. Finally, they will be able to evaluate different sentence structures to determine the appropriate use of the Present Simple tense. 

        3. Form:  The Present Simple tense is formed using the base form of the verb for subjects like I, you, we, and they (e.g., I play, they work). For he, she, and it, we add -s or -es to the verb (e.g., she plays, he watches). In negative sentences, we use don’t or doesn’t with the base verb (e.g., They don’t like tea, He doesn’t go to school). Questions are formed with do or does before the subject (e.g., Do you study English?, Does she work here?).

        4. Use:  The Present Simple tense is used to express habits, routines, facts, and permanent situations. It also describes general truths, scientific facts, and scheduled future events such as timetables. This tense is commonly used with adverbs of frequency and time expressions to show how often an action occurs. In informal contexts, it may be used for giving instructions or explaining steps. The Present Simple is also used with stative verbs and in newspaper headlines to convey facts or fixed information. 

      • Lesson Two Summary: The Present Continuous Tense

        1. Definition:  The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening right now or around the current moment. It is formed with am/is/are + verb + -ing. This tense can also express temporary situations or planned future events. Time expressions like now, at the moment, and currently often accompany it.
        2. Specific Objectives:  Students will recall the structure and rules of the Present Continuous tense. They will apply this tense accurately in both spoken and written contexts to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking. Additionally, they will create sentences, dialogues, or short paragraphs using the Present Continuous to express ongoing situations. These skills will help reinforce their understanding and practical use of this tense.
        3. Form:  The Present Continuous tense is formed using the verb to be (am, is, are) followed by the -ing form of the main verb. For example: I am studying, she is reading, they are playing. In negative sentences, not is added after the verb to be (e.g., He is not working). To form questions, the verb to be comes before the subject (e.g., Are you listening?).

        4. Use:  The Present Continuous is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking or around the current time. It also expresses temporary situations, even if the action is not happening right now. Additionally, it is used for planned future arrangements, especially when a decision has already been made. The tense can also show frequent actions that annoy or surprise the speaker, often with adverbs like always or constantly. Overall, it highlights actions that are ongoing, temporary, or personally planned.


      • Exit Assessment


        Exercises

        Objectives

        • Analyzing and differentiate between the Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses in various contexts.
        • Applying the correct verb forms to improve tense accuracy in both written and spoken contexts.
        • Creating well-formed sentences using the appropriate tense and structure.
        • Recognizing and interpret time expressions commonly used with present tenses.
        • A Short Answer Question Quiz
          A short answer exercise where students respond to questions using either the Present Simple or Present Continuous, depending on the context. It checks their understanding of usage and form.
        • A Multiple_Choice Question Quiz

          A multiple-choice exercise where students choose the correct verb tense—Present Simple or Present Continuous—to complete each sentence based on context.


        • A Drag-and-Drop Into Text Question Quiz

          A drag-and-drop activity where students insert the correct verb forms (Present Simple or Present Continuous) into a text. It tests their ability to choose the appropriate tense based on context.


        • An English Grammar Essay: Everyday Life and Ongoing Actions. Quiz

          Write a short essay (about 100–150 words) describing your daily routine and what you are doing this week. Use both the Present Simple tense (for habits and routines) and the Present Continuous tense (for actions happening now or around this week).


      • Recommended References


        1. Bibliography:

        • Azar, B. S., & Hagen, S. A. (2009). Understanding and using English grammar (4th ed.). Pearson Education.

        • Eastwood, J. (1994). Oxford guide to English grammar. Oxford University Press.

        • Murphy, R. (2019). English grammar in use (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

        • Celce-Murcia, M., & Larsen-Freeman, D. (1999). The grammar book: An ESL/EFL teacher’s course (2nd ed.). Heinle & Heinle.

        • Leech, G., & Svartvik, J. (2002). A communicative grammar of English (3rd ed.). Pearson Education.

        • Hewings, M. (2013). Advanced grammar in use (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.

        • Swan, M. (2005). Practical English usage (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

        • Yule, G. (2016). Oxford practice grammar: Advanced (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press.

        2. Webliography: