英语中的动词有时态(Tense)要求。
所谓“时”,即动作发生的时间；“态”，即动作的方式状态。
“时”有四种：现在时，过去时，将来时，过去将来时；“态”也有四种：一般式，进行式，完成式，完成进行式。
因此，英语中一共有16种时态。
常用的时态有9种，过去时现在时将来时一般式一般过去时（did）一般现在时（do,does）一般将来时（will+do;be goingto +do）进行式过去进行时（was/were+do-ing）现在进行时（am/is/are+do-ing）将来进行时（will/shall/is,are going to bedo-ing）完成式过去完成时（had done）现在完成时（have／has done）将来完成时（shall/will +havedone）二.新课讲解1.一般过去时（the Past Simple）(1)用法(uses)表示过去某时发生的动作或存在的情况。
如：He worked in a bank all his life.He discovered a desert island in the Pcific.The safari was exciting but dangerous.I knew what he meant.They always interviewed new employees on Fridays.(2)形式（form）即动词的过去式，分两种情况，一种是在动词结尾加ed或ied，这种动词称为规则动词，另一种不能加，形式多样，称为不规则动词。
规则动词：a.一般情况下，动词词尾加 -ed ，如：work-worked play-played want-wanted act-actedb.以不发音的 -e 结尾动词，动词词尾加 -d，如：live-lived move-moved decide-decided decline-declinedhope-hoped judge-judged raise-raised wipe-wipedc.以辅音字母 + y结尾的动词，把-y变为-i 再加-ed，如：study-studied try-tried copy-copied justify-justifiedcry-cried carry-carried embody-embodied empty-emptiedd.以一个辅音字母结尾的重读闭音节动词，双写词尾辅音字母，再加 -ed，如：stop-stopped beg-begged drag-dragged drop-droppedplan-planned drip-dripped不规则动词的过去式变化规律性不强，须多加记忆。
go - went make - made get - got buy - boughtcome - came fly-flew(3)一般过去时的时间状语Past Simple and Time Adverbials下列时间状语常和一般过去时连用：yesterday, last month, last Monday, two days ago, three years ago 等等。
即在句子中出现这样的词语时，要注意句子的谓语动词用一般过去时。
I finally passed the driving test last week.（4）一般过去时的疑问式和否定式：一般过去时的疑问句和否定句用did和didn’t + 动词原形。
如：Did you see the match last night?We didn’t see the beginning of the movie because we were late.2.一般现在时（Present Simple）(1)用法usesa.表示反复发生的动作，日常活动，习惯等。
如：I always take sugar in coffee.I don’t smoke.Mary wears a pony tail.b. 表示一般的真理或永久性的状态。
如：Water freezes at 32 Fahrenheit.We have a very good relationship with our parents.He resembles his father.c.表示将来的官方事件或不变的时间表。
如：The Chinese Spring Festival falls on a Friday next year.The last film show begins at 9 p.m.2.形式（Form）a.陈述句中，除第三人称单数外，谓语动词都用原形。
如：I live in Nanyang.They usually watch TV programmes on Saturday evening.b.陈述句中，主语为第三人称单数(third person singular)，谓语动词的结尾要加-s或-es(以y 结尾的y变i加-es)。
什么是第三人称单数？要满足两个条件，第一是第三人称，如 she, he ,they, it, John, my father 等等；第二是单数，即表示一个人或物，比如he, she, it, John, my father 等等，而they 他们，是复数，多个人，不是单数。
如：She hurries to work every morning.He puts on special equipment when he dives.c. 在疑问句，否定句或简略答语中，用do 或does。
如：Does your mother travel a lot?Yes, she does./No, she doesn’t.We don’t like extreme sports.Mary doesn’t understand why risk is exciting.d.一般现在时的时间状语（Present Simple and time adverbials）句子中如果有以下词语（时间状语），谓语动词常要用一般现在时。
always, usually, regularly, every morning/day/night/week/year, often, sometimes, occasionally, from time to time, twice a week, rarely, seldom, once a month, hardly ever, never.等等I know that I do put people down occasionally.He regularly swims and plays tennis.Some people never go on adventure holidays.From time to time, I dream about becoming a millionaire.3.一般将来时（the Future Indefinite）(1)用法usesa.依据观点或信念揣测未来。
如：She will make a good lawyer.You will make great progress in English study if you follow my advice and take persistent efforts.I think China will become a rich country one day.Who do you think will win the match.b. 表示说话时瞬间做出的决定，可能是提议或意图。
如：All right, I will help you with the housework.I think I won’t go to the party after all.I think I will go for a walk. I have a slight headache.c.表示意愿、承诺和提议。
如：I will always be your friend.She will bring back your bicycle tomorrow.d.表示请求、邀请。
如：Will you come with me?Will you wait for me?Will you come to my party on Sunday evening?e. 依据现在看到的迹象对未来事件做出推断。
如：Look at the clouds; it’s going to rain.He is going to win the match.f.表示要做某事的主观意图。
如：I am going to change my lifestyle completely.I am going to study medicine/law/fine arts.My parents are going to move to the countryside.(2)形式（Form）will+动词原形(a,b,c,d);be going to +动词原形（e,f）.be to +动词原形。
如：They are to be married in June.The Prime Minister is to visit China next month.The bridge is to be open to traffic on Oct.1.4.过去进行时（Past Continuous）(1)用法（uses）a.过去一段时间内的持续动作。
如：I was planning to go on a trip to Greece.The robbers were waiting at the bus stop.He was reading from morning till night yesterday.b.描述故事发生的背景或状态。
如：He was sleeping under a tree when the storm began.We were talking quietly at the bar when a fight broke out.过去进行时和一般过去时用于同一个句子时，过去进行时描述故事发生的背景，过去时说明该事件。
如：In the end, I was standing there in a state of shock when a policeman asked me for my name and address.He was having lunch when the earthquake was reported on TV.(2)形式（Form）was/were+ 动词-ing.如：He was working in the garden although it was raining hard.The trapeze artist was preparing her act.Was the trapeze artist preparing her act?The trapeze artist wasn’t preparing her act.5.现在进行时（Present Continuous）(1)用法usesa. 表示说话时正在进行的动作。