Beef Trailer

hustle
(verb, informal US) to sell or obtain something, often illegally

suburban
(adjective) relating to or characteristic of a suburb (an area where people live that is outside the centre of a city)

stuck
(adjective) unable to move or progress

serene
(adjective) calm and peaceful

mess with
(verb) to interfere with or bother someone or something

handy man
(noun) a man who is skilled in doing various kinds of repairs and maintenance work

piss
(verb) to urinate

hardwood
(noun) the dense, strong wood of certain trees, such as oak or maple

oak
(noun) a large tree with acorns, native to Europe, Asia, and North America

delusional
(adjective) having false or unrealistic beliefs or opinions

back into
(verb) to move backwards into a place or position

psycho
(noun, offensive) a person who you think is crazy, strange or violent

flip off
(verb) to make a rude gesture, typically by raising the middle finger

roid out
(verb) to become aggressive or violent as a result of taking steroids

In this lesson, we are going to identify the tenses used in the trailer.

Amy, are you okay?
okay = adjective
Present simple: Are + you + adjective
Used to describe or ask someone’s present condition

I’ve been hustling my whole life.
= I have been hustling my whole life.
Present perfect continuous: I + have + been + -ing form
Used to describe an action that started in the past and is still ongoing at the moment.
It means the speaker started hustling in the past and is still hustling at the moment.

Look where it’s gotten me.
= Look where it has gotten me.

where it has gotten me
= noun clause (acting as an object to the verb “look”)

There are 2 tenses in this sentence.

Look = base form
Present simple: Base form.
Used to express instructions.
We use present simple for instructions.
– We can use base form only: Take the number 9 bus.
– We can also add “you” at the beginning: You take the number 9 bus.

It has gotten me
gotten = past participle
Present perfect: it + has + past participle
Used to describe an action that has been completed at the moment of speaking.

We can use 2 tenses in a sentence when it uses a noun/adjective/adverb clause, depending on the context.

Example:
Look at what he is doing.
Look = present simple
he is doing = present continuous

Just make it stop.
make = base form
Present simple: base form
Used to express an instruction.

What is your prob-what?
your problem = noun phrase
Present simple: What + is + noun
Used to ask a question about a present fact.

What are you doing?
doing = -ing form
Present continuous: What + are + you + -ing form
Used to ask a question about an action that is happening.

I have a very full life that I’d love to get back to.
have = base form
Present simple: I + base form
Used to express a present fact.

I’d like to get back to
= I would like to get back to (would like = want)
= I want to get back to
want = base form
Present simple: I + base form
Used to express a present fact.

I’m gonna find you and take what little you have.
= I’m going to find you…
= I will find you…
be going to = will
Future tense using “be going to”
Used to express something that will be done in the future.

You’re just a suburban housewife,
a suburban housewife = noun phrase
Present simple: you + are + noun
Used to express a present fact.

and now you’re stuck in a life you never wanted.
stuck = adjective
Present simple: you + are + adjective
Used to express a present condition.

So, stop messing with me and leave me alone or else.
stop = base form
Present simple: base form
Used to express an instruction.

Even though there an -ing form (messing), we consider the first verb (stop) to determine the tense of a sentence.

I would love to let this go but actions have consequences.
= I want to let this go but actions have consequences. (would love = want)
want = base form
Present simple: I + base form
Used to express a present fact.

I just can’t understand what those people are so angry about.
can = modal verb for present contexts
understand = base form
Present simple with modal verb: I + can + base form
Used to express an ability/inability to do something in the present.

This is European oak!
European oak = noun
Present simple: this + is + noun
Used to express a present fact.

I found ways to manage my stress.
found = past simple
Past simple: I + past simple
Used to express an action in the past.

You’re born…
= you are born
born = past participle
Present simple in passive voice: you + are + past participle
Used to express present fact in passive voice.

Maybe we’re not normal.
normal = adjective
Present simple: we + are + adjective
Used to express a present condition.

You started this.
started = past simple
Past simple: you + past simple
Used to express an action in the past.

You’re the one who backed into me like a psycho.
There are 2 tenses in this sentence.

You’re = you are
the one who backed into me like a psycho = noun clause
Present simple: you + are + noun clause
Used to describe someone in the present.

who backed into me like a psycho
backed = past simple
Past simple: subject + past simple
Used to describe an action in the past.

We can use this pattern to describe someone with an action done in the past.
He is the one who told me to resign.
She is the one who helped me yesterday.
They are the ones who attacked John last week.

What’d you say?
= What did you say?
Past simple: what + did + you + base form
Used to ask about an action in the past.
This tense is used because the action of saying already happened in the past (even though only a short while ago.)