Present Simple Present Continuous Present Perfect Present Perfect is used: is used for: is used for: Continuous is used: «for permanent ‘temporary situations. © recently completed ‘for actions that situations or states. She is working in Paris actions and whose results started in the past He works in a hospital, this week. are visible in the present. and continue up to * for general truths and * changing or ‘He has cut the grass. (We the present. laws of nature. developing can see the grass isnow He has been washing Water boils at 100°C. situations. out) i oe ian oi «for repeated/habitual Johnny is getting taler actions that started in fe started an hour ago aan a | and tater. the past and continue _and he's stil washing it) with adverbs of ‘* frequently repeated UP tthe present with for past actions of frequency: often, actions with always, tative verbs such ascertain duration usually, always, etc.). constantly, be, have, like, know, having visible results He always does his continually, etc. etc, In this case we or effects in the homework. ‘expressing often use for or since. —_ present. (Here ‘always’ means annoyance or igs Jones hias been # He has been fighting. every day.) criticism. secretary for ten years. That's why he's got a . jsports ‘He's always asking _» experiences black eye. eee | seid questons She has tried windsurfing. "* to express anger, narrations. (Here ‘always’ means actions which happened _ Irritation, annoyance José Carreras sings constantly.) within a specific time Someone has been wonderfull in this, actions happening at _ period which is not over using my laptop. recorting. of around the atthe time of speaking. (annoyance) i} * for timetables/ moment of speaking. We use expressions —_ Present Perfect programmes (future The baby’s sleeping such as today, this Continuous ts meaning). The race _ at the moment. ‘morning/evening/ normally used with starts at 3:00 pm. ‘fixed arrangements Week/month, etc. for, since or how long ‘in exclamatory inthe near future, /@has read three novels’ to put emphasis on commer” mung! Maneater raat Here comes the bride! Wallet) eatavan Seahene Time expressions used with: Present Simple every day/week/month’year, usually, sometimes, always, rarely, never, often, in the moming/evening/afternoon, at night, on Mondays, etc. Present Continuous ‘now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, stil, etc. Present Perfect & Present Perfect, Continuous, just, ever, never, already, yet (negations & questions), always, how long, so far, recently, since (= from a starting point in the past) for (= over a period of time), today, this week/month, etc. For and since are usually used with Present Perfect Continuous to emphasise the duration of an action,Stative Verbs Stative verbs express a permanent state and don't usually have continuous forms. These are: © verbs of the senses (to express involuntary actions): fee!, hear, see, smell, taste, etc. (Can or could are often used with these verbs. Turn the radio down, please. | can't hear you.) Look, watch and listen express deliberate actions and can be used in continuous forms. John is watching a football match on TV. Feel and hurt can be used in either continuous or simple forms. John feelslis feeling worse today. * verbs of feelings and emotions: adore, appreciate (= value), detest, dislike, enjoy, forgive, hate, ‘ike, loathe, etc. He hates the show they are watching on TV now. (NOT: He-e-hating) * verbs of opinion: agree, believe, expect (= think), see (= understand), suppose, understand, ete. | believe he is innocent. (NOT: kam-believing) © other verbs: appear (= seem), belong, concem, contain, depend, ft (= be the right shape and size for sth), have (= possess), know, mean, owe, own, possess, need, prefer, require, want, weigh, (= have the weight of), wish, keep (= continue), seem, ete. He wants some more biscuts. (NOT: He-i-wanting) ‘Some stative verbs have continuous forms but with a difference in meaning: State He thinks he’s really clever. (= he believes) (= This tastes salty. (= ithas the flavour) Why is he tasting the soup? (= testing the flavour) He has two houses. (= he owns; he possesses) She's having lunch. (= she's eating) The silk shirt feels soft. (= ithas a soft texture) Ann is feeling the cats fur. (= she's touching) ‘Do you see what / mean? (= understand) Tm seeing Paula tonight. (= I'm meeting) Your perfume smells of apples. (= ithas the smell) She is smelling the roses. (= she's sniffing) ovelenjoy good fms. (= | ike in general) 'm loving/enjoying ths film. (= | like specifically) It looks as i is going to rain. (= it appears) __He is looking atthe painting. (= he's observing it) He appears to be working. (= he seems to be) The singer is appearing on stage tonight. (= is performing) The box is heavy. It weighs a lot. (= has the He is weighing the potatoes. (= is measuring the weight weight of) of Can er! Certain adjectives can be used with be in the continuous form to express a temporary characteristic. These are: careful, foolish, kind, lazy, nice, (im)patient, im)polite, rude, sily, ee. John is usually careful, but today he's being careless. You're being very foolish. (normally used as a waming)Past Simple Past Continuous is used for: is used for: '* past actions that took an action which was place immediately in progress at a one after the other. stated time in the He got inthe car, started past. We do not know the engine and drove off. when the action * past habits or states _—started or finished. Ach aehow AA o'clock tis alomoan finished. In such they were having coffee. cases, we can also * a past action which luse the expression __was in progress used to. when another action When he was young, he interrupted it. rode/used to ride his was playing football bike to school when I broke my ankle. ‘* a complete action or (The action in progress ‘event which happened Was playing (Past at a stated time in the Continuous) ~ was past, interrupted by another She passed her exam, action broke. Past last week (When? “Last Simple) Past Perfect | is used for: ‘© an action which happened before | another past action or before a stated time in the past. She had aloady cooked dinner when her husband came home. (She cooked dinner fist and then her husband came) week” - stated time in © two or more actions the past) which were ‘© complete past actions happening at the not connected tothe | same time in the present with a stated Past (simultaneous or implied time actions). eras He was cooking while Evis Presley made lots |_she was sleeping. of records. (ENisis | ‘background dead; he won't record description to events any more ~ period of, ina story/description. time now finished ~ They were travelling to implied time reference) an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past. before she gave up. Past Perfect Continuous is used: * for an action of certain duration continuing up to a specific time in the past. ‘She had been trying to get a visa for months ‘ for a past action which lasted for ‘some time in the past ‘and whose result was visible inthe past. Her fingers ached because she had been playing the guitar all ayy. When saw Steve yesterday he was happy because he hhad found a new LOS | * The Past Perfect is the past ‘equivalent of the Present Perfect. There was no pudding left; he had eaten ital (Present pertect: ‘There's no pudding let; he has eaten it all) ‘The Past Perfect Continuous is the past equivalent of the Present Perfect Continuous. He stayed in bed that day because he had ‘been feeling il all week, (Present perfect: He's staying in bed today because he's been feeling ill ll week.) Time expressions used with: Past Simple ‘yesterday, last week, etc, (how long) ago, then, just now, when, in 1992, etc. Past Perfect, Past Continuous while, when, as, the moment that, etc. ‘or, since, already, after, just, never, yet, before, by, by the time, etc. Past Perfect Continuous for, since Present Perfect is used: * for complete past actions connected to thi present with a stated or unstated time reference. ‘She has gone to Madrid. (unstated time; we don't know when she went - she's stil there) lim has typed five letters this moming. (stated time; it’s stil morning ~ action connected to the present) I've spoken to Prince Charles. (He's stil alive — action connected to the present) He has lived in Spain for two years. (He's in Spain ‘now. - action connected to the present) * to announce news or give new information. The Prime Minister has decided to call a general election. Past Simple is used: * for complete past actions not connected to the present with a stated or implied time reference. She went to Madrid yar. The time is stat fast year. (When? Last ted.) Jim typed five letters yesterday morning. (When? Yesterday morning.) She once spoke to James Dean. (action not ‘connected to the present ~ James Dean is dead.) ‘She lived in France for three years. (She doesn't lve in France now. — the present) action not connected 10 * to give additional details of a news story. He announced the decision to Parliament this moming.Used to - Be used to + -ing form / noun / pronoun - Would ~ Was going to ‘* Used to expresses past habits, regularly repeated actions in the past or past states. She used to tell me stories. (ALSO: would tell me.) He used to live in the county. (NOT: would - state) He used to have a beard. (NOT: would - stato) ‘© Would expresses regularly repeated actions and routines in the past. (Stative verbs are not used with ‘would.’) ‘Mum would always make me a big breakfast. (ALSO: Mum used to make ... * Be used to means ‘be accustomed to’, ‘be in the habit of'. ‘Sha isn’t used to living in tropical climates. (= she isn't accustomed to living ..) ‘* Was going to expresses actions one intended to do but didn’t. ‘She was going to move to London but then she decided to stay in York.Future Simple (Will) | Be going to Future Continuous | Future Perfect is used for: is used for: is used: Is used for: ‘© on-the-spot decisions. * actions intended * for actions which * an action which will 1s cold in here. tum tobe performed | will be in progress _ be finished before a ‘on the heating. inthe near future. at a stated future stated future time. * hopes, fears, threats, _‘’m going to buy time. They will have offers, promises, some new clothes | ll be skiing in the finished building their ‘warnings, predictions, "ext week Alps this time next house by May. requests, comments, * planned actions week. NOTE: by or not ete. Esp. with: eypect, orintentions. for actions which _untiiftill are used with ‘hope, believe, Im sure, Now that she's rich, will definitely Future Perfect. ‘Tm afraid, probably, etc. she's going to happen inthe Untill are normally hope he'l lke his travel round the future as a result only used with Future birthday present world. of aroutine or —_Perfect in negative * actions or predictions * predictions based | arrangement sentences. which we think may ‘on what we can (instead of Present She will have written it by cll fanspeel hn the seerot thal we Continuous). ‘next week. (NOT: tart) future. know, especially I'll be playing golf She won't have graduated ‘She'll probably win. when there is ‘on Friday. (! play golf | until May. (NOT: by-May) yaaa athe evidence. CRY TD RS eee caret Sontrel bet Look atthe clouds! | Part of my routine) | Future Perfect which will defintely I's going to,ain.__* ‘when weask politely Continuous happen. © things we are about people's is used to: The baby will be born sure about or we | @rangementsto.$2e + emphasise the in the new year. have already ithey can do sth for uration of an action things we are not yet decided to do in ae up to a certain time lacraacoatiorwe! the near future. want to offer to do in the future. haven't decided to We are going to ‘sth for them. Will you By this time next do yet. offer the job to Ann, | Be driving into town | month he will have ‘Maybe I'll buy a cer. (ithas been this afternoon? Can been studying piano decided.) you give me a lift? for 2 years. NOTE: Shall is used with | Present Simple with Present Continuous with {Wwe in questions, future meaning future meaning suggestions, offers or when asking for advice. Shall we play tennis? timetables/programmes | fixed arrangement in the near future The boat leaves at 8 o'clock in | 'm having dinner with Jane this evening. the morning. (t's a date) Shall is used with Uwe in questions, suggestions, offers or when asking for advice. Shall we go fora walk? Who shall I invite? Will is used to express offers, threats, promises, predictions, warnings, requests, hopes, fears, on-the-spot decisions, comments (mainly with: think, expect, believe, I'm sure, hope, 1ow, Suppose and probably). /’m sure John will pass his driving test Time expressions used with: Future Simple & | tomorrow, tonight, next week/month, in two/three, ete. days, the Be going to day after tomorrow, soon, in a week/month, etc. Future Perfect “before, by, by then, by the time (until is used only in negative sentences with this tense) Future Perfect Continuous by Future Simple vs Be going to The future simple is used: | Be going to is used: ‘* for predictions based on what we * for predictions based on what we can see or think, believe or imagine. what we know, especially when there is |In the year 2060, people will drive fying evidence. cars. Look at that boy! He's going to climb the tree. ‘© for on-the-spot decisions. | © for intentions, plans or ambitions for the future. ‘ts hot in her. IW open the window. They are going to get marred next month (They have already decided to do it)‘* We never use future forms after: as soon as, as long as, after, before, by the time, if (conditional), unless, in case, untill, when (time conjunction), whenever, while, once, suppose/supposing, on ‘condition that, etc. The manager will see you as soon as he comes out of the meeting. (NOT: as Soon as he wiltome-out) Jil buy a new sofa when I get paid. (NOT: buy a new sofa when-Hi-get pai) ‘© We can use future forms with When (used as a question word) and if meaning ‘whether’ particularly after the expressions, | don’t know, | doubt, | wonder, etc. When will John go to Paris? | don't know if the teacher will punish Tim for that. (= whether)Time Words * Ago is used to refer to past time (used with Past Simple). Jane moved to Canada two weeks ago. (two weeks in the past) * Before is used to indicate sth happened earlier than sth else. Last week, | met Paul and he told ime that Jane had moved to Canada two weeks before. (two weeks earlier than last week). Itcan also be used with Present or Past forms to show that one action preceded another. Tilleave before he comes. (NOT: before he-wilteeme). He (had) fished his homework before he had dinner. * Since is usually used with Perfect tenses to express a starting point. The Perfect tense is used In the main clause. He has been here since July. I've known him since we were at school. * For is used to express the duration of an action. She has been in Lisbon for ten days. ‘She had been working there for two years before she applied for a new post. * Already is used with Perfect tenses in mid ~ or end - position in statements and questions. ‘She had already dressed when Tim arrived. Has she cooked dinner already? * Yet is used with Perfect tenses in negative sentences after a contracted auxiliary or at the fend of the sentence. She hasn't yet passed her exams. She hasn't passed her exams yet In questions yet only comes at the end. Has he come yet? ‘+ ‘Still is used in statements and questions after the auxiliary or before the main verb. 1 can still walk long distances. Can she still play the piano well? Are you stil doing your exercises? He still plays in the same band. In negative sentences, sti comes before the auxiliary. She still can't walk very well. She still hasn't got married.