1 Present and Past Tenses

PRESENT AND PAST TENSES.
Chapter 2
• Expressing habits and temporary
actions in the present and the past:
Stative and dynamic verbs
• The present and the past
connected: the present perfect
• A past in the past: the past perfect
• Would and Used to.
• Didactic resources to teach
• tenses to young learners
• References
1
SIMPLE PRESENT
. General truths and invariable facts (used to state universal
truths and describe facts): British people drink a lot of tea;
Broken bones in adults don’t heal as fast as they do in
children. See The wheels on the bus:
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/es/songs/the-
wheels-the-bus
See activity after listening to the song.
• Habitual and permanent actions and situations: I always
get up at 9 o’clock. See video Daily Activities or the tale
Susan Laughs:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4UxHj6XoWM
• This is the way (habits):
https://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/songs/the-way
SIMPLE PRESENT
.
SIMPLE PRESENT
• Series of events/actions (give directions or instructions, often with
impersonal you, recipies): From here you cross the road, go through
an iron gate and …
• To give the events of a past narrative, an anecdote or a headline in

a newspaper more immediacy: There is an old woman with thick
glasses and a name tag. I go up to her and ask…; sports
commentaries, etc
• In formal speech or writing for certain actions: I look forward to
hearing from you.
• No by Marta Altés
4
Simple present. Example
Talking about Events: The Verbal

5
Group. Lingüística Inglesa II
Present Progressive
1. Temporary actions or actions of limited duration: Normally he
lives in London, but now he’s living in Boston. See video The
Leaves on the Trees: See British Council web page.
2. Actions in progress (at or around) / things which are changing:
She’s staying in the Astoria on his visit to New York, isn’t
she? / Summers are getting hotter and winters are getting
wetter.
3. Annoyance or irritation on the part of the speaker (adverb of
frequency): She’s always borrowing money from me.
Talking about Events: The Verbal Group. Lingüística Inglesa II

6
Present Progressive
4. To refer to actions that form the background of a past
narrative (they started before the actions within the
narrative): there’s an old woman with thick glasses who’s
serving the hot drinks, so I go up to her and ask…. (the
simple present is used to give more immediacy to the
narrative).
5. Exceptions (inversion of S and F):
Here comes the postman
There goes the last bus
(actions in progress)
6. Placido Domingo sings well / is singing well.
7
Group
Present Progressive
Are you wearing blue today?
What are you wearing today?

8
Group
Stative and Dynamic Verbs
• Dynamic: can be used in the progressive; temporary character of
the action; it’s raining
• Stative verbs: SEE PODCAST AND SUMMARY
• Rarely used in the progressive
• No-endpoints implied (durative, they last throughout time):
Most people don’t believe in the existence of UFOs.
• States of being, thinking, possessing, feeling, appearing… I think
she is very attractive; BUT I am thinking of her
• If used in the progressive, the verb either has a different
meaning or expresses a temporary action:
I have three cars / I am having a really good time.
• Vebs of feeling or bodily sensation (hurt, feel) can be used in
both the simple and the progressive with no change in meaning;
My hand hurts / is hurting again.

9
Group.
Stative verbs. Example

10
Stative or Dynamic? See chapter by Yule
• THINK: I think that capital punishment is wrong

(opinion); I’m thinking of you (activity)
• UNDERSTAND: I am understanding statistics better
(change of state)
• WANT, DESIRE: I am craving spaghetti, but *I am
desiring spaghetti

11
Group
Stative or Dynamic? See chapter by Yule
• HAVE:
• i. I have a baby (possession), I’m having a baby;
• ii. He has cancer (long-term medical condition: simple present) / I’m
having an asthma attack (short-term: progressive); but I have a
headache or I have the hiccoughs (no rule to determine if the
medical condition is short or long-term);
• iii. we are having dinner (are dinning) /an argument / a bath (have is
semantically empty).

12
Group
Stative or Dynamic?
• COPULAS:
• i. You seem sad, he is tall (states);
• ii. My stereo is sounding bad (temporary state), he is getting taller
(change of state),
• The children are being noisy (current behaviour)

13
Stative or Dynamic?

14
Sense verbs or verbs of perception and the
Progressive
• Describe a sense or a form of perception (hear, notice, see,
smell, taste…)
• Not usually used in the progressive (Stative: involuntary action): I
(can) taste cream in this; I smell smoke
•But: I’m tasting cream (intentional action)
• See and Hear: normally used only in the involuntary sense (simple
present), unless they have a different meaning:
• I’m seeing a new man at present (going out with)
• Hear (involuntary) / intentional (listen): I am listening to the afternoon play.
• See (involuntary) / intentional (watch, look at)

15
Group
See/watch and Listen/Hear

16
Dynamic verbs. Example

17
Stative and Dynamic. Put the verbs in brackets
into the correct form
• Where are you? I am upstairs. I (have) a bath.
• I (have) something to say to you.
• Hurry up! The train (just come) in.
• The Nile (flow) into the Mediterranean.
• We must take an umbrella. It (rain).
• Wood usually (float) on water.
• Six time sixteen (equal) ninety-six.
• Why the train (stop)? Because the signal is against us.
• I (realize) I should not have said that. That is all right. I (forgive)
you.
• The committee is still in session. It (consider) what action to take
next.

18
Group
Stative and Dynamic. Put the verbs in brackets
into the correct form
. He can not see you now. He (dictate) some letters.
. My brother is a lorry driver. He (drive) three juggernauts.
. Don’t talk to me! I (try) to learn this page by heart.
. Call the doctor quicky! The old man (die).
. It’s too late. Nothing (matter) now.
. Do not be upset. I (understand) perfectly.

19
Group
PRACTISING THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE: WHAT IS S/HE DOING?
SEE FLASHCARDS (Tenses)

22
Group
Simple present or present progressive?
• I won’t go out as it (rain) and I (not
• Cukoos (not build) nests. They have) an umbrella.
(use) the nests of other birds.
• The last train (leave) the station at
• You can’t see Tom. He (have) a 11.30.
bath.
• He usually (speak) so quickly that I
• He usually (drink) coffee but (not understand) him.
today he (drink) tea.
• Ann (make) a dress for herself at the
• What she (do) in the evenings? moment. She (make) her own
clothes.

23
Present Perfect

24
Present Perfect
• 1. Experiential perfect (bridge between present and past; an

action / state starting in the past and extending’ up to the
present):
• How many times have you been to London? I’ve been to London
twice;
• I’ve been to France one, but I’d love to go again (the period of time in
which the action took place in unfinished, so the action may be
repeated)
• 2. Present relevance: an action completed in the past which
has some relevance to the present;
• I have broken my leg;
• Tom has lost his keys.

25
Group
Present Perfect
• 3. Recent past actions whose time is not specified /definite;
• Mr Brown has arrived, but: Mr Brown arrived half an hour ago
• When have you read the instruction? I read them last night
• 4. After superlatives (the best/worst, the greatest…), ordinal
numbers (the first, the second…), the only, often followed by
ever:
• It’s the worst programme I have ever seen.
• 5. To introduce a story, before moving into past tenses (Former
Tanzannian President Julius Nyerere has died at the age of 77 in
a London hospital. He came to London…); and to introduce a
topic of conversation (I’ve heard from Maurice- he’s been in
Australia for the last two months)
• See the picture book: Have you seen my cat? By E. Carle

26
Group
Present perfect versus simple past

27
Present perfect: already and yet

28
Present perfect versus simple past

29
Present Perfect
• 6. Adverbs and particles often used with the present perfect: since, for,
yet (int, neg. Incomplete actions), just, ever, often, seldom, never, so far,
already, until, recently, lately…: I’ve already seen the film but they
haven’t seen it yet; I’ve just made a nice pot of tea. Would you like a
cup?
• 7. Compare:
• Agatha Christine wrote a huge number of short stories / John Crisham has
written some of the most successfull legal thrillers
• Did you see the Spanish Art Exhibition? / Have you seen the Spanish Art
Exhibition?
30
Present perfect and since versus for

31
Present perfect: since versus for

32
Tenses and for, since, ago and before

33
Present Perfect and Simple Past
See 3.2, page 64
• Compare:
• I’ve been to London twice / I went to London in 2005.
• The government has imposed a ban on tiger hunting to prevent the extinction of
tigers / The government imposed a ban on tiger hunting a few years ago.
• I haven’t seen Mary this morning yet / I didn’t see Mary at all this morning.
• Which one of the following sentences is correct?
• *She is just as beautiful as I have imagined
• She is just as beautiful as I imagined.
Which one (simple past or present perfect) is used to correct a wrong expectation or to confirm
a correct belief?

34
Group
Simple past or present pefect?
• See and do exercises provided by the teacher

35
Present Perfect Continuous
• Perfect and Progressive: combined
• 1. An ongoing state or action which began in the past and is still
continuing or has just finished: I’ve been playing football for 24
years (emphasis on the duration of the action)
• 2. Compare the present perfect continuous and the present
perfect simple:
• I’ve learnt how to play chess (complete action)/ I’ve been learning how
to play chess (ongoing action).
• She has played with the symphony orchestra three times this season
(number of times)/ She has been playing with the symphony orchestra
all season (duration)
• People have eaten a lot less meat over the last twenty years or so
(permanent)/ People have been eating less meat recently because of the
crisis (temporary situation).

36
Group
Present perfect or simple past?
• Video: http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-
videos/grans-adventures
• Words, activity and answers:
http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-videos/grans-
adventures

37
Simple Past
. Completed actions / states in the past (now finished): She
wrote a letter yesterday.
.Sequence of actions in the past (sometimes one action
causes a result): Wall Street traders lost a fortune when the
Asian markets collapsed
• Habitual actions in the past: I played a football match in
those days
• States in the past: I lived in London in 2002
• Extended period of time in the past: I lived in London from
2001-2002.
• Difference:
• When I was a child I spent my holidays in Gandia
• When the earthquake happened I was spending my holidays in
Gandia

38
Past tenses. Ex

39
Past tenses. Ex

40
Past tenses. Ex

41
Use these daily use idioms in the past

42
This little piggy
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJwPXxXuuWc
• This little piggy went to market

This little piggy stayed home
This little piggy had roast beef
This little piggy had none
And this little piggy went
Wee, wee, wee, all the way home!

43
This little piggy
• This little piggy ate blueberries

This little piggy ate cheese
This little piggy ate watermelon
This little piggy ate peas
Yum, yum, yum, all the way home!
• This little piggy took a bath
This little piggy went to bed
This little piggy woke up
This little piggy ate bread
Play, play, play, all the way home!

44
Simple Past: songs
• Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu0-98fgnRo
• Five little monkeys jumping on the bed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhODBFQ2-bQ
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pf51Y8PQKjQ (body language)
• Incy Wincy Spider:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doyv0fL0YJw;
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQZNBkdxCMY
• Old McDonald had a farm:
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oYKonYBujg
• Animal sounds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t99ULJjCsaM

45
Simple past
• The Gingerbread Man

• Run, run, as fast as you can,
• You can’t catch me,
• I’m the gingerbread man!
• See David’s video

46
Past Progressive
• 1. Temporary and incomplete actions in progress: During

my training I was earning less than my wife
• 2. Repeated actions which took place over a limited period
of time: For the first three months she was receiving
chemotherapy on a weekly basis
• 3. Changing situations: His symptoms were becoming more
pronounced each day.
• 4. A longer action (progressive) which was interrupted by a
shorter one (simple past): We were watching TV when the
telephone rang / I was kissing my girlfriend when my mother
arrived
• 5. Annoyance or irritation on the part of the speaker
(adverb of frequency): He was always talking.
47
Group
Past Progressive
• 6. Past arrangements: Nancy was taking the next flight to Paris
so she had to cut short the interview
• 7. Tentative and polite requests, suggestions and questions:
we were wondering if you would like to join us
• 8. The past continuous is also used to describe an ongoing
action which forms the background or setting to past events.
The simple past is used for the action that happened against
this background: We were living in New York (bakground) when
John was made redundant (action).
• See the story of Goldilocks and the three bears:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oaw-d3r_gIc
• SONG: http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org/es/songs/the-
goldilocks-song

48
Past tenses. Ex

49
Simple past versus past progressive

50
Past Progressive
• 9. Difference: a) Did you hear about that terrible accident?

• Bi) Yes I read about it in the newspaper.
• Bii) Yes I was reading about it in the newspaper.

51
Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past or the
past progressive
• 1. I didn’t want to meet Paul so when he entered the room

I (leave).
• 2. Unfortunately when I arrived Ann just (leave), so we only
had time for a few words.
• 3. He (have) a bath when the phone rang. Very unwillingly
he (get) out to answer it.
• 4. He was very polite. Whenever his wife entered the room
he (stand up)
• 5. My dog (walk) along quietly when Mr. Pitt’s Pekinese
attacked him.
• 6. When I arrived she (have) dinner. She apologized for
starting without me but said that she always (dine) at 8.0.

52
Put the verbs in brackets into the simple past
or the past progressive
• 7. On Sundays he always (wear) a hat and (carry) an umbrella.
• 8. I (share) a flat with him when we were students. He always
(complain) about my untidiness.
• 9. He suddenly (realize) that he (travel) in the wrong
direction.
• 10. She said that she (not like) her present flat and (try) to
fine another.
• 11. While he (make) his speech the minister suddenly (feel)
faint. But someone (bring) him a glass of water and after a
few minutes he (be able) to continue.

53
Past Perfect
1. Period of time further back than the simple past (a past
in the past): when I went to London I had already broken
my leg; when I met John last year he had lived in Paris for
ten years
Exception (with before + past perfect the action in the simple past
happens first: I left university before I’d taken the final exams)
2. Unfulfilled intentions (with verbs such as hope, expect,

want, plan, think about…): They had hoped to get to the
summit but Travers fell ill at base camp

54
Group
Past perfect

55
Past Perfect
3. To describe the cause of a past event: He didn’t join the
band as he’d signed up with a rival label
4. We don’t usually use the past perfect if the sequence is
obvious:
I opened the door and let him in;
By the time I got to the station the train had left / The
train left 5 minutes before I got to the station
5. Difference:
• When we got back the babysitter went home
• When we got back the babysitter had gone home

56
Group
PAST PERFECT PROGRESSIVE:
1. Ongoing situation which continued up to, or stopped just before, a

time in the past: He had been working for over an hour before the
auditors turned up
2. Used to explain a past result (a situation or an apperance): It had
been raining and the streets were still wet
3. Focus on duration (the fans had been waiting in line for over
six hours).
4. if the number of times we have done the action is specified: past
perfect simple (Jill had only watched TV twice that week)

57
Group
Past perfect. Fill in the blanks

58
Past perfect. Fill in the blanks

59
Simple past and past perfect
• The Tiger who came to Tea by Judith Kerr

60
Used to / Be used to

61
Be used to

62
Used to and Would
• Both: actions that happened in the past but no longer

happen: we would get up early every Sunday to go to church (we
don’t now)
• Used to: for both past actions and past states which have
changed: I used to have a Rol Royce
• Would: only for past actions (not for past states):
• Every week he would / used to buy his mother a bunch of flowers: ACTION
• France used to be a mornarchy but now it’s a Republic: STATE

63
Group
Look at the following sentences and decide if they are correct
or not. If not, correct them.
• 1. He used to play cards a lot.
• 2. I enjoy to travel.
• 3. I don’t think you’ve met my wife.
• 4. I have passed my driving test two days ago.
• 5. Good afternoon. I had left some photos to be developed. Are they
ready?
• 6. When I got up this morning everything was lovely. The sun was shining,
the birds were singing…
• 7. I was living in London for ten years when I was a child
• 8. Come on, I’ll buy you a drink.
• 9. Probably we’ll spend next weekend at home.
• 10. I’m going to the mountains about twice a year.
• 11. She said me she was wanting to see the film.
64
Drawing tenses

65
Look at the following sentences and decide if they are correct
or not. If not, correct them.
• 1. This is the first time I’m hearing her sing, and I hope it’s the last.
• 2. I’m living in Greece since 1987.
• 3. I’ve been waiting for three quarters of an hour!
• 4. We had this flat since 2010.
• 5. I’ve studied English all my life.
• 6. Some people think that Game of Thrones has been written by
Shakepeare.
• 7. I’ve seen Mary yesterday.
• 8. Hurry up! We’re all waiting for you.
• + MIXED TENSES (on your own)+ IMAGINARY LINE + MAKE UP A STORY

USING ALL THE TENSES

66
READY FOR ANOTHER PRESENTATION?
• 1. PRESENT TENSES AND RESOURCES TO TEACH THEM
• 2. PAST TENSES AND RESOURCES TO TEACH THEM

67
References
• http://learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org
• Biber, D. Et al. (2002) Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English.
China: Longman.
• Downing, A. and Ph. Locke (1992) A University Course in English Grammar.
New York: Prentice Hall.
• Foley, M. and D. Hall (2004) Advanced Learner’s Grammar. China: Longman.
• Foley, M. and D. Hall (2012) My GrammarLab. Intermediate B1/B2. with key.
China: Pearson; chapters 5, 6 and 7.
• Halliday, M.A.K. (2004) An introduction to Functional Grammar. 3rd edition.
Revised by C. M. I. M. Matthiessen. London: Arnold.
• Nettle M. And D. Hopkins (2003) Developing Grammar in Context.
Cambridge: C.U.P.
• Quirk, R. et al. (1985) A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language.
London: Longman.
• Swam, M. (2005) Practical English Usage. Oxford: O.U.P.
68

1 Present and Past Tenses

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PRESENT AND PAST TENSES.

• To give the events of a past narrative, an anecdote or a headline in

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal Group. Lingüística Inglesa II

Are you wearing blue today?

What are you wearing today?

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• THINK: I think that capital punishment is wrong

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

SEE FLASHCARDS (Tenses)

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• 1. Experiential perfect (bridge between present and past; an

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• See and do exercises provided by the teacher

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• This little piggy went to market

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• This little piggy ate blueberries

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• Who took the cookie from the cookie jar?:

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• The Gingerbread Man

• See David’s video

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• 1. Temporary and incomplete actions in progress: During

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• 9. Difference: a) Did you hear about that terrible accident?

Talking about Events: The Verbal

• 1. I didn’t want to meet Paul so when he entered the room

Talking about Events: The Verbal

Talking about Events: The Verbal

2. Unfulfilled intentions (with verbs such as hope, expect,

Talking about Events: The Verbal