PRESENT SIMPLE

FORM
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTEROGATIVE
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY

USES:
 REPEATED, HABITUAL ACTIONS
Ex. They go to football training twice a week.
 PERMANENT SITUATIONS
Ex. English teachers teach students how to speak English.
 GENERAL TRUTHS
Ex. Wood floats on water.
 FUTURE ACTION AS PART OF AN OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
(TIMETABLES)
Ex. The flight for Barcelona takes off at 5,00 p.m.
 SPORTS COMMENTARIES
Ex. Hagi passes to Ronaldo, Ronaldo kicks the ball from 20m and scores
a goal.

TIME PHRASES:
 every day/week/month/year/summer/Monday/march etc
 always/usually/often/sometimes/rarely/never
 once /twice/three times a day/week/month/year etc.
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS

FORM
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTEROGATIVE
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY

USES
 ACTION IN FULL DEVELOPMENT AT PRESENT
EX. Helen and Anna are swimming now.
 TEMPORARY SITUATIONS
Ex. We usually study universal history but this year we are studying the
history of our country.
 ANNOYING SITUATIONS (ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN TOO OFTEN
AND ANNOY THE SPEAKER)
Ex. Karen is constantly correcting me when I speak French.
They are always fighting over money.
 PLANNED FUTURE ACTIONS ( FUTURE ARRANGEMENTS)
Ex. We are travelling to Madrid next week. ( arrangements have been
made: booked the flight ticket, the hotel etc.)

TIME PHRASES:
 Now
 At present
 Right now
 At this moment
 Look!...
 PAST SIMPLE
FORM:
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTEROGATIVE
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY

USES:
 PAST ACTION AT A DEFINITE PAST TIME
EX. He bought a house last year.
 SEQUENCE OF PAST ACTIONS
Ex. They parked the car, took their bikes and rode off on the
countryroad.
 PAST ACTION WHICH HAPPENED IN A CLOSED PERIOD OF
TIME
Ex. My parents saw Michael Jackson in a live concert. (They can’t see
him again in a live concert because he is no longer alive)
 PAST HABITS / ROUTINES
Ex. We used to walk 4km a day when we were in high school.

TIME PHRASES
 yesterday
 last week/month/year/summer/Thursday etc.
 two/three/ten days/weeks/months/ years ago;
 when …
 how long ago
 in 1997
 PAST CONTINUOUS
FORM
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTEROGATIVE
I
YOU
HE
SHE
IT
WE
YOU
THEY

USES:
 ACTION IN FULL DEVELOPMENT AT A DEFINITE PAST TIME;
Ex. He was running in the park at 4 o’clock yesterday.
 SIMULTANEOUS ACTIONS
Ex. We were dancing while they were talking about the last football
match.
 ACTION IN FULL DEVELOPMENT INTERRUPTED BY ANOTHER
PAST ACTION
Ex. Gordon was painting his house when his ladder broke and he fell.

TIME PHRASES:
 at … o’clock yesterday/two days ago/ last week etc.
 this time yesterday/two days ago/ last week etc.
 … while …
 As ….