T E NSE S R E V I E W : P RE SE NT T E N SE S

LEVEL: B1

PRESENT SIMPLE:
(+) verb / verb-(e)s
(?) Do / Does … infinitive…?
(-) … don’t / doesn’t + infinitive
1. Present habits/routines.
2. Things that are always true, facts.
3. Things that are true at present.
4. To refer to the future, in time clauses:
Clauses beginning with: when, until, before…
5. To refer to the future with programmed
events (timetables, calendars…).
6. In zero and first conditional clauses.
Clauses beginning with: if, unless
Do you usually get up at 7.30?
I don’t have blue eyes.
My father works as a shop assistant.
When you arrive, phone me.
The plane from Madrid arrives at 9:00.
Does the train leave at 8.00?
If I stay up late, I feel awful. (zero)
If I pass this exam, I’ll have a party. (first)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
(+) am / is / are + verb-ing
(?) Am / Is / Are … verb-ing …?
(-) … ‘m not/ isn’t/ aren’t + verb-ing
1. Activities happening now or around now. Hi! I’m cooking dinner at the moment.
Are you writing a book?
2. Future personal plans or arrangements. Is she visiting her mum on Monday?
(=be going to) She isn’t having dinner with Tom tomorrow.
3. For actions that happen very often, to You’re constantly interrupting me when I’m
express annoyance or anger (with “always, talking.
continually, constantly”…).

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

(+) have / has + past participle
(?) Have/ Has … past participle …?
(-) … haven’t/ hasn’t + past participle
1. Past activities that continue up to the
present (with for, since)
2. Finished activities that occurred in the past
and: a) finished recently or b) have a result at
present (with just, already, yet)
3. Indefinite past experiences (with never,
before, ever)
She has lived here for five years.
Have you been friends since 2015?
My car has just broken down.
Have you had breakfast already?
I haven’t done the homework yet.
She’s never been to La Gomera.
Have you ever been to Scotland?
I haven’t tried sushi before.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:

(+) have / has + been + verb-ing
(?) Have/ Has … been + verb-ing …?
(-) … haven’t/ hasn’t + been + verb-ing
1. Past activities that continue up to the She has been living here for five years.
present (with for, since). Have you been working since 5 o’clock?
2. Finished activities that occurred in the She has been walking all morning. (Her feet hurt)
past and: a) finished recently or b) have a He hasn’t been studying enough recently. (He
result at present. failed his exams)
The present perfect simple is preferred when the action is finished and with state verbs (have,
understand, like, love, want, need, be…). The present perfect continuous is preferred when the
action is long, repeated, temporary or not finished.

©CARMEN LUISA PÉREZ AMARO