Unit 4 – present tenses

Let’s review the present tenses...

Let’s look at:

1. Uses of the present simple
2. Uses of the present continuous
3. Uses of the present perfect simple
4. Uses of the present perfect continuous

When do we use them?

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 Function: present simple
Look at the examples and match them to the uses of the present simple.

uses examples
They normally talk on the phone every day.
The scientist disputes the claim that his experiment was
fixed.
So she walks into the room and demands to see the
lawyer.
Thief robs bank and gets away on motorbike.
When babies start to discover the world, they find it
harder to sleep at night.
The train leaves at 4 p.m.

To describe
Forrefer
regular,
dramatic
scheduled
newspaper
to written
habitual
two
effect
future
headlines
trends
or
when
actions
events
spoken
together
talking
or commentaries
and
attitude
or
about
facts
theornatural
apurpose.
seriesorder
of of
events in the past

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 Function: present simple
Uses examples
They normally talk on the phone every day.
For regular, habitual actions and facts
The scientist disputes the claim that his experiment was
To refer to written or spoken attitude or purpose. fixed.
So she walks into the room and demands to see the
For dramatic effect when talking about a series of lawyer.
events in the past
Thief robs bank and gets away on motorbike.
For newspaper headlines or commentaries
When babies start to discover the world, they find it
To describe two trends together or the natural order of harder to sleep at night.
events
The train leaves at 4 p.m.
For scheduled future events

Notice how we can use the Remember that state verbs

We do this more in spoken
present when talking in the are usually in the simple,
English.
past... not continuous, tenses.

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 Function: present continuous
Now let’s do the same with the uses of the present continuous.

uses examples
Sea levels are rising.

The committee are arguing with the council about the

new plans to build on the parkland.
I’m living at my mum’s for the next few months.

She’s always borrowing my stuff without asking!

I’m imagining the situation at work could get worse if you

don’t leave now.
They are getting married on the 6th June.

Withan
Colloquially,
For actions
future
always
action
arrangements
infor
with
in
progress
aprogress,
habit
a state
that
now
verb
and
but
isorfixed
irritating
not
ones
necessarily
plans
that
orare
viewed
at this
For a temporary action
developing
moment
negatively
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 Function: present continuous
uses examples
Sea levels are rising.
For actions in progress now or ones that are developing
The committee are arguing with the council about the
For an action in progress, but not necessarily at this moment new plans to build on the parkland.
I’m living at my mum’s for the next few months.
For a temporary action
She’s always borrowing my stuff without asking!
With always for a habit that is irritating or viewed negatively
I’m imagining the situation at work could get worse if you
Colloquially, with a state verb don’t leave now.
They are getting married on the 6th June.
For future arrangements and fixed plans

Don’t confuse this with a future plan or intention

We usually use this more in with which we would usually use going to. E.g. We
spoken English. are going to get married in the future (but it isn’t
planned).

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 Function: present perfect simple/cont.
Now let’s do the same with the uses of the present perfect simple and continuous.
present perfect simple present perfect continuous
uses examples uses examples
Terry’s seen the Eiffel I’ve been working at IBM
Tower before. since 2006.

You’ve had your hair cut. I’m filthy! I’ve been

Looks great! gardening all afternoon.

They’ve phoned me this Although we also use just to refer

morning. to something that has recently
finished, the difference between
We’ve known each other the use of the simple or continuous
depends on the focus: the action or
for six years. the result. More on this later...

Jim has just got back.

For an action or repeated

actions
Actions
With
For
AAn
A state
past
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at
action an
a adverbs,
time
action
starting
startingunspecified
starting
period
with
like
inthat
in ever,
the
in
a present
the the
past,
is still
past
past &
past
never,
that time
recently
continuing
consequence
is yet,
still
finished.
already,
continuing
to now just.
 Function: present perfect simple/cont.
present perfect simple present perfect continuous
uses examples uses examples
For an action or repeated Terry’s seen the Eiffel Tower An action starting in the past I’ve been working at IBM
actions at an unspecified past before. that is still continuing since 2006.
time

A past action with a present You’ve had your hair cut. Actions starting in the past,
I’m filthy! I’ve been
consequence Looks great! recently finished. gardening all afternoon.

For a time period that is still

They’ve phoned me this
continuing morning.
This is the same use, but with
action or state verbs. We
We’ve known each other for
A state starting in the past & often use the adverbs for or
continuing to now six years. since here as there is a focus
on how long.
Jim has just got back.
With adverbs, like ever, never,
yet, already, just.

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 Function: present perfect simple/cont.
Look at these examples... When choosing between
the present simple and
continuous, it’s also
important to consider if
the focus is on the action
or the result of the
action...

A. The dog’s eaten all the cake! B. The dog has been eating more recently.

Here, the focus is on the result of the Here, the focus is on the action
action, so we use the present perfect itself, so we use the present
simple. The important message is that perfect continuous. The
there is no more cake. important message is the ‘eating’.

And a quick review of

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education      Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
form?
 Form: How do we make sentences in
these tenses?
Match the tenses to the structures and examples.
tenses example structure
present simple

present continuous

present perfect simple

present perfect continuous

+/-+ Sub Sub+ have/has

+ verb (not) + been +
present
IThey’ve
She’s
Tim
+/- don’t
isonly
Sub
verb-ing always
like
+ been
spoken
liars!
have/has
to be living
winding
(not) +to
here
(not) me
+me forpart.
verb-ing
past
- Sub + don’t/doesn’t + verb inf.
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(Qu.)
years.
once.
(Qu.) have/has
to be + sub
have/has +
+ sub
+ verb-ing
sub +
+ past
been part.
+ verb-
? (Qu.) do/does + sub + verb inf.
ing
 Form: How do we make sentences in
these tenses? In connected speech, we
pronounce this /bɪn/, not /bi:n/
because it’s unstressed.

tenses example structure

present simple + Sub + verb present
I don’t like liars! - Sub + don’t/doesn’t + verb inf.
? (Qu.) do/does + sub + verb inf.

present continuous
Tim is always winding me +/- Sub + to be (not) + verb-ing
up! ? (Qu.) to be + sub + verb-ing

present perfect simple

She’s only spoken to me +/- Sub + have/has (not) + past part.
once. ? (Qu.) have/has + sub + past part.

present perfect continuous +/- Sub + have/has (not) + been + verb-

They’ve been living here for ing
years. ? (Qu.) have/has + sub + been + verb-ing

Let’s practise...
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 Practice activities
Use the correct form of the verbs in brackets to complete the gaps. Justify your choices.

1. I …. (leave) Tina three messages today already, and she still …. (return) my calls!

I’ve left Tina three messages today already, and she still hasn’t returned my calls!
2. Laura can’t stand it when people …. (criticise) her at work. She …. (always/complain) that her boss … (not respect) her.

Laura can’t stand it when people criticise her at work. She’s always complaining that her boss doesn’t respect her.

3. A: Mary …. (seem) exhausted. B: Yes, she …. (have) a lot of work recently and …. (study) for an exam in the evening
for the last month.

A: Mary seems exhausted. B: Yes, she has had a lot of work recently and has been studying for an exam in the
evening for the last month.
4. Harry …. (speak) to his girlfriend on the phone all day, and I …. (just/hear) his mobile ring again!
Harry has been speaking to his girlfriend on the phone all day, and I’ve just heard his mobile ring again!

5. Lizzy …. (speak) to Mick about the film. It …. (start) at 7 p.m., so we …. (meet) at 6.30 p.m.

Lizzy has spoken to Mick about the film. It starts at 7 p.m., so we are meeting at 6:30 p.m.

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