Simple Present

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a
scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is
not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking
about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

When do we board the plane?

Present Continuous

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also
be used to show that something is not happening now.

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

Are you sleeping?

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present
Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this
exact second.

I am studying to become a doctor.

I am not studying to become a dentist.

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

I am meeting some friends after work.

I am not going to the party tonight.

Is he visiting his parents next weekend?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often
happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or
"constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

She is always coming to class late.

He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.

I don't like them because they are always complaining.

Present Perfect

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You
CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when
I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever,
never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.

There have been many earthquakes in California.

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following
topics:

TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense
to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

I have been to France.

This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.

I have been to France three times.

You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

You have grown since the last time I saw you.

The government has become more interested in arts education.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Man has walked on the Moon.

Our son has learned how to read.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we
are still waiting for the action to happen.

James has not finished his homework yet.

Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present
Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

The army has attacked that city five times.

I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

I have had a cold for two weeks.

She has been in England for six months.

Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Present Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes,"
"for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three years.

What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks." Without the duration, the tense has a
more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words "lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

She has been watching too much television lately.

Have you been exercising lately?

Simple Past

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may
not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

I saw a movie yesterday.

Last year, I traveled to Japan.

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions

We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00.

Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3 Duration in Past

The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by
expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

I lived in Brazil for two years.

Shauna studied Japanese for five years.

They sat at the beach all day.

USE 4 Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it
clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was
younger, etc.

I studied French when I was a child.

He played the violin.

He didn't play the piano.

USE 5 Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the
Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

He didn't like tomatoes before.

Past Continuous

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the
Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

I was watching TV when she called.

When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a
specific time as an interruption.

Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.

Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

USE 3 Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the
same time. The actions are parallel.

I was studying while he was making dinner.

While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

Were you listening while he was talking?

USE 4 Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.

When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions,
and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to
each other about the bad service.
USE 5 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often
happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words
"always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

She was always coming to class late.

He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.

I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

Past Perfect

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something
happened before a specific time in the past.

I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.

Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in
the past and continued up until another action in the past.

We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.

By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over eight years.

They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for more than forty years.

Past Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until another time in the past. "For
five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to
the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.
They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.

How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past

Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.

Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Simple Future
USE 1 "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the speaker offers to do for someone else.
Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone
help us or volunteer to do something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

I will send you the information when I get it.

I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.

Will you help me move this heavy table?

USE 2 "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

I will call you when I arrive.

If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to inexpensive health insurance.

I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.

USE 3 "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do something in the future. It does not
matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.

A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?

B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions are guesses about what might
happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not
apply. In the following examples, there is no difference in meaning.

The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year

Future Continuous

USE 1 Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter action in the future. Remember
this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.

I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact me.

USE 2 Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In addition to using short actions as
interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I will be in the process of eating dinner.

At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.

We will be in the process of driving through the desert.

USE 3 Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be happening
at the same time. The actions are parallel.

I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.

Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4 Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the future.

When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing. Others are going to be talking. A few people
will be eating pizza, and several people are going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.
Future Perfect

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It can also show that something
will happen before a specific time in the future.

By next November, I will have received my promotion.

By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.

I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will
continue up until another action in the future.

I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.

By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

Future Perfect Continuous

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Future

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future. "For five
minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this
is related to the Present Perfect Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration
stops at or before a reference point in the future.

They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.

She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.

James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Future

Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.

Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have been studying English in the United States
for over two years.