The Present Simple Tense: Don't Watch

The present simple tense
 habits, likes and dislikes, and things that happen regularly

I don’t usually watch TV.
adverbs: often, always, usually, sometimes, never
adverbial phrases such as: on Sundays, in the summer
 statements of fact that are scientific truths or that are about a permanent state
The sun rises in the east. We live in Italy.
 statements that indicate the speaker’s opinions or beliefs
I think he’s a very good architect. I don’t agree with that at all.
 for planned future actions, for example to talk about travel plans and timetables
The train leaves at 10.40 a.m. and arrives at 3.30 p.m.
The present continuous tense

 things that are happening now, at the time when we are talking
He’s running.
 a temporary activity, even if it is not happening at the time when we are talking
I’m studying German at college.
 a temporary situation in contrast to a permanent situation
I’m living in Scotland at the moment.
 a changing state or situation
My headache is getting better.
 arrangements for future events along with a time adverb or phrase
I am flying to Paris next week.
 to express annoyance at a repeated action (one of the following adverbs is used with the
verb: always, forever, constantly, continually)
She’s always whining about something.
1
The present perfect simple tense
 to talk about events that are relevant to the present but that happened in the past
Her daughter has had an accident.
 we can use just if we want to show that the action has very recently been completed
They have just bought their tickets.
 If the event did not take place you can use never. If you want to find out whether it took place or
not, you can use ever.
Have you ever been to Greece? I’ve never done anything like this before.
 with expressions such as recently, lately, this morning, today, or this week
I haven’t been to the cinema recently. I’ve waited a week for your answer.
 with yet in questions and negative sentences; with already in positive sentences
Haven’t you finished yet? Have you bought the tickets yet? I’ve already seen that film.
 with for to talk about a period of time, or since to talk about duration from a point in time
I have lived in Edinburgh for fifteen years. We’ve had this car since 2008.
The present perfect continuous tense

 actions and states that began in the past and are still continuing at the time of speaking
I have been holding this ladder for ages. When are you going to come down?
 actions and states that began in the past and have only just finished
Thank goodness you’re here! I’ve been waiting for hours.
 repeated actions
I’ve been getting this magazine every week for a year.
2
The past simple tense
 single actions in the past
He locked the door and left the house.
 habitual actions in the past, often with always, never, or often
In those days I always went to Juliano’s for lunch.
 past actions where a definite time is mentioned
I bought the microwave a year ago.
*It is often used with a time expression such as ago or last month.
 points where the main action is broken
We were leaving the house when the phone rang.
The past continuous tense

 with a time expression, such as at 6p.m. yesterday, to talk about an action that began before that
time and finished after it
What were you doing at eight o’clock last night? – I was standing at the bus stop.
 to talk about an interrupted action
We were all sitting in our places when the bell rang.
 to talk about a longer action that was already taking place when a short action happened
While I was waiting for the bus I dropped my purse.
The past perfect simple tense

 an action that took place in the past before something else took place.
She had just made some coffee when I arrived.
 an action or state that began before another action in the past and continued up to the time of the
second action and perhaps even beyond that time.
Ashraf had already known my brother for two years when I met him.
The past perfect continuous tense

 to talk about an action which began before another action in the past and either:
o continued up to the time of the second action
I hadn’t been waiting long when a lorry drew up beside me.

o or was completed before the second action happened.
3
I had been studying and decided to take a stroll to clear my mind.
Future reference
1. Will/shall + the base form makes the most direct form of future reference
Jean will look after the dogs while we’re away. I shall simply tell her to mind her own business.
*shall can be used in the 1st person singular and plural
2. Be going to + the base form is used to express intention and make predictions
He failed his exam last year; this year he is going to work harder.
3. The present continuous tense is used to talk about plans and arrangements in the future with a time adverb
Sarah and Harriet are meeting at ten o’clock on Tuesday. I am flying to Glasgow on Friday.
4. The present simple tense is used with a time adverb to talk about future plans which are part of a timetable
or previous arrangement
The main film starts at 2.45 p.m. We leave at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
5. The future perfect tense (will have + the past participle) is used with a time
adverb to talk about an action that will be finished at the time in the future that you are referring to
I was hoping to meet James, but by the time I arrive he will have gone home.
6. The future continuous tense (will be + the present participle) is used to talk
about future action in progress.
What will you be doing on Saturday morning? Oh, I’ll be shopping as usual.
The future perfect continuous (will/ + have + been + the -ing form of the verb)
 when we are looking back to the past from a point in the future and we want to emphasise the
length or duration of an activity or event
In September, she will have been living in France for a year.

The Present Simple Tense: Don't Watch

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The present simple tense

 habits, likes and dislikes, and things that happen regularly

The present continuous tense

The present perfect continuous tense

The past continuous tense

The past perfect simple tense

The past perfect continuous tense

I hadn’t been waiting long when a lorry drew up beside me.

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