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Past:: Simple Indefinite Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous

The document discusses the different tenses in English including past, present, and future tenses. It provides examples of how to use the past simple, past continuous, past perfect, and past perfect continuous tenses. It also explains uses of the present simple, present continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses. Key uses include talking about habits, ongoing actions, completed actions, and actions that began in the past and continue in the present.

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Ahmed Abd El Hafeez
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
42 views

Past:: Simple Indefinite Continuous Perfect Perfect Continuous

The document discusses the different tenses in English including past, present, and future tenses. It provides examples of how to use the past simple, past continuous, past perfect, and past perfect continuous tenses. It also explains uses of the present simple, present continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses. Key uses include talking about habits, ongoing actions, completed actions, and actions that began in the past and continue in the present.

Uploaded by

Ahmed Abd El Hafeez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Past:

Simple = indefinite
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect continuous

12 tenses
Past
Present
future
Past simple:
Something at a specific time in the past
Yesterday, last ........., .......... ago, this ........\\

 I studied yesterday
 While I studied, he played (comparison of actions)

Past continuous:
Something took time / happened at the same time
as Sth. else

 He was studying from 9 to 5


 I was studying when he came
 I was doing the laundry (complex)

Wh words relative clause (which – that)

The man, who is standing there, is my brother

I was studying, which made my parents happy


 He was studying in the library
 While he was studying, I was playing

Past of the past


Past perfect continuous:
Used to refer to an action that started before
another action and continued until the second
action happened. It focuses on duration and makes
use of words that express duration (for- since- …)

 I had been studying for two hours when you came


 I had been studying since you left

Comparison:
 I had been running for 1 hour when we met (how long
did you do it for?)
 I was running when we met (what were you doing?)

 I had been studying for two hours when you came


(how long did you do it for?)
 I was studying when he came (what were you doing?)

Past perfect:
Used to refer to an action that started before
another action and was finished before the second
action took place.
(before , after, …)

 I had studied for 2 hours before you came

It could also be used without adding a duration

 I had studied before you came

Present:

Simple = indefinite
Continuous
Perfect
Perfect continuous
Present simple:

We use it to talk about Habits - facts

 - The earth is round


 - I get up early everyday.
 People believe that
 People suggest
 Supporters of climate change suggest
 Opposers of climate change claim

We can also use it to refer to the future in a complex


sentence

 She'll see you before she leaves.


 If she leaves, I’ll tell you consistent

Present continuous:

Something happening now and will continue to


happen

 I am reading
 She’s talking
 He’s playing

Temporary events
 He is studying English at the moment
 He studies English

He takes the bus to work

He is taking the bus to work this week

He takes the bus to work this week

New Habits

 You’re staying up late these days


 These people are getting more attention
 These ideas are appealing to more people these days

We can also use it to refer to the future- in cases


with high possibility of happening
 I will travel to Beijing next week (50%)

 I’m going to travel to ..... (70%)

 I’m travelling to Beijing next week (100%)

These people are leaving tomorrow


Present perfect: (for, since)
Actions that started in the past and continue in the
present, (longer periods)
 They haven't lived here for years.
 She has worked in the bank for five years.
 We have had the same car for ten years.
 She has played the piano since she was a child

When the time period referred to has not finished


 I have worked hard this year.
 It has rained a lot this year.
 We haven't seen her today.
Actions repeated in an unspecified period between
the past and now.
 They have seen that film six times
 She has visited them frequently.
 We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

Actions completed in the very recent past (+just)


 Have you just finished work?
 I have just eaten.
 We have just seen her.
 Has he just left?
Present perfect continuous: (for, since)

something started in the past and has continued up


until now. For five minutes, for two weeks, and since
Tuesday (shorter periods)

 They have been talking for the last hour.


 She has been working at that company for three
weeks.
 What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
 James has been teaching at the university since June.

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