Present Simple
Present Continuous
Permanent situations or states
Temporary situations
She works as a nurse.
They are staying at the Park Hotel at present.
Repeated/ habitual actions
Actions happening at or around the moment of speaking.
I usually get up at 7:30. Permanent truth or laws of nature
She is looking for a better job. Repeated actions with “always” expressing annoyance or criticism.
Water freezes at 0° C. Reviews / sports commentaries / dramatic narrative
She is always interrupting me!
Jennifer Biddall acts brilliantly in this film.
Changing situations.
or
developing
His English is getting better. Markers Every …, often, always, usually, rarely, seldom, never, sometimes, in the morning, at night, on Monday, etc.
Markers
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4432348
Now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, still, etc.
Stative Verbs
 Do not normally have continuous forms Verbs of the senses: see, hear, smell, taste, feel etc. Verbs of opinion: agree, believe, consider etc. Verbs of emotions: feel, forgive, hate, like, love etc. Other verbs: appear, be belong, fit, have, know, look, need, prefer, require, want, weigh, wish etc.
***Some stative verbs have continuous forms but there is a difference in meaning.
State 1. I think she is rich. (=I believe) 2. The milk tastes awful. (=it has a bad flavor) 3. He has a pet dog. (= he owns) 4. This cloth feels like velvet. (=has the texture) 5. I see you are in trouble. (= I understand) 6. The kitchen smells of burnt meat. (=has the smell) 7. He comes from Spain. (= he was born in) 8. I love holidays. (= in general) 9. Your hair looks great. (= it appears) 10. The baby weighs 5 kilos. (= it is) 11. Ann is very tall.
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4440448
Action 1. I’m thinking about your plan. (=I’m considering) 2. He is tasting the sauce. It might need some salt. (= is trying its flavor) 3. He is having dinner now. (= He is eating) 4. She is feeling her way in the dark. (= She is finding her way in the dark.) 5. I’m seeing my lawyer tonight. (= I’m visiting) 6. Why are you smelling your food?(= trying the smell of) 7. He is coming from Spain. (= he is travelling from) 8. I’m loving this holiday. (= I’m enjoying; specific) 9. She is looking at some old photographs. (=is examining) 10. I am weighing myself on my new scales. (=I’m finding out my weight) 11. Ann is being very kind to me these days. (= she is behaving)
Present Perfect Recently completed actions
Present Perfect Continuous
She has tidied her room. (You can see it is tidy now.)
Actions started in the past and continuing up to the present
Actions which happened at an unstated past time and are connected with the present
He has been writing a letter for two hours.
He has lost his keys. (He is still looking for them.) Personal experiences / changes which have happened I have lost 10 kilos. Emphasis on number She has written three letters since this morning.
Past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present She has been crying. (Her eyes are red.) Actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism Who has been using my toothbrush? Emphasis on duration (usually with for, since, how long)
Markers Just, ever, never, already, yet (negations & questions), always, how long, so far, recently, lately, since, for, today, this week, etc
Exercise https://learningapps.org/458 7417
She has been calling on clients since this morning. Markers For, since, how long Note !!! Live, feel, and work can be used either in the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Continuous with no difference in meaning. I have been living / have lived in Rome for a year.
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Past actions which happened one after the other
Action in the middle of happening at a stated past time
She sealed the letter, put a stamp on it and posted it.
He was playing tennis at 4:30 yesterday.
Past habit or state He used to go/went to school on foot. Complete action or event which happened at a stated past time She called an hour ago. Action which happened at a definite past time although the time is not mentioned. This action isn’t connected with the present Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays.
Past action in progress interrupted by another past action. The longer action is in the Past Continuous, the shorter action is in the Past Simple While I was getting dressed the ball rang. Two or more simultaneous past actions or background description to events in a story While I was sunbathing, Tim was swimming. She was flying to Paris.
Markers
Markers
Yesterday, last week etc, (How long ago … ?), … ago, then, just now, when, in 1967 etc.
While, when …, as etc.
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4597263
Past Perfect Past action which occurred before another or before a stated past time He had left by the time I got there. Complete past action which had visible results in the past She was sad because she had failed the test. The Past Perfect is the past equivalent of the Present Perfect. He couldn’t find his watch. He had lost it.
Past Perfect Continuous Action Continuing over a period up to specific time in the past She had been working as a clerk for 10 years before she resigned. Past action of certain duration which had visible results in the past They were wet because they had been walking in the rain. The Past Perfect Continuous is the past equivalent of the Present Perfect Continuous She went to the doctor. Her leg had been aching for two days.
Markers For, since, already, after, just, never, yet, before, by, by the time etc.
Markers For, since.
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4597313
Constructions Used to / Would / Was going to Used to expresses past habits or states. It forms its negative and interrogative with “did”. She used to walk long distances. Would expresses past repeated actions and routine. Grandma would always make me porridge for breakfast. Was going to expresses unfulfilled arrangements or unfulfilled plans in the past, or actions one intended to do but did not or could not do. He was going to visit Pam but she wasn’t at home.
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Decisions taken at the moment of speaking
Actions in progress at a stated future time
Since it’s getting dark, I will turn on the light.
He will be sunbathing in Hawaii this time next week.
Hopes, fears, threats, offers, promises, warnings, predictions, requests, comments, etc
Actions which are the result of a routine
I’m afraid I will be a little late. Actions or predictions which may (not) happen in the future She will probably buy the dress. Actions which we cannot control and will inevitably happen
I will be seeing John tomorrow. When we ask politely about people’s arrangements to see if they can do something for us or because we want to offer to do something for them Will you be going to the supermarket? Can you buy me some tea?
He will be ten next year. Things we are not sure about or haven’t decided to do yet She will probably be promoted.
Markers Tomorrow, tonight, next week/month, in two/three etc days, the day after tomorrow, soon, in a week/month etc.
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4 771760
Future Perfect Actions which will be finished before a stated future time She will have come back by the end of July.
Markers Before, by, by then, by the time, until
Note* By or not … until/till are used with Future Perfect. Until/till are normally used with Future Perfect only in negative sentences.
She will have finished by 8 o’clock (Not: until/till) She won’t have finished until o’clock. Exercise https://learningapps.org/4771788
Future Perfect Continuous Duration of an action up to a certain time in the future By the end of this year she will have been working here for two years.
Markers By…for
Be going to Actions intended to be performed in the near future She’s going to visit her parents tomorrow. Planned actions or inventions Now that they’ve settled in their new house, they’re going to have a party. Evidence that something will definitely happen in the near future Ann is going to have a baby. Things we are sure about or we have already decided to do in the near future He’s
going
to
be
promoted.
Present Simple (future meaning) Timetables / programmes The plane reaches London at 9:45.
Exercise https://learningapps.org/4771837
Present Continuous (future meaning) Fixed arrangement in the near future Sally is seeing her dentist this week.
Test I
https://learningapps.org/4640875
Test II
https://learningapps.org/4641010
Test III
https://learningapps.org/4641061
Test IV
https://learningapps.org/4641091
Test V
https://learningapps.org/4641131
Test VI
https://learningapps.org/4787067
Test VII
https://learningapps.org/4795405
Test VIII
https://learningapps.org/4795510
Test IX
https://learningapps.org/4796050
Test X
https://learningapps.org/4796147