Use of tenses
Tall
1g about the present
‘The present progressive is used:
«= totalk about an action that ishappening
‘now, or about a temporary situation:
> We're just having breakfast
» What areyou reading?
» She'snot listening me.
» They'tespendinga.year in Spain.
1 totalk about something thatis noe yer
finished, even ifyouare not doing itatthe
‘moment when you aretalking:
> Tm leaming lian
> She's writinga novel,
+= withalways, to talk about something that
happens often, and that you find annoying:
> He'salways asking silly questions.
> They're always cominground hereto borrow
something.
Some verbsare not used in the
progressive tenses, fr exampleneed, want,
know, agree, seem, appear, understand,
smell, hear, et. These verbs refer toa state,
» Ineed some new shoes.
> He wantsto go home.
> Doyou know Tania smith?
» They lovedapanes food.
> She hatesierob
Other verbs are used in the present
progressive when they referto an action, and
the present simple when they referto a state
> Hes tasting the soup.
» Thesoup tastes salty.
» She's being dificul again.
> She'sa dificul child
» What areyou thinking about?
> Doyou think should leave?
‘The present simple is used:
1 totalk abouta permanent situation or
something that is always tue:
> Helivesin Spain.
» Does he workin a factory?
> Incects haves legs
> What temperature doeswater boil ar?
1 totalk about things that happen regulary:
> She leavesforschoolat 80lock.
> Wedon'toften go out forameat.
> What time doyou catch the bus?
Tall
ig about the past
‘The past simple isused:
1 totalk aboutan action that took place
inthe past:
> Hegot up, paid thebill and left
> Idid’t read the eter, just gave ito Lee
> What didyousay?
Oftena specific imein the pastis
‘mentioned:
» Did you speak to Amy yesterday?
‘= totalk abouta state that continued forsome
time, but that is now finished:
> Iwentea school in Scotland,
> Didshe really work therefor ten years?
1 totalk about actions that happened regularly
inthe past:
> Joften played cennis with her
Sheabwayswon,
> They never wentto thecinemawhen
‘they lived in the country.
The present perfects used:
1 totalkabout something that happened during
‘period of time that isnot yet finished:
» Thetrain has been ate three times tis week
> Hestill hasn't visited her.
‘= when the time inthe pastisnot mentioned,
orisnot important:
He's written abook,
> We've boughta new computer.
1 when the action finished in the past,
Dbutthe effec ssi elt in the present:
> He's lost hiscalelator (and he sil hast
foundit).
f= with fr and since toshow the duration
‘ofan action or state up until the present:
> Thave worked here since 1998
> She hasn't bought any new clothes for years,
1 inBritish english, with just, ever,
already and yet:
> Tvejustarrived,
> Have you ever been here before?
» He's already packed hs suitcases.
> Haven't you finished yer?
Ininformal American English the past
simplecan be used with jut, already and yet:
» Healready packed his suitcases
» Didn'tyoufnishyet?‘The present perfect progressive is used:
1 with fr andsince to talk about an activity that
started inthe past and still happening
» Te been workingsince eight o'clock.
> He'sbeen learning English for severalyears.
+ totalkabout an activity that has finished,
but whose results ae visible now:
> My handsaredirty because "ve been
gardening.
‘The past progressive is used:
+ totalkabout an action that was in progress
‘ata particular time inthe past:
> What were you doing inthe summer of 19992
> Wasitraining when youleft home?
+ totalkabout something that wasalreadyin
progress when something else happened.
(You use the past simple forthe action that
interrupts:
» The doorbellrang while hey were having
breakfast
‘As with the present progressive,
this tense cannot be used with state’ verbs:
> Thejresh bread smelled wonderful
(wor weanling
The past perfect is used
1 totalk about something thathappened
before another action in the past:
Thad already met Ed before he came to Bath.
> When gotta the station, the train had lft
‘The past perfect progressive is used:
1 with for orsince totalk about an activity that
started ata time further backin the past than
something else:
» She hadn't been lvinghereverylong when
shemetMark.
«= totalkabout an activity that hada result
inthe past:
» My hands were dirty because had been
gardening
Talking about the future
‘Thereare several waysof talkingabout the Future.
‘The future simple
(will with the infinitive is used
«= totalkabout a decision that you make as you
are speaking:
» Tesco in here."OK, 1 close the window.”
> Lhave the sald, please.
= totalkabout what you know or think will,
happen inthe future (but not about your own
intentions or plans:
> Hermother wll be ninety nest week.
> Willhe pass the exarn, do you think?
> Thisjob won't take long
1 for requests, promises and offers:
> Will yu buy some bread on your way home?
> We'll beback arty, don't worry.
1 help you with your homework.
However, othertenses and expressions
are alsoused to express a future’ide.
‘The present progressive is used:
1 totalkabout future plans wherethetime is
mentioned:
1 totalk about what you intend
todo in the future
> Tm going to phone Michael tonight.
> What ae you going to dowhen you
leave schoo? |
About to withthe infinitive is used:
«= totalkabout the very near future:
» Goandask him quickly
He's about to go out
‘The present simple is used:
1 torefertoa future timeafter when,
assoonas, before, until, et
> Ringmeas soon as you hear any news.
> Mlook afer Jountilyouget back.
> Youll recognize the sireetwhen youseeit.
totallabout future plans where something
has been officially arranged, for example
‘on timetable or programme:
P'WeleavePaimaat 10andarrivein
luton at 12.30.
» School tartan 9 September.
‘The future progressive is used:
1 totalkabout actions hat will continue
for aperiod of time in the fuure:
> 1 be waiting near the ticker office,
be wearing agreen hat.
> Thistimenextweekyou'l be relaxing
inthesun!
1 toask somebody about their plans or
How many nights willyou bestaying?
> Willyou be lying back or goingby train?
‘The future perfect or
the future perfect progressive is used:
+ totalk about the duration of something that
‘you will belooking back on at a particular time
inthe future:
> They'll have lived here forfour yearsin May.
» shel have been working here fora year
in October.