Revision of tenses
Here is a quick review of the basic English verb tenses:
PRESENT SIMPLE is used to talk about
- things we do everyday, or regularly, or often
I live in Prague and I work at a bank.
We go to the cinema every Sunday afternoon.
I visit my grandmother two or three times a year.
- things which stay the same, or are generally true
My sister likes chocolate ice cream.
Our dog is brown.
Her name is Amanda Jones.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- things that are happening at the moment
Quiet! We are studying.
I'm eating now, but I will call you back later.
- things that are in process, but maybe not happening exactly now
I'm reading a great book – you should borrow it when I am finished.
He is taking difficult classes at the university this semester.
- the near future, when we make personal plans
My team is playing tonight at eight.
I'm visiting my grandmother tomorrow.
PRESENT PERFECT is used to talk about
- things that finished in the past but are important now
My car has been repaired.
He has broken his arm.
- things that happened any time up to now, when we don't care exactly when
Have you ever been to Budapest?
I've never read that book before.
- things that continue up to now
I have worked here for almost 20 years.
We have known each other for most of our lives.
PAST SIMPLE is used to talk about
- short, finished actions
I spoke to my father last night.
We ate too much at lunch!
- longer actions that are finished
I studied Japanese for three years in college.
He worked for our firm until last December.
- repeated past actions
I played squash three times a week during high school.
We took a vacation every summer when I was young.
PAST CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- what we were doing at a specific time in the past
Yesterday at noon I was walking from my office to lunch.
- something that was in progress throughout a past period
We were arguing all day long last Saturday.
He was staring at me constantly during the lecture.
- when one thing happens in the middle of another thing
As I was opening the door, the phone rang.
I dropped my packages while walking down the street.
PAST PERFECT is used to talk about
- when two things happened in the past, one before the other
I told him that I had finished the project.
When we arrived, Jack had already left the office.
I hadn't known her for very long before we started dating.
FUTURE SIMPLE is used to talk about
- previously unplanned decisions or offers
That's too heavy for one person – I will help you.
If it's really as important as you say, I will do it.
- requests
Will you come to my party tomorrow night?
Will you bring my coat from the bedroom?
- predictions about the future
Slavia will win tonight for sure!
No, I don't think it will rain today.
FUTURE CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- things that will be in progress at a certain time in the future
At this time next month, I will be flying to Jamaica.
Good luck with your interview – we will be thinking of you!
FUTURE PERFECT is used
- to say that something will have been completed or will become true by a certain time in the future
By the first of next month, we will have lived here for ten years.
My architect says that he will have finished the plans by next Thursday.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- things which started in the past and are still happening now
I have been having English lessons twice a week for six months.
- things which started in the past and have just stopped
Why are you sweating? – I know, I have been running.
I'm sorry I'm late – have you been waiting long?
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- longer actions or situations which had continued up to a particular moment in the past
When I met Becky, I could see that she had been crying.
My eyes were tired because I had been reading for a long time.
At the time of the accident, I had been living in London for just three months.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used to talk about
- situations that will continue from some time in the past, through the present, to a particular time in the future, and likely after that too
I will have been teaching for ten years this summer.
For further review go to lesson 1 lesson 2 lesson 3 lesson 4 lesson 5