Tenses
Present perfect (have/has + past verb)
We use the present perfect simple to say that a finished action or event is connected with
the present in some way
To express the idea of completion or achievement
We don’t use the present perfect simple if we are not thinking about the present
We use the present perfect with words that mean ‘at some/any time up to now’ (ever,
before, never, yet, recently, lately, already)
Present perfect to say how much we have done or how often
We use the present perfect with definite time expressions
We don’t use the present perfect simple with words that refer to a completely finished
period of time
Present perfect progressive (have + been + -ing)
We use the present perfect progressive to look back over actions and situations which
started in the past and are still going on
Past simple (past verb) 421.4
We use the past simple to express something that happened in the (completed) past
Past progressive (was/were + -ing)
We use the past progressive to say that something was in progress around a particular past
time
Present simple (stem verb)
We use the present simple to talk about permanent situations, or about things that happen
regularly or all the time
Present progressive (am/is + -ing)
We use the present progressive to talk about temporary continuing actions and events,
which are just going on now or around now
Past perfect (had + past verb) 423
We use the past perfect simple to make it clear that something had already happened at the
time we are talking about it
Past perfect progressive (had + been + -ing)
We use the past perfect progressive to talk about actions or situations which had continued
up to the past moment that we are thinking about, or shortly before it
For/since 208.1/2
Use for for duration
Use since for a starting point
,Verbs
List of non-progressive verbs 471.2/3 299 ing or to
These verbs are not often used in progressive forms:
Mental and emotional states
Believe dislike see
Doubt love suppose
Feel prefer think
Hate realise understand
Imagine recognise want
Know remember wish
Use of the senses
Feel see sound
Hear smell taste
Communicating and causing reactions
(Dis)agree impress promise
Appear look (=seem) satisfy
Astonish mean seem
Deny please surprise
Other
Be deserve measure (=have length)
Belong fit need
Concern include owe
Consist involve own
Contain lack possess
Depend matter weigh (=have weight)
Verbs that can be followed by -ing forms 296.1
Some verbs are followed by -ing forms:
Admit dislike give up practise
Appreciate endure (can’t help) put off
Avoid enjoy imagine resent
Burst out escape involve resist
Excuse keep (on) risk consider
Face leave off (can’t) stand contemplate
Fancy mention suggest delay
Feel like mind understand deny
Finish miss detest forgive
Postpone
We don’t use a progressive form with state verbs
Do: auxiliary verb 159.1
We use do to make questions with ordinary verbs, but not with other auxiliary verbs
After do we use the infinitive in questions 480.4
, Link verb: I feel fine 202.1
We use the link verb I feel fine to talk about one’s physical or mental sensations
Be able 3
We use able in the structure be able + infinitive
We use can when we mean ‘know how to’ and in expressions like, can see, can hear etc.
Able is not followed by passive infinitives
Enjoy 186
We use enjoy to talk about having a good time (enjoy myself/yourself)
Enjoy normally has an object
Mind 351.1
We use mind in questions and negative clauses. After mind we can use an -ing form or object
+ -ing form
Must VS have to
We use must if the speaker provides the obligation
We use have to if the necessity comes from the situation/outside
Do
Verb do is always followed by infinitive
Must have + past participle
We use must have + past participle to express certainty about the past
Present perfect (have/has + past verb)
We use the present perfect simple to say that a finished action or event is connected with
the present in some way
To express the idea of completion or achievement
We don’t use the present perfect simple if we are not thinking about the present
We use the present perfect with words that mean ‘at some/any time up to now’ (ever,
before, never, yet, recently, lately, already)
Present perfect to say how much we have done or how often
We use the present perfect with definite time expressions
We don’t use the present perfect simple with words that refer to a completely finished
period of time
Present perfect progressive (have + been + -ing)
We use the present perfect progressive to look back over actions and situations which
started in the past and are still going on
Past simple (past verb) 421.4
We use the past simple to express something that happened in the (completed) past
Past progressive (was/were + -ing)
We use the past progressive to say that something was in progress around a particular past
time
Present simple (stem verb)
We use the present simple to talk about permanent situations, or about things that happen
regularly or all the time
Present progressive (am/is + -ing)
We use the present progressive to talk about temporary continuing actions and events,
which are just going on now or around now
Past perfect (had + past verb) 423
We use the past perfect simple to make it clear that something had already happened at the
time we are talking about it
Past perfect progressive (had + been + -ing)
We use the past perfect progressive to talk about actions or situations which had continued
up to the past moment that we are thinking about, or shortly before it
For/since 208.1/2
Use for for duration
Use since for a starting point
,Verbs
List of non-progressive verbs 471.2/3 299 ing or to
These verbs are not often used in progressive forms:
Mental and emotional states
Believe dislike see
Doubt love suppose
Feel prefer think
Hate realise understand
Imagine recognise want
Know remember wish
Use of the senses
Feel see sound
Hear smell taste
Communicating and causing reactions
(Dis)agree impress promise
Appear look (=seem) satisfy
Astonish mean seem
Deny please surprise
Other
Be deserve measure (=have length)
Belong fit need
Concern include owe
Consist involve own
Contain lack possess
Depend matter weigh (=have weight)
Verbs that can be followed by -ing forms 296.1
Some verbs are followed by -ing forms:
Admit dislike give up practise
Appreciate endure (can’t help) put off
Avoid enjoy imagine resent
Burst out escape involve resist
Excuse keep (on) risk consider
Face leave off (can’t) stand contemplate
Fancy mention suggest delay
Feel like mind understand deny
Finish miss detest forgive
Postpone
We don’t use a progressive form with state verbs
Do: auxiliary verb 159.1
We use do to make questions with ordinary verbs, but not with other auxiliary verbs
After do we use the infinitive in questions 480.4
, Link verb: I feel fine 202.1
We use the link verb I feel fine to talk about one’s physical or mental sensations
Be able 3
We use able in the structure be able + infinitive
We use can when we mean ‘know how to’ and in expressions like, can see, can hear etc.
Able is not followed by passive infinitives
Enjoy 186
We use enjoy to talk about having a good time (enjoy myself/yourself)
Enjoy normally has an object
Mind 351.1
We use mind in questions and negative clauses. After mind we can use an -ing form or object
+ -ing form
Must VS have to
We use must if the speaker provides the obligation
We use have to if the necessity comes from the situation/outside
Do
Verb do is always followed by infinitive
Must have + past participle
We use must have + past participle to express certainty about the past
