ENGLISH 1
Present tenses
SIMPLE PRESENT PRESENT PROGRESSIVE ( OR
CONTINUOUS
• Truths/ facts • Actions going on right now
• Repeated actions • Actions going on around now
• Instructions • gradual developments
• (sudden) events • Irritation with ‘always’
• Background
Example : Example:
“Alice works for an insurance company.” “Phil’s not working at the moment.”
“….., when a student walks in.” “The climate is getting warmer.”
Past tenses
SIMPLE PAST PAST PROGRESSIVE ( OR CONTINUOUS
• Completed actions (in the past) • Ongoing actions (in the past)
• Sudden, complete action (in • Background; longer action
background) • temporary situations (in the past)
• Longer, permanent situations (in
the past)
• Past habits
Example : Example:
“This morning I was having a wonderful “This morning I was having a wonderful
dream, but then the alarm went oA.” dream.”
“I played a lot of tennis when I was “When I walked in I found that water was
younger.” running down the walls.”
1
,Perfect tenses
Perfect = we connect two moments in time.
ð they talk about something that has already happened in relation to
another moment (past, present, or future).
=> We use the present perfect when we are talking about a period that continues ‘until
now’.
Tip: think to yourself: "Does it matter now?" → present perfect
Present perfect tenses
SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• Actions that started in the past • The very same as the simple
but are either: present perfect
-not over yet • PLUS, to say how long things have
-still relevant in the present been continuing up to now.
• Mostly for finished actions • Mostly for unfinished actions
Like in every continuous tense, the present
perfect continuous focuses on duration!
! We can say how long with ‘since’ and ‘for’!
ð We use since when we give the
beginning of the time.
ð We use for when we give the length of
the time.
! (semi) permanent situations?
ð The present perfect continuous can also
be used for longer, more permanent
situations.
ð However, we often prefer a present
perfect, especially when we are talking
about unchanging states rather than
actions.
Example : Example:
“We’ve travelled to nine countries this “I’ve been learning English for four years.”
year.”
2
, Past perfect tenses
SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT
• Completed actions • Actions that happened BEFORE
in the past another action in the past
• After past verbs of saying and
thinking
• Used with when and after to
show that sth was completely
finished.
•
Example : Example:
“They thought the clients had paid “When he had painted the kitchen, he
earlier.” decided to have a rest.”
PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• Actions that happened BEFORE • Actions happening BEFORE and
another action in the past UP TO that time.
Example : Example:
“When he had painted the kitchen, he “She got ill because she had been working
decided to have a rest.” too hard.”
3
Present tenses
SIMPLE PRESENT PRESENT PROGRESSIVE ( OR
CONTINUOUS
• Truths/ facts • Actions going on right now
• Repeated actions • Actions going on around now
• Instructions • gradual developments
• (sudden) events • Irritation with ‘always’
• Background
Example : Example:
“Alice works for an insurance company.” “Phil’s not working at the moment.”
“….., when a student walks in.” “The climate is getting warmer.”
Past tenses
SIMPLE PAST PAST PROGRESSIVE ( OR CONTINUOUS
• Completed actions (in the past) • Ongoing actions (in the past)
• Sudden, complete action (in • Background; longer action
background) • temporary situations (in the past)
• Longer, permanent situations (in
the past)
• Past habits
Example : Example:
“This morning I was having a wonderful “This morning I was having a wonderful
dream, but then the alarm went oA.” dream.”
“I played a lot of tennis when I was “When I walked in I found that water was
younger.” running down the walls.”
1
,Perfect tenses
Perfect = we connect two moments in time.
ð they talk about something that has already happened in relation to
another moment (past, present, or future).
=> We use the present perfect when we are talking about a period that continues ‘until
now’.
Tip: think to yourself: "Does it matter now?" → present perfect
Present perfect tenses
SIMPLE PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• Actions that started in the past • The very same as the simple
but are either: present perfect
-not over yet • PLUS, to say how long things have
-still relevant in the present been continuing up to now.
• Mostly for finished actions • Mostly for unfinished actions
Like in every continuous tense, the present
perfect continuous focuses on duration!
! We can say how long with ‘since’ and ‘for’!
ð We use since when we give the
beginning of the time.
ð We use for when we give the length of
the time.
! (semi) permanent situations?
ð The present perfect continuous can also
be used for longer, more permanent
situations.
ð However, we often prefer a present
perfect, especially when we are talking
about unchanging states rather than
actions.
Example : Example:
“We’ve travelled to nine countries this “I’ve been learning English for four years.”
year.”
2
, Past perfect tenses
SIMPLE PAST PAST PERFECT
• Completed actions • Actions that happened BEFORE
in the past another action in the past
• After past verbs of saying and
thinking
• Used with when and after to
show that sth was completely
finished.
•
Example : Example:
“They thought the clients had paid “When he had painted the kitchen, he
earlier.” decided to have a rest.”
PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
• Actions that happened BEFORE • Actions happening BEFORE and
another action in the past UP TO that time.
Example : Example:
“When he had painted the kitchen, he “She got ill because she had been working
decided to have a rest.” too hard.”
3
