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Facts that are always true: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Habits: British people drink a lot of tea.
States: I dont like romantic comedies
Some verbs are not normally used in the continuous form, because they describe activities
which already extend in time. These are called 'state' verbs: be, believe, cost, depend, have,
hear, know, matter, smell, suppose, taste, think, understand.
Key words: always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, rarely, never, every day, on Sundays
etc.
Present continuous generally refers to: actions which are in progress at the moment:
-
Key words: now, right now, this quarter, at the moment etc.
Completed actions: I got up, switched of the radio, and sat down again.
Habits: Everyday went to the park.
States: In those days, I didnt like reading.
Key words: yesterday, last week, last month, this morning (when meaning is past), when,
etc.
Past continuous generally refers to:
-
Changing states:
The car was getting worse all the time. One of the headlights was gradually falling of and
the engine was making more and more worrying noises.
Key words: already, yet, just, ever, never, ___ times, since + a particular time, for + a
duration of time.
Contrast between past simple and present perfect simple:
Past simple time expressions which are definite, it may be stated or understood:
I have bought a new car (indefinite)
I bought a new car last week (definite)
I bought the car after all (the: a car that we have already talked about definite)
Key words: Indefinite time might also mean up to now: since 1968, already.
Future time:
Basic contrasts: will, going to, present continuous.
Will is normally known as the predictive future, and describes known facts, or what we suppose is true
Ill be home this evening. This can also take form of an assumption Thatll be Jim at the door (I
suppose its him).
It can also be used to express an immediate decision I will take this one.
Be going to describes intentions or plans. At the moment of speaking the plans have already been
made. It is also used to describe an event whose cause is present or evident. I am going to wait
until Carol comes back Look at that tree, it is going to fall!
Key words: tomorrow, next week, next month, etc.
Present continuous describes fixed arrangements(specially social and traveling): Im going to
have a party next week.
Future continuous:
Future continuous describes an event which will be happening at a future point: I will be painting in the
kitchen.
It can also describe events which are going to happen anyway & fixed arrangements: The band will be
performing in Rome.
Key words: for