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PRESENT TENSES
Present simple tense Present continuous tense
Use: Use:
for permanent situations for temporary situations
and states for actions happening at or
for repeated/habitual around the moment of
actions speaking
for permanenth thruths or for repeated actions with
low of nature always expressing
for timetables/programmes annoyance or criticism
for reviews/sports/ for fixed arrangements in
the near future
commentaries/dramatic
narrative for changing or developing
situations
PRESENT TENSES
Present simple tense Present continuous
tense
They work in an office.
He often watches TV. It`s raining.
I`m having dinner tonight.
Where do you live?
How much does it cost? What are you doing here?
Where is she acting?
We don`t play the piano.
She doesn`t live here. I`m not waiting for you.
She isn`t driving now.
PAST TENSES
Past simple tense Past continuous tense
Use: Use:
past actions which for action in the middle of
happened one after the happening at a stated past
other time
past habit or state for past action in progress
interrupted by another past
actions which happened at action. the shorter action is
a definite past time in the past simple and the
although the time is not longer in the past
mentioned continuous.
for two or more
simultaneous past actions
PAST TENSES
Past simple tense Past continuous tense
Use: Use:
for decisions taken at the for actions intended to be
moment of speaking performed in the near future
for hopes, fears, threats, for planned actions or
offers, promises, requests, intentions
comments, etc. for evidence that something
for actions or predictions will definitely happen in the
which may (not) happen in near future
the future
for things we are sure about
for thing we are not sure or we have already decided
about or haven`t decided to do in the near future
yet
FUTURE TENSES
Future simple (will) Be going to
Use: Use:
for recently completed for actions started in the
actions past and continuing up to
the present
for actions which
happened at an ustated for past actions of certain
past time and are duration having visible
connected with the present results or effects in the
present
for personal for actions expressing
experiences/changes anger, irritation, annoyance,
which have happened explanation or criticism
for emphasis on number for emphasis on duration
(for, since, how long)
PRESENT PERFECT
TENSES
Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous
She has tidied her room. He has been writing a letter for
We have lost 10 kilos. two hours.
We have been climbing.
Where has he lost his keys?
Have we taken a medicine? Has she been crying?
Who has been using my
toothbrush?
He hasn`t called at three o`clock.
We haven`t got the letter.
They haven`t been calling since
this morning.
He hasn`t been redecorating the
room.
PAST PERFECT TENSES
Past perfect simple Present perfect continuous
Use:
Use:
for action continuing
for past action which over a period up to a
occured before another specific time in the past
action or before a
stated past time for past action of certain
duration which had
for complete past action visible results in the past
which had visible the Past perfect
results in the past continuous is the past
the Past perfect is the eqivalent of the Present
past equivalent of the perfect continuous
Present perfect
PAST PERFECT TENSES
Past perfect simple Present perfect continuous
She had left by the time I got She had been working as a clerk
there. for 10 years before she
They were sad because they had resigned.
failed the test. They were wet because they had
been walking in the rain.
Had he tried to find his keys?
Where had they gone? How long had her leg been
aching?
Had you been trying to find a job?
She hadn`t finished by two.
The party hadn`t started by the I hadn`t been cooking.
time I arrived. We hadn`t been working on the
computer.
FUTURE PERFECT
TENSES
Future perfect simple tense Future perfect continuous
tense
Use:
for actions which will be Use:
finished before a stated
future time for duration of an action
which up to a certain time
in the future
*Future continuous
Use:
for the actions in progress at a stated future
time
for actions which are the result of a routine
FUTURE PERFECT
TENSES
Future perfect simple Future perfect continuous
tense tense
Will you have finished untill Will she have been driving for
midnight? five hours.