TENSE FORMS

PRESENT FORMS

PRESENT FORMS

I. PRESENT SIMPLE

MATCHING
A 1. She works as a nurse. 2. The plane leaves at 6.05. 3. HAWKING WINS NOBEL PRIZE 4. Water freezes at 00C. B a. general truths b. repeated/ habitual actions c. permanent situations or states

5. I usually get up at 7.30.

6. The early bird catches the worm. 7. Meryl Streep acts brilliantly in this

d. telling jokes/informal stories

e. live sports commentary f. newspaper headlines

film.
8. Adams passes to Kareshi. Its a goal! 9. So, a man goes to see his

g. reviews and summaries

h. instructions & directions i. proverbs & sayings

psychiatrist
10. You turn left at the end of the road and the school is up ahead.

j. timetables/ programmes
(future meaning)

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

1. permanent situations or states

e.g. I work as a nurse.

- She owns a large shop.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

2. repeated/ habitual actions

e.g. - I usually get up at 7.30.

- He often buys her flowers.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

3. general truths
e.g. - Water freezes at 00C.

- The sun rises in the east.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

4. telling jokes & other informal stories

e.g. - So, a man goes to see his psychiatrist

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

5. live sports commentary

e.g. - Adams passes to Kareshi. Its a goal!

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

6. newspaper headlines
e.g. - HAWKING WINS NOBEL PRIZE

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

7. reviews and summaries

e.g. - Meryl Streep acts brilliantly in this film.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

8. instructions & directions

e.g. - You turn left at the end of the road and the school is up ahead.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

9. proverbs & sayings

e.g. - The early bird catches the worm.

PRESENT SIMPLE
We use the present simple to describe:

10. timetables/ programmes

(future meaning)
e.g. - The plane leaves at 6.05.

PRESENT FORMS

II. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

MATCHING
A
1. His English is getting better. 2. The Browns are visiting us tonight. 3. Theyre staying at the Park Hotel at present. 4. The boys are doing their homework right now. 5. She is looking for a better job. 6. A man goes to see his psychiatrist. Hes carrying a bag full of honey 7. Shes always interrupting me!

B
a. actions happening now b. actions happening around now c. temporary situations d. changing or developing situations e. annoying or amusing habits f. background information in jokes & informal stories g. fixed arrangements in the near future

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

1. actions happening now

e.g. - The boys are doing their homework right now.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

2. actions happening around now

e.g. - She is looking for a better job.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

3. temporary situations
e.g. - Theyre staying at the Park Hotel at present.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

4. changing or developing situations

e.g. - His English is getting better.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

5. annoying or amusing habits

(usually with always)
e.g. - Shes always interrupting me!

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

6. background information in jokes

& other informal stories
e.g. - A man goes to see his psychiatrist. Hes carrying a bag full of honey

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We use the present continuous to describe:

7. fixed arrangements in the

near future
e.g. - The Browns are visiting us tonight.

PRESENT FORMS

III. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

MATCHING
A
1. Ive been to Italy twice. 2. Ive broken my arm, as you can see. 3. He has sold his car. 4. Ive just received my exam results. 5. We have lived in this

B
a. actions completed recently b. actions happened at an unstated time in the past c. actions happened at an unstated time in the past that have a result in the present d. actions started in the past

house for two years.

and continue up to the present

e. personal experiences/ changes up to now

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the present perfect simple to describe:

1. actions completed recently

e.g. - Ive just received my exam results.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the present perfect simple to describe:

2. actions happened at an unstated

time in the past
e.g. - He has sold his car.

(When? We dont know.)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the present perfect simple to describe:

3. actions happened at an unstated

time in the past that have a result in the present
e.g. - Ive broken my arm, as you can see.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the present perfect simple to describe:

4. actions started in the past and

continue up to the present
e.g. - We have lived in this house for two years.

(We still live in this house.)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

We use the present perfect simple to describe:

5. personal experiences/ changes up to

now
e.g. - Ive been to Italy twice.
- Ive lost ten kilos.

PRESENT FORMS

IV. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

MATCHING
A
1. Her eyes are red. Shes been crying. 2. Ive been waiting here all morning. 3. Ive been phoning her for days, but shes never at home. 4. Hes been writing a letter for two hours.

B
a. actions started in the past and continuing up to the present b. past actions having visible results or effects in the present c. emphasis on the duration of the actions d. emphasis on the repetition of the actions

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the present perfect continuous to describe:

1. actions started in the past & continuing

up to the present e.g. - Hes been writing a letter for two hours.

(He started 2 hours ago & hes still writing it.)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the present perfect continuous to describe:

2. past actions having visible results or

effects in the present e.g. - Shes been crying.

(Her eyes are red.)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the present perfect continuous to describe:

3. emphasis on the duration of the actions e.g. - Ive been waiting here all morning.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We use the present perfect continuous to describe:

4. emphasis on the repetition of the actions e.g. - Ive been phoning her for days, but shes never at home.

STATIVE VERBS
Stative verbs express a permanent state rather than an action & do not have continuous forms.

e.g. hear, see, like, hate, agree,

believe, appear, seem, have, own,

wish,

STATIVE VERBS
Stative verbs can be used in continuous forms when they describe actions rather than states. e.g. I think its important to know how to use a computer. (state: think = believe) - Im thinking about going on a computer course. (action: think = consider)