Introduction SIMPLE PRESENT 

AND THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE 

We use the simple present and the present progressive to express actions that take place in the present. We choose the simple
present when we want to describe daily events, or as a narrative form for stories that take place in the present. We use the present
progressive when we're describing what's happening at the current moment (that is, the process or progression of an action).

Example
The Smiths are going on holiday. They always go on holiday by train. They usually take a taxi to the station, they have a look at the timetable and
then they get on the train.
At the moment, they are standing in front of the timetable. While his parents are studying the timetable, Ben is making himself comfortable on the
trolley. The train leaves in 20 minutes and arrives in Brighton at 16:45. At 6 pm the Smiths are meeting Ben’s aunt in Brighton. She works as a
nurse in a London hospital, but this summer she is working as a nurse in a holiday resort near Brighton.

Usage

Simple Present Present Progressive

right at this moment
common, typical for someone (always, often, never)
Example:
Example:
The Smiths are going on holiday.
They always go on holiday by train. At the moment, they are standing in front of
the time table.
simultaneously occurring events
sequentially occurring events
Example:
Example:
While the parents are studying the
They usually take a taxi to the station, they have a look at the timetable
timetable, Ben is making himself
and then they get on the train.
comfortable on the trolley.
a time that is unofficially/personally
determined
a time that is officially determined in a schedule or programme
(and e.g. scheduled in a personal calendar)
Example:
Example:
The train leaves in 20 minutes and arrives in Brighton at 16:45.
At 6 pm they are meeting Ben’s aunt
in Brighton.
only temporary (a short agreed-upon time
period)
daily or regular events
Example:
Example:
This summer she is working as a
She works as a nurse in a London hospital.
nurse in a holiday resort near
Brighton.

Signal Words

Simple Present Present Progressive

 always  at the moment
 every …  at this moment
 often  today
 normally  now
 usually  right now
 sometimes  Listen!
 seldom  Look!
 Simple Present Present Progressive
 never
 first
 then

Verbs that are not used in the Present Progressive

The following verbs are generally only used in the simple present, even if they are taking place at the moment of speaking.

 stative verbs
be, cost, fit, mean, remain, suit
Example:
They are on holiday.
 verbs that show possession/belonging
belong, have
Example:
The luggage belongs to the family.
 verbs of sensation
feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example:
They hear the loudspeaker announcement.
 verbs that express emotions
hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example:
Ben loves going by train.
 verbs of thought and recognition
believe, know, realise, recognise, seem, think, understand
Example:
He knows where they have to get off the train.
 clauses accompanying direct speech
answer, ask, reply, say
Example:
“We must hurry to get the train”, Ben’s father says.
Introduction PRESENT PERFECT present perfect progressive
We use the present perfect to express that an action started in the past and has lasted until now, or was only just completed. The present
perfect simple is generally used to emphasise the completion of an action and its results. With the present perfect progressive, we
emphasise the length or the uninterrupted progress of an action.

Example

I am a receptionist at a nice little hotel next to my house. I have been working here since 2010 and I have welcomed many tourists since then.

In my job it’s important to speak foreign languages. I have learned English and French at school and I have been learningSpanish and German for
some years.
Today I have checked in 112 tourists and I have been preparing some new texts for our website. Since I have been working all day, I am tired now.
And I am hungry, too – I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast.

Usage
Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
duration (how long, since when)
result (what, how many/much, how often)
Example:
Example:
I have been working here since 2010.
I have welcomed many tourists since
then. I have been learning Spanish and
German for some years.
action is considered to be completed action is not yet completed
Example: Example:
I have learned English and French at I have been working on some new texts
school. for our website.
an (undesired) side effect of the action is being
the desired result of the action is being
emphasised
emphasised
Example:
Example:
Since I have been working all day, I am
Today I have checked in 132 tourists.
tired now.
since the last occurrence since the beginning of the action
Example: Example:
I am hungry – I haven’t eaten anything I am not hungry – I have been
since breakfast. eatingsince breakfast.

Signal Words
 Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Progressive
 how long
 how often
 since
 … times
 for

Verbs that are not used in the progressive form

The following verbs are generally only used in the simple present form.

 stative verbs
be, cost, fit, mean, remain, suit
Example:
The tourists have remained in the hotel.
 verbs that indicate possession/belonging
belong, have
Example:
One tourist has had a headache for two days.
 verbs of sensory perception
feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example:
I haven’t heard the telephone ring.
 verbs that express feelings
hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example:
None of the tourists has regretted staying in our hotel.
 verbs of thought and recognition
believe, know, realise, recognise, seem, think, understand
Example:
Have you thought about it?
Introduction SIMPLE PRESENT/ PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
We use the simple present for general statements about the present and for actions that take place regularly in the present. With
the present perfect progressive, we express how long an action has been taking place.

Differentiating between these two usages is often complicated, since they are both forms of the present tense.

Example
Helen, you have been cycling for three hours and you are not tired. How often do you cycle?

I cycle almost every day. On my fourth birthday, my grandparents gave me a bike. I have been cyclingsince then.

Usage

Simple Present Present Perfect Progressive

how long/since when

when/how often
Example:
Example:
How long have you been cycling?
How often do you cycle?
You have been cycling for three hours.
I cycle almost every day.
I have been cycling since then.

Signal Words

Simple Present Present Perfect Progressive

 how long
 how often
 since
 ... times
 for

To Note
 The signal words for the simple present are the same as those for the present perfect simple. In the case of
the simple present, however, we want to know how often an action in the present takes place (not how often it has taken place up to
this point).

Example:

I cycle three times per week. (simple present)

I have only cycled three times in my life. (present perfect simple)

Introduction Simple Past - Past Progressive

The simple past and the past progressive are used to express actions in the past. We use the simple past as the narrative form for the past. If we want to
emphasize the process or progression of a past action, we use the past progressive.

Example
Last year, I spent my holidays in Wales. I was travelling around by bike. Every morning I took my bike, cycled for some time, visited the villages on the
way and talked to people.

My friends preferred to spend their holidays by the sea. So while I was cycling, my friends were probably sitting at the beach.

But one day, when I was talking to a farmer in a village, my mobile rang. My friends were phoning to tell me how awful the weather was by the sea.
They were spending all day inside.

Usage
Simple Past Past Progressive

sequentially occurring actions simultaneously occurring actions

Example: Example:

Every morning I took my bike, cycled for While I was cycling, my

some time, visited the villages on the friends were probably sitting at
way and talked to people. the beach.

already started action

newly starting action

Example:
Example:
When I was talking to a farmer
When I was talking to a farmer in a
in a village, my mobile suddenly
village, my mobile suddenly rang.
rang.

merely mentioning that an action took place emphasizing the process or progression of the
action
Example:
Example:
I spent my holidays in Wales.
They were spending all day
inside.
 Simple Past Past Progressive

My friends were phoning.

Signal Words
Simple Past Past Progressive

 when
 first
 while
 then
 as long as

Verbs that are not used in the progressive form

The following verbs are generally only used in the simple form, even if they take place at the moment of speaking.

 stative verbs
be, cost, fit, mean, remain, suit

Example:

The weather was awful.

 verbs that indicate possession/belonging

belong, have

Example:

I didn’t have a lot of luggage.

 verbs of sensory perception

feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example:

I saw many villages.

 verbs that express feelings

hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example:

My friends preferred to spend their holidays by the sea.

 verbs of thought and recognition

believe, know, realise, recognise, seem, think, understand

Example:

I thought they would be sitting at the beach all day.

 clauses accompanying direct speech
answer, ask, reply, say

Example:

“We are spending all day inside,” my friends said.

Introduction PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST

In English, there are important differences in usage between the present perfect and the simple past.
If any time designation is mentioned in the past, we have to use the simple past. In sentences without signal words,
we have to decide whether we are merely describing a past action, or if there's a connection to the present.
The following explanations and exercises follow the rules of British English. In American English, the simple past is
often used instead of the present perfect simple.
Example
I have been to the theatre only three or four times in my life. I last went to the theatre in 1995. I saw the Shakespeare play
Hamlet then. I have never been to the theatre again since then.
Last night, my friend phoned and asked if I wanted to go to the theatre with her. I said yes.
I have bought a new dress to wear that night. Now I am in the City and I have just bought the tickets.

Usage

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

action just completed (just/already/yet)
time designation in the past is indicated
Example:
Example:
Now I am in the City and
I last went to the theatre in 1995.
I have just bought the tickets.
whether/how often until now
specified event in the past Example:
Example: I have been to the theatre only
I saw the Shakespeare play Hamlet three or four times in my life.
then. I have never been to the theatre
again since then.
only the action is described
Example: result is emphasized
Last night, my friend phoned and Example:
asked if I wanted to go to the I have bought a new dress to
theatre with her. wear that night.
I said yes.
Signal Words
Simple Past Present Perfect Simple
 just
 already
 yesterday
 up to now
 ... ago
 until now / till now
 in 1990
 ever
 the other day
 (not) yet
 last ...
 so far
 lately / recently
Simple Past - Past Perfect

Introduction
We use the simple past when we are telling what happened (sequentially) in the past. If we look still further back from this past point to talk about what
happened before it, then we use the past perfect.

Example
Monica went to London by plane yesterday. As she had never travelled on a plane before, shewas a little nervous.
First she checked in, then she went to the boarding gate. Finally the plane was ready for boarding and Monica got on the plane.
She had already fastened her seatbelt when the stewardesses informed the passengers about safety on board.
After the stewardesses had completed the safety information, the plane took off.

Usage
Simple Past Past Perfect

narrative form for the past

look back to something that happened before a certain point in the
Example: past

Monica went to London by Example:

plane yesterday. As she had never travelled on a plane before,
First she checked in and she was a little nervous.
then she went to the She had already fastened her seatbelt when
boarding gate. the stewardesses informed the passengers
Finally the about safety on board.
plane was ready for After the stewardesses had completedthe
boarding and safety information, the plane took off.
Monica got on the plane.

Signal Words
Simple Past Past Perfect

 already
 first  up to then
 then  before (that day)
 after
 After/before/when with Simple Past/Past Perfect
Simple Past Past Perfect

the verb does not appear in the clause with after(the clause

the verb appears in the clause with after
with after has no verb)
Example:
after Example:
After the stewardesses had completed the
After the safety information, the
safety information, the plane took off.
plane took off.

The action in the clause with when takes place after the action in the The action in the clause with when had just been completed when
other clause. the new action began.

Example: Example:
when
She had already fastened her When she had fastened her seatbelt, the
seatbelt when the stewardesses informed the stewardesses informed the passengers
passengers about safety on board. about safety on board.

The action in the clause with before began after the other action had The action in the clause with before had not yet been completed
been completed. when the other action began.
befor
Example: Example:
e
All passengers boarded/had The plane took off before all
boarded before the plane took off. passengers had boarded.

Present Tenses

Introduction
There are several different ways of expressing the present in English. However, we can’t choose them at random, but have to use particular tenses
depending on the situation.

Example
 Look! Buster is sleeping in the armchair!
 I know. He sleeps there every day.
 I have been looking for him outside for half an hour, you know.
 Now you have found him.
 When I didn’t find him outside I thought, “Well, he will probably be inside.”
 Look, he is dreaming.
 He will probably be dreaming of a nice bowl of milk.
Usage
tense usage

indicates regularity, something that happens regularly

simple present Example:

He sleeps there every day.

emphasizes that an action is currently taking place

Example:
present progressive
Look! Buster is sleeping in the armchair!

He is dreaming.

an action has just been completed

present perfect simple Example:

Now you have found him.

emphasizes the progression of an action from the past until now

Example:
present perfect progressive
I have been looking for him outside for half an hour, you
know.

supposition about a condition/process in the present

future I simple Example:

He will probably be inside.

supposition about what is currently happening

future I progressive Example:

He will probably be dreaming of a nice bowl of milk.

Past Tenses

Introduction
There are several different ways of expressing the past in English. However, we can’t choose them at random, but have to use particular tenses
depending on the situation.

Example
When I came home last Monday, I had a message on my answering machine. It said, “Meet me in the park.”

I didn’t know who the message was from, but I was curious. And the sun was shining. So after I had checked all the messages on my answering
machine, I put on my jacket, took my bag and went to the park. And there he was: Luke, an old friend from school. I hadn’t seen him for ages.

Now he was standing there smiling at me. In his hand he was holding a flower that he had bought in a nearby flower shop.

I was glad to see him and he looked relieved, as he had already been standing there for a few hours.

Usage
tense usage

normal narrative past form (sequentially occurring actions)

Example:

When I came home last Monday, I had a message on my answering machine.

It said, “Meet me in the park.”

simple past
I didn’t know who the message was from, but I was curious.

I put on my jacket, took my bag and went to the park.

And there he was: Luke, an old friend from school.

I was glad to see him and he looked relieved.

emphasizes the progression/process of an action

Example:

past progressive The sun was shining.

He was standing there smiling at me.

In his hand he was holding a flower.

past perfect simple action that took place before another (previously-mentioned) action

Example:

After I had checked all the messages on my answering machine, I put on my

jacket…
 tense usage

I hadn’t seen him for ages.

He was holding a flower that he had bought in a nearby flower shop.

emphasizes how long an action lasted until a certain point in the past
past perfect
Example:
progressive
He looked relieved, as he had already been standing there for a few hours.

Future Tenses

Introduction
There are several different ways of expressing the future in English. However, we can’t choose among them at random, but have to use certain tenses
depending on the situation.

Example
It’s the last lesson at school today. The lesson finishes at half past two, so it lasts another 20 minutes.

Jack is dreaming: in the afternoon he is playing football with his friends. Last time he did not play well and his team lost because of him. Today he is
going to play better. And the weather forecast says that it will be a sunny afternoon.

The teacher has just asked a question and Fiona is going to answer it. She has already raised her hand.

But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack. Otherwise he will surely fall asleep.”

As Jack has been dreaming all the time, he does not know the answer. But he promises that he will pay attention in the future.

Usage
tense usage

future I (will) event that cannot be influenced

Example:

It will be a sunny afternoon.

supposition about the future

Example:

Otherwise he will surely fall asleep.

promise
 tense usage

Example:

He promises that he will pay attention in the future.

spontaneous decision

Example:

But then the teacher thinks, “I will ask Jack.”

someone has set plans for the future

Example:

Today he is going to play better.

future I (going to) something indicates that a certain action is about to take place

Example:

Fiona is going to answer the question.

She has already raised her hand.

a set or determined time plan (train schedule, class schedule, etc.)

simple present Example:

The lesson finishes at half past two, so It lasts another 20 minutes.

set plans/appointments that have been agreed upon for the near future
present
Example:
progressive
In the afternoon he is playing football with his friends.