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    Grammar Tenses

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    shima24062003
    The document discusses different tenses used in English for talking about the present, past, and future. It explains the uses of the present progressive, present perfect, present simple, and other tenses. Time frames, duration, repetition and intentions are some factors that determine tense choice.

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    Grammar Tenses

    Uploaded by

    shima24062003
    7 views2 pages
    The document discusses different tenses used in English for talking about the present, past, and future. It explains the uses of the present progressive, present perfect, present simple, and other tenses. Time frames, duration, repetition and intentions are some factors that determine tense choice.

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    grammar_tenses (1)

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    The document discusses different tenses used in English for talking about the present, past, and future. It explains the uses of the present progressive, present perfect, present simple, and other tenses. Time frames, duration, repetition and intentions are some factors that determine tense choice.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    7 views2 pages

    Grammar Tenses

    Uploaded by

    shima24062003
    The document discusses different tenses used in English for talking about the present, past, and future. It explains the uses of the present progressive, present perfect, present simple, and other tenses. Time frames, duration, repetition and intentions are some factors that determine tense choice.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Use of tenses

    Talking about the present Talking about the past


    The present progressive is used: The past simple is used:
    ■ to talk about an action that is happening ■ to talk about an action that took place
    now, or about a temporary situation: in the past:
    • We’re just having breakfast. • He got up, paid the bill and left.
    • What are you reading? • I didn’t read the letter, I just gave it to Lee.
    • She’s not listening to me. • What did you say?
    • They’re spending a year in Spain.
    NOTE Often a specific time in the past is
    ■ to talk about something that is not yet mentioned:
    finished, even if you are not doing it at the • Did you speak to Amy yesterday?

    moment when you are talking:


    • I’m learning Italian.
    ■ to talk about a state that continued for some
    • She’s writing a novel.
    time, but that is now finished:
    • I went to school in Scotland.

    ■ with always, to talk about something that • Did she really work there for ten years?

    happens often, and that you find annoying:


    • He’s always asking silly questions.
    ■ to talk about actions that happened regularly
    • They’re always coming round here to
    in the past:
    • I often played tennis with her.
    borrow something.
    She always won.
    NOTE Some verbs are not used in the • They never went to the cinema when

    progressive tenses, for example need, want, they lived in the country.
    know, agree, seem, appear, understand,
    smell, hear, etc. These verbs refer to a state, The present perfect is used:
    not an action.

    Use of tenses
    ■ to talk about something that happened dur-
    • I need some new shoes.
    ing a period of time that is not yet finished:
    • He wants to go home.
    • The train has been late three times this week.
    • Do you know Tania Smith?
    • He still hasn’t visited her.
    • They love Japanese food.

    • She hates her job. ■ when the time in the past is not mentioned,
    or is not important:
    NOTE Other verbs are used in the present • He’s written a book.
    progressive when they refer to an action, and • We’ve bought a new computer.
    the present simple when they refer to a state:
    • He’s tasting the soup. ■ when the action finished in the past,
    • The soup tastes salty. but the effect is still felt in the present:
    • She’s being difficult again. • He’s lost his calculator ( and he still hasn’t

    • She’s a difficult child. found it ).


    • What are you thinking about?
    ■ with for and since to show the duration
    • Do you think I should leave?
    of an action or state up until the present:
    • I have worked here since 1998.
    The present simple is used:
    • She hasn’t bought any new clothes for years.
    ■ to talk about a permanent situation or some-
    thing that is always true: ■ in British English, with just, ever,
    • He lives in Spain. already and yet:
    • Does he work in a factory? • I’ve just arrived.

    • Insects have six legs. • Have you ever been here before?

    • What temperature does water boil at? • He’s already packed his suitcases.

    • Haven’t you finished yet?


    ■ to talk about things that happen regularly:
    • She leaves for school at 8 o’clock. NOTE In informal American English the past
    • We don’t often go out for a meal. simple can be used with just, already and yet:
    • What time do you catch the bus? • He already packed his suitcases.

    • Didn’t you finish yet?

    © Oxford University Press 1/2


    The present perfect progressive is used: ■ for requests, promises and offers:
    ■ with for and since to talk about an activity that • Will you buy some bread on your way home?
    • We’ll be back early, don’t worry.
    started in the past and is still happening:
    • I’ll help you with your homework.
    • I’ve been working since eight o’clock.

    • He’s been learning English for several years. However, other tenses and expressions
    ■ to talk about an activity that has finished, are also used to express a ‘future’ idea.
    but whose results are visible now: The present progressive is used:
    • My hands are dirty because I’ve been

    gardening. ■ to talk about future plans where the time is


    mentioned:
    The past progressive is used: • He’s flying to Japan in August.

    • What are you doing this evening?


    ■ to talk about an action that was in progress
    • I’m not starting my new job till next Monday.
    at a particular time in the past:
    • What were you doing in the summer of 1999?
    Be going to with the infinitive is used:
    • Was it raining when you left home?
    ■ to talk about what you intend
    ■ to talk about something that was already in to do in the future:
    progress when something else happened. • I’m going to phone Michael tonight.
    (You use the past simple for the action that • What are you going to do when you
    interrupts it): leave school?
    • The doorbell rang while they were having

    breakfast. About to with the infinitive is used:


    NOTE As with the present progressive, ■ to talk about the very near future:
    this tense cannot be used with ‘state’ verbs: • Go and ask him quickly.
    • The fresh bread smelled wonderful He’s about to go out.
    (not was smelling).
    The present simple is used:
    The past perfect is used: ■ to refer to a future time after when,

    Use of tenses
    ■ to talk about something that happened as soon as, before, until, etc.:
    before another action in the past: • Ring me as soon as you hear any news.
    • I had already met Ed before he came to Bath. • I’ll look after Jo until you get back.
    • When I got to the station, the train had left. • You’ll recognize the street when you see it.

    The past perfect progressive is used: ■ to talk about future plans where something
    ■ with for or since to talk about an activity that has been officially arranged, for example
    started at a time further back in the past than on a timetable or programme:
    • We leave Palma at 10 and arrive in
    something else:
    • She hadn’t been living there very long when
    Luton at 12.30.
    • School starts on 9 September.
    she met Mark.
    ■ to talk about an activity that had a result The future progressive is used:
    in the past: ■ to talk about actions that will continue
    • My hands were dirty because I had been
    for a period of time in the future:
    gardening. • I’ll be waiting near the ticket office.

    I’ll be wearing a green hat.


    Talking about the future • This time next week you’ll be relaxing

    in the sun!
    There are several ways of talking about the future.
    ■ to ask somebody about their plans or inten-
    The future simple (will with the infinitive) is used: tions:
    • How many nights will you be staying?
    ■ to talk about a decision that you make as you
    • Will you be flying back or going by train?
    are speaking:
    • ‘It’s cold in here.’ ‘OK, I’ll close the window.’

    • I’ll have the salad, please.


    The future perfect or
    the future perfect progressive is used:
    ■ to talk about what you know or think will
    ■ to talk about the duration of something that
    happen in the future (but not about your own
    you will be looking back on at a particular time
    intentions or plans):
    • Her mother will be ninety next week.
    in the future:
    • They’ll have lived here for four years in May.
    • Will he pass the exam, do you think?
    • She’ll have been working here for a year
    • This job won’t take long.
    in October.

    © Oxford University Press 2/2

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