simple present tense

A. With states, feelings, and perceptions

The simple present tense describes states, feelings, and perceptions that are true at the moment of sp
eaking. The box contains six cans. (state) Jenny feels tired. (feeling) I see three stars in the sky. (per
ception)

Simple
nt tens

prese
e

B. With situations that extend before and after the present momento:The simple present tense ca
n also describe ongoing activities, or things that happen all the time. Tina works for a large corporation
. She lives in California. Jim goes to San Francisco State College.The simple present tense can also
describe repeated activities that occur at regular intervals, including people's habits or customs. I exer
cise every morning. Peter usually walks to work. Anna often cooks dinner.

NOTE: Notice the adve

rbs of frequency every
morning, usually, and often in these sentences. Other adverbs of frequency used this way include alwa
ys,sometimes, rarely, and never.

Simple present tense

C. With general facts:The simple present tense describes things that are always true. The Empire St
ate Building is in New York City. The heart pumps blood throughout the body. Water boils at 100 Cels
ius.

Simple
nt tense

prese

D. With future activities:

The simple present tense is sometimes used to talk about scheduled events in the future. The train arr
ives at 8:00 tonight. We leave at 10:00 tomorrow morning. The new semester begins in September.

Present contin
uous tense
A. For actions that ar
e happening right no
w:
The present continuous tense describes an action that is happening at the moment of speaking. These
activities started a short time before and will probablyend in the near future. Ali is watching television ri
ght now. Frank and Lisa are doing homework in the library. It is raining.

Present continuous tense

B. For ongoing activities that arent necessarily happening at this momento
The present continuous tense can describe a continuing action that started in the past and will prob
ably continue into the future. However, the action may notbe taking place at the exact moment of sp
eaking. Mr. Chong is teaching a Chinese cooking course. We are practicing for the soccer champi
onships. My sister is making a quilt.

Present continuous tense

C. With situations that will happen in the future:
The present continuous tense can also describe planned activities that will happen in the future
I am studying French next semester
. We are having a party Friday night. Raquel is taking her drivers test on Saturday.

NOTE: The use of expressions like next semester, Friday night, and on
Saturday help make it clear that the activity is planned and is not happening at the presentmoment,
but will happen in the future.

Simple past and past continuous

A. Simple past for one-time and repeated activities that happened in the past
The simple past tense can describe single or repeated occurrences in the past. I saw Linda at the
post office yesterday. Alex visited Paris last year. We played tennis every day last summer. (repea
ted activity)

Simple past and past continuous

D. Past continuous for continuous actions in the past
The past continuous tense can describe ongoing activities that went on for a period of time in the p
ast. Anna was living in Mexico. The baby was sleeping. Snow was falling.

Simple past and past continuous

B. Simple past and past continuous to show a past action that was interrupted:
The simple past tense can describe an action that interrupted an ongoing (past continuous) activity.
I met Alice while I was living in New York.
I dropped my purse while I was crossing the street.
The phone rang while I was studying.

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

A. Present perfect for actions or situations that started in the past and continue in the prese
nt and possibly the future:
The present perfect tense describes an action that started in the past, continues up to the present, an
d may continue into the future.
Lee has collected stamps for ten years.
Carmen has lived in this country since 1995. Yukio has played piano since she was four years old
.

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

B. Present perfect for experience in general, without mentioning when something occurred:
The present perfect tense can show that something happened in the past and the results can be se
en in the present.
We have caught several big fish. (they are on the table/in the boat)
Larry has met my family. (they know each other)
I have seen that movie twice. (I can tell you the plot)

Present perfect and present perfect continuous

C. Present perfect continuous for ongoing actions that started in the past and continue in t
he present
The present perfect continuous tense describes an ongoing activity that went on for a period of time
in the past and is still going on
. It has been raining for three days. (its raining now)
The baby has been crying for ten minutes. (she is still crying)
We have been waiting for the bus since 9:00. (were still waiting)

Simple past vs. present perfect

A. Simple past for situations that started and ended in the past vs. present perfect for thing
s that started in the past but continue in the momento
The simple past tense describes an action that started and ended in the past, while the present perf
ect tense describes situations that started in the pastbut continue up to the present and maybe into
the future.
Past:John worked as a waiter for two years when he was in college.
Present perfect:Carol has worked as an engineer since 1998.

Simple past vs. present perfect

B. Simple past to emphasize when something happened vs. present perfect to emphasize th
at something happened, without indicating when
The simple past emphasizes when something happened, and the present perfect emphasizes its im
pact on the present.
Past: Peter graduated from college in 2001. (at a known point in the past: 2001)
Present perfect:Alice has graduated from college, and is working in the city. (exactly when is unkn
own)

Simple past, past perfect, and past perfect continuous

A. Past and past perfect tenses with an activity that occurred before another activity in the past
Two simple past tenses are used to show a sequence of events in the past.
Simple past + simple past:
Ali said goodbye before he left.
I closed the door and then locked it.

Simple past, past perfect, and past perfect continuous

B. Past perfect continuous and simple past for a continuous activity that occurred before anoth
er event in the past
The past perfect continuous tense followed by the simple past tense shows that an ongoing activity in t
he past came before another past event.
We had been waiting for two hours when the bus finally arrived.
I had been thinking about the problem for days when the answer suddenly occurred to me
. Terry had been hoping for the answer that he got.

Future with will and going to

A. Will or going to for simple facts
Either will or going to can be used to give information about the future. Will is used to give definite i
nformation.
Class will start in ten minutes. The class is going to use a new textbook.
Your teacher will be Mr. Ellis.
There is going to be a final exam.

Future with will and going to

B. Will or going to for prediction:
Either will or going to can be used to describe things that are likely to happen in the future. Will is used
when there is evidence that things are likely tohappen.
It will rain this afternoon.
You are going to love that movie.
They are going to study a lot the night before the exam.
They will probably stay up all night.

Future with will and going to

C. Will for promises:
Will is used to give a guarantee concerning a future action.
I will be there on time.
Your father and I will pay for your college education.
I won't tell anyone.
I will save you a seat.

Future with will and going to

D. Will for decisions made at the time of speaking:
Will is used for decisions made at the time of speaking.
I will help you with your homework
Were out of milk. Ill go to the store on my way home.
I can't talk right now, but I'll call you later.
Danny will be happy to wash your car.