The Present Simple Tense

The simple present tense is used in English for the following purposes:

- Repeated actions
- Simple statements of fact
- World truths
- With verbs of the senses and mental processes
- In jokes and story telling
- To refer to the future

How to form the present simple

Repeated actions

The present simple tense is very often used with adverbs of repeated time. Look at these examples
(the adverbs are shown in bold):

I always come to school by car.

She frequently arrives here before me.

He never forgets to do his homework.

I often catch the late bus home.

I play football on Saturdays.

Once a year I fly back to visit my family in Korea.

The classrooms are cleaned every evening after school.

She sometimes loses her temper, but it doesn't happen very often.

Do you ever eat in the cafeteria?

Does your father speak English every day?

Simple statements of fact

When we want to state a fact or ask a question without any time reference, we use the present simple
tense.

I live in Frankfurt.

She plays football but she doesn't play tennis.

 For breakfast he eats rice and drinks cold milk.

She works very hard.

My friend speaks four languages.

It rains a lot in Germany.

I don't like horror films!

Do you smoke?

Does your sister have any children?

How much does it cost to buy an apartment in Frankfurt?

World truths

Statements about rules of nature and the way the world is are in the present simple tense.

The sun sets in the West.

Most babies learn to speak when they are about two years old.

Water boils at 100 Celsius.

Trees lose their leaves in the fall.

Few people live to be 100 years old.

Wood floats on water.

Does it snow in the Sahara desert?

Do elephants live longer than humans?

Money doesn't guarantee happiness.

Flowers don't grow in the winter.

Verbs of the senses and mental processes

The present simple tense is used for many verbs of thinking, feeling and sensing. The most common
words are:
like love prefer know understand
hate need want believe remember
see hear taste smell look

She likes it in Germany.

I love lying in bed late on Sunday mornings.

I need to know right now.

She says she doesn't know who did it, but I don't believe her.

He doesn't want to speak to you again.

This doesn't taste very good, does it?

Do you remember the first time we met?

Do you smell something funny?

Does he understand which way to go?

In jokes, anecdotes and film or book summaries

The present simple tense is very often used in jokes and when telling a story to make the joke or
story seem more immediate. This use of the present tense is sometimes called the graphic present.

The present simple is also used to retell what happens in a book or film.

So in he walks with a parrot on his shoulder.

In his new film Robert Redford plays the part of a brave cowboy.

To refer to the future

The present simple is often used to refer to future events that are scheduled (and outside of our
control).

Hurry up! The train departs in 10 minutes.

I leave Frankfurt at 5 o'clock in the morning and arrive in New York

at midnight the next day.

 She has a piano lesson after school today.

There's no need to hurry. The train doesn't leave for another 30 minutes.

When does the meeting begin?

The Past Simple Tense

The past simple tense is most often used for the following:

- For actions that happened in the past

- In reported speech
- In conditional sentences

How to form the past simple

For actions that happened in the past

The past simple is the most usual tense for talking about things that happened or have finished before
now. Very often we use a word or expression of finished time with this tense. In the following
example sentences the expressions of finished time are shown in bold:

She came to Germany two years ago.

It rained every day for a week on my vacation.

Columbus discovered America in 1492.

I played tennis at the weekend.

I didn't see you yesterday. Were you in school?

My mother went shopping on Saturday but she didn't buy anything.

I felt embarrassed when the teacher asked an easy question but I didn't know the answer.

The weather was bad this afternoon* so we didn't have a picnic as planned.

How did you do that?

Did you see the film on TV last night?

Why didn't you do your homework?

* In this sentence the speaker is talking in the evening, so for her this afternoon is finished time.
In reported speech

In reported speech it is common to shift the tense back. So for example, if someone said something
to you in the present tense, you would report it in the past tense. Look at these examples. In each
case the first sentence is direct speech and the second sentence is in reported speech. The verbs in the
past simple form are shown in bold.

She said: "I live in Frankfurt."

She told me she lived in Frankfurt. *

He said: "I can speak 5 languages."

He said he could speak 5 languages.

The new girl said: "My father is a millionaire!"

The new girl told me her father was a millionaire but I don't believe her!

She said: "My mother doesn't like German food."

She said her mother didn't like German food.

He said: "I don't feel well."

He said he didn't feel well.

She asked: "Do you like ESL lessons?"

She asked me if I liked ESL lessons.

The teacher said: "Do you know the answer?"

The teacher asked me if I knew the answer.

* It is common in modern spoken English to NOT change the tense if you believe that what someone
told you is still true. So, for example, we could say:

She said she lives in Frankfurt.

She told me her mother doesn't like German food.

In conditional sentences

The past simple tense is used in conditional 2 sentences. Have a look at some examples before
reading the explanation about what the conditional 2 is. The verbs in past simple form are shown in
bold.

I would help you if I had time!

If I were the teacher I would give lots of homework every day!

What would you buy if you won a lot of money?

 If you bought a calculator, you wouldn't have to borrow mine all the time!

If you didn't eat so much junk food, you would be a lot fitter!

I would be much happier if you didn't do that!

The past simple (conditional 2) is used in these sentences to express the idea of something that is not
true or that the speaker thinks is unlikely to happen. So, in the first 3 sentences above, the
interpretations would be:

I don't have time ..

I am not the teacher ..

I don't think it is likely you will win a lot of money ..

The Present Continuous Tense

The present continuous tense is most often used for the following:

- For actions happening now

- For future arrangements
- To express annoyance at repeated actions

How to form the present continuous

For actions happening now

When we want to talk about an action that is happening now or at this time (and is unfinished), we
use the present continuous tense. We also use this tense when we want to make clear that the action is
temporary.

Sorry, she can't come to the phone right now; she is having a bath.

Look! Someone is trying to break into your car.

This work is good! Your handwriting is getting better and better.

I'm wearing these old trousers to school this week, as we're doing a pottery course and it's
very messy work!

Of course she likes you. You're just being stupid!

Where's John? - He's playing soccer in the sports hall.

This calculator isn't working properly. Do you have another one.

 You can go outside now. It isn't raining any more.

What are you doing? - My watch is broken and I'm trying to fix it.

Why are you talking? You should be listening to me.

For future arrangements

We usually use the present continuous tense for future events that have already been arranged:

I'm meeting my mother at the airport tomorrow.

Our grandmother is visiting us at Christmas.

Sorry, I can't stay after school today; I'm playing tennis with Jun-Sik.

My mother's going to the dentist tomorrow.

I'm not going home at Christmas, so I can come to your party after all!

Are you doing anything on Sunday morning?

Do you know if he is going to the dance with Maiko next week?

To express annoyance at repeated actions

Usually the present simple is used for repeated actions. For example, He always gets up before 7
o'clock, but .. the present continuous is the correct choice when the speaker wants to express
annoyance at a repeated action. (Note how often the word "always" is used in such statements):

You are always interrupting me when I'm talking and I don't like it!

She's always tapping her pencil on the desk and it's getting on my nerves!

My ESL teacher's always giving detentions; how can anyone be so mean?

I'm getting tired of you always coming late to class.

Why is it always raining in Germany?

Why are you always criticising me?

This use of the present continuous is not possible as a negative statement.

The Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense is most often used for actions happening at some time in the past.

How to form the past continuous

For actions happening at some time in the past

When we want to talk about an action that was happening over a period of time in the past, we use
the past continuous tense. Look at these examples:

At this time last week I was lying on the beach in Florida.

My mother was working in the garden so she didn't hear the telephone when I called her
yesterday.

I had my car fixed because it wasn't working properly.

Sorry, I wasn't listening. Can you say it again please?

What were you doing at 8 o'clock yesterday?

Why were you talking to John when I saw you in the cafeteria yesterday?

I went to lunch too early. The food was still being cooked. (passive)

The past continuous is very often used with the past simple to say that something happened in the
middle of something else. In each of the following examples, the single event (past simple) happens
in the middle of a longer action (past continuous).

You phoned while I was having a bath.

When I got home yesterday, a cat was sitting on the roof.

It started to rain just as we were getting ready to have our picnic.

The boy was standing on the table when the principal came into the room.

Many people were shopping in the market when the bomb exploded.

I saw Noriko in town yesterday. She was wearing a pink dress and an orange hat!

When I went to bed last night the sun was already beginning to rise.

It was lucky we weren't sitting under that tree when the lightning hit.
 What were you doing when the lights went off last night?

Were you watching me when I showed you how to do it?

How fast was she driving when she had the accident?

The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is most often used for the following:

- For past events with a connection to the present

- With words of unfinished time

How to form the present perfect | Present perfect continuous

For past events with a connection to the present

The present perfect tense is quite complicated to explain. It is used when an action that happened in
the past continues to have a strong connection in the present. The best way to understand it is to look
at some examples. They are followed in each case by a short explanation:

I have lost my dictionary. (I don't have my dictionary now; can you help me find it?)

Mary has fixed my computer (My computer is working now and I'm happy about it!)

You haven't eaten very much. (Don't you feel well? Don't you like it?)

I haven't read his letter. (I haven't had time yet. What does he say?)

Have you seen my calculator? (- I want to use it now!)

Has she had an accident? (- Someone said she's in hospital!)

Have you done your homework? (- It's due today!)

With words of unfinished time

The present perfect tense is used with words or expressions of unfinished time. Unfinished time
started in the past and continues into the present. (So, this week, for example, means all the days so
far this week including today.) Here are some sentences in the present perfect. The expressions of
unfinished time are shown in bold.

I've played tennis 3 times already this week and it's only Thursday!
 She's been back to Korea twice already this year, and she's going again next week!

Sorry, I've seen that film already. I don't want to see it again.

I've lived in Germany since 1986.

She's had a lot of bad luck recently.

I haven't seen my mother for 2 months.

No, you can't use the bathroom. You haven't finished the exercise yet.

She hasn't called me lately? Do you think she's sick?

Have you ever seen a ghost?

Has he lived here all his life?

Has the postman been yet?

** Be careful: sometimes an expression of unfinished time can be used with the past simple tense.
Look at these examples and explanations:

I drank three cups of coffee this morning.

The speaker is talking in the evening so for him this morning is finished time.

I didn't see John today.

The student is talking after school when there is no more possibility of seeing John on this day.
Today becomes an expression of finished time.

This year was a very good year for me!

This is possible if the speaker is talking very near to the end of the year, and so in her opinion the
year is finished. Therefore she uses the past simple was.

The Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is most often used for the following:
- For actions that happened before a past event
- In reported speech
- In if (conditional) sentences

How to form the past perfect | Past perfect continuous

For actions that happened before a past event

When we want to talk about an action that happened before a past event, we often use the past
perfect. Look at these examples:

When I got home yesterday, my father had already cooked dinner.

I didn't want to go to the movies with my friends because I had seen the film already.

My friend offered me an apple in class yesterday, but I wasn't hungry because I had just
eaten lunch.

I arrived very late at the party. All my friends had already gone home.

As soon as she had done her homework, she went to bed.

I was very tired as I hadn't slept well for several days.

Had you seen the film before?

Notice how often words like already, just, never etc. are used with the past perfect.

In reported speech

The past perfect is common when we report people's words or thoughts .., as in the following
examples:

John said that he had never eaten sushi before.

She told me that she had finished, but I knew she had not.

She wondered why he had been so unkind to her.

He told me he hadn't done his homework, but he was hoping to finish it on the bus.

I thought I had sent her a birthday card, but I was wrong.

In if (conditional) sentences

The past perfect tense is used in unreal or hypothetical situations, as in the following sentences:

If I had known you were in Frankfurt, I would have called you. (but I didn't know you were
here so I didn't call you!)

If I had had enough money, I would have bought you a better present. (but I didn't have
enough money.)

I would have been very angry if you had laughed when I got the answer wrong. (but you
didn't laugh, so I wasn't angry.)

She wouldn't have been able to finish, if you hadn't helped her. (but you did help her and
she did finish.)

I wish I had studied for my exams. (but I didn't study - and I got bad grades!)

I would have been in big trouble if you hadn't helped me. (but you did help me so I stayed
out of trouble.)

More tenses
Below is a list of some of the less common tenses, followed in each case by examples. Note that the
continuous tenses convey the idea of an event or state going on for a period of time:

Present perfect continuous

I have been working in the garden all day, and now I'm extremely tired.

She has been living in a one-room apartment since she left home.

How long have you been playing the piano?

He's been learning German for two years, but he still can't speak it very well.

We've been painting our house since last Friday, but we're still a long way from finishing.

We haven't been living in Germany very long.

Why are you sweating? Have you been running?

Past perfect continuous

I had been working in the garden all day, and all I wanted to do was sleep.

She had been living in a one-room apartment for a year before getting married.

How long had you been playing the piano before the accident with your hand?

He'd been learning German for two years, but he stopped when he returned to Japan.

We'd been painting our house for two weeks, but we were still a long way from finishing.

Future continuous

At this time next week I will be sitting in the plane on the way to New York.

Don't call me after 10 o'clock. I'll be sleeping.

If you want to see Miho tomorrow, you will have to go to the school. She will be taking a
test all afternoon.

I won't be working on my car this weekend. My mother-in-law will be here.

Future perfect

I hope my mother will have finished cooking dinner by the time I get home.

You can come at 6 o'clock. I will have done my homework by then.

There's no point calling her at home. She will have left for work already.

On June 25 2020 they will have been married for 60 years.

Future perfect continuous

By the time I retire I will have been working here for 45 years!

If she reaches her 60th birthday, she will have been smoking for half a century!