Basic Uses of English Tenses -

7/25/2019 Basic Uses of English Tenses -

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BASIC USES OF THE ENGLISH TENSES

TENSES USES EXAMPLEPresent Simple Use the Simple Present to express

the idea that an action is repeated orusual. The action can be a habit, a hobby,a daily event, a scheduled event orsomething that often happens. It can alsobe something a person often forgets or

usually does not do.

The train leaves every morning at 8am.

It is also used to makegeneralizations about people or things

Cats like milk.

Sometimes speakers use the SimplePresent to express the idea that an actionis happening or is not happening now.This can only be done with Non-continuous Verbs.

He needs help right now.

Present Continuous Use the Present Continuous withContinuous Verbs to express the idea thatsomething is happening now, at this very

moment. It can also be used to show thatsomething is not happening now.

You are learning English now.

Sometimes we use the PresentContinuous to say that we are in theprocess of doing a longer action which isin progress; however, we might not bedoing it at this exact second.

I am studying to become a doctor.

Sometimes, speakers use thePresent Continuous to indicate thatsomething will or will not happen in thenear future.

I am meeting some friends after work.

The Present Continuous with wordssuch as "always" or "constantly"expresses the idea that somethingirritating or shocking often happens.Notice that the meaning is like SimplePresent but with negative emotion.Remember to put the words "always" or"constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

He is constantly talking. I wish hewould shut up.

Present Perfect We use the Present Perfect to saythat an action happened at an unspecifiedtime before now. The exact time is notimportant. You CANNOT use the PresentPerfect with time expressions such as

"yesterday," "one year ago," "last week,""when I was a chlid," "when I lived inJapan," "at that moment," "that day" or"one day." We CAN use the PresentPerfect with expressions like "ever,""never," "once," "many times," "severaltimes," "before," "so far," "already" and"yet."(Experience)

I have seen that movie twenty times.

We use the Present Perfect to showthat something started in the past and hascontinued up until now. "For five minutes,""for two weeks" and "since Tuesday" are

all durations which can be used with thePresent Perfect.

I have had a cold for two weeks.


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Present Perfect Cont. We use the Present PerfectContinuous to show that somethingstarted in the past and has continued upuntil now. "For five minutes", "for twoweeks", and "since Tuesday" are alldurations which can be used with the

Present Perfect Continuous. You canoften seen some evidence now. NOTE: The Present Perfect Continuousemphasizes the action itself: duration,difficulty, etc. Whilst the Present PerfectSimple indicates the action is completed.

They have been talking for the lasthour. COMPARE: Ive been painting the gar den fence

all morning. (my hands are still dirty & itsnot clear whether Ive finished the job ornot) Ive painted the garden f ence. (the job

is definitely completed)

You can use the Present PerfectContinuous WITHOUT a duration such as"for five minutes", "for two weeks", and"since Tuesday". Without the durations,the this tense gives a more generalmeaning of "lately". We often use thewords "lately" or "recently" in thesentence to strengthen this meaning.

Recently, I have been feeling reallytired.

Past Simple Use the Simple Past to express theidea that an action started and finished ata specific time in the past. Sometimes thespeaker may not actually mention thespecific time, but they do have onespecific time in mind.

I saw a movie yesterday. I lived in Brazil for two years.(I dont

live there any more) I studied French when I was a child.

We use the Simple Past to list aseries of completed actions in the past.These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th...

I finished work, walked to the beach,and found a nice place to swim.

Past Continuous Use the Past Continuous to indicatethat a longer action in the past wasinterrupted. The interruption is usually anaction in the Simple Past. Remember thiscan be a real interruption or just aninterruption in time.

I was watching TV when she called.

In USE 1, described above, the PastContinuous is interrupted by an action inthe Simple Past. However, you can alsouse a specific time as an interruption.COMPARE: In the Simple Past a specific time is

used to show when an action began orfinished. In the Past Continuous a specific time

only interrupts the action.

Last night at 6 p.m., I was eatingdinner. COMPARE: Last night at 6 p.m., I ate dinner.

(I started eating at 6 p.m.) Last night at 6 p.m., I was eating

dinner.(I started earlier and at 6 p.m. I was in theprocess of eating dinner.)

When you use the Past Continuouswith two actions in the same sentence, itexpresses the idea that both actions werehappening at the same time. The actionsare parallel.

I was studying while he was makingdinner.

In English we often use a series ofParallel Actions to describe atmosphere inthe past.

When I walked into the office, severalpeople were busily typing, some weretalking on the phones, the boss wasyelling directions, and customers were

waiting to be helped.


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The Past Continuous with words such

as always or constantly expresses theidea that something irritating or shockingoften happened in the past. The conceptis very similar to the expression used to but with negative emotion.

He was constantly talking. Heannoyed everyone.

Past Perfect The Past Perfect expresses the ideathat something occurred before anotheraction in the past. It can also show thatsomething happened before a specifictime in the past.

I had never seen such a beautifulbeach before I went to Kauai.

With Non-progressive Verbs andsome non-progressive uses of MixedVerbs, we use the Past Perfect to showthat something started in the past andcontinued up until another action in thepast.

We had had that car for ten yearsbefore it broke down.

Past Perf. Cont.

We use the Past Perfect Continuousto show that something started in the pastand continued up until another time in thepast. "For five minutes" and "for twoweeks" are both durations which can beused with the Past Perfect Continuous.Notice that this is related to the PresentPerfect Continuous; however, the durationdoes not continue until now.

They had been talking for over an

hour before Tony arrived.

Using the Past Perfect Continuousbefore another action in the past is a goodway to show cause and effect.

Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

NOTE:If you do not include a duration such as"for five minutes," "for two weeks" or"since Friday", many English speakerschoose to use the Past Continuous. Thereis also a difference in meaning. Comparethe examples below.

I was reading when my roommatereturned.Emphasizes the interruption of "reading." I had been reading for an hour when

my roommate returned.Emphasizes the amount of time "for anhour."

Going to "Be going to" expresses thatsomething is a plan. It expresses the ideathat a person intends to do something inthe future.

He is going to spend his vacation inHawaii

Both "will" and "be going to" canexpress the idea of a general predictionabout the future. Predictions are guessesabout what might happen in the future.

John Smith will be the next President.John Smith is going to be the nextPresident.

Will "Will" often suggests that a speakerwill do something voluntarily. A voluntaryaction is one the speaker offers to do forsomeone else. Often we use "will" torespond to someone else's complaint orrequest for help.

A: I'm really hungry.B: I'll make some sandwiches

"Will" is usually used in promises. I will call you when I arrive.


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Future Continuous Use the Future Continuous to indicate

that a longer action in the future will beinterrupted. The interruption is usually anaction in the Simple Future. Rememberthis can be a real interruption or just aninterruption in time.

I will be watching TV when shearrives tonight.

In USE 1, described above, the

Future Continuous is interrupted by anaction in the Simple Future. However, youcan also use a specific time as aninterruption.

At midnight tonight, we will still be

driving through the desert.

Future Perfect The Future Perfect expresses theidea that something will occur beforeanother action in the future. It can alsoshow that something will happen before aspecific time in the future.

By next November, I will havereceived my promotion.


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Basic Uses of English Tenses -