In April, 2013From April, 2013 to April, 2014

From April 2013 to April 2015

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Simple Present Tense 1. Truth The Earth goes around the sun./ It snows in winter.2. Habits She doesn’t smoke./ She works eight hours a day./ I often go to the café near our school.3. Present situation He is a law student./ They live in the same building, don’ they?/ They enjoy skating.4. Future (things happen according to the schedule) When does the film start? / The new bakery opens next week.

Present Continuous Tense1. The action which is being doneMary is knitting and listening to the radio./ They’re travelling in India.2. The action is happening during a period of time and not exactly at the moment I am writing a book about psychology. (You are talking with somebody now, no writing at the moment.)Sorry, you can’t take the camera away, I’m using it. (but not exactly at the moment)3. Changes happening around now My English is getting better./ I am beginning to feel hungry./ It is getting dark.4. Temporary situation I’m living with my friends until I find a place of my own.5. Unusual situation You are being impatient today. What’s wrong with you?/ The company is losing money this year. It always makes profit.6.Something happens too often I’m always losing things./ You are forever forgetting your wallet.7. Planned actions that will happen in the near future Are you doing anything tonight? I am seeing a film with my friend.8. Talk about sth. in pictures/ photos In this photo, he is wearing a cap and Mary is laughing.

Present Perfect Tense1. Something happened (or never happened) at unspecified time in the past The lift has broken down./ He has gone to town.2. To ask/ talk about past experience and how many times people have this experienceHave you ever been to Hong Kong? Yes, it is the second time I have visited here./ Have you seen my book?3. It is three months since I last saw him. It has been ages since I went to an opera.4. To talk about “how much, how many or how many times”How much of the book have you read?/ I have rang John for 3 times./ I have drunk 8 glasses of water today.5. To give new information For information which is not new, we use Simple Past TenseA: Oh! I have broken my glasses! B: How did you do it? A: I dropped it carelessly.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense1. Something happened at unspecified time in the past, but it emphasizes on the process, not the result. It answers the question of “how long”I have been learning English for almost 10 years./ How long have you been waiting here?/ I have been living with my aunt since I went to the UK.2. Some verbs( know/like/believe/belong/forget/ understand, etc.) are not normally used in the continuousHow long have you had a car?/ I have known him for a long time.

Simple Past Tense1. Actions happened in the past, usually with time indication I got to know her in 1998./When did this happen?/She suffered a lot in her childhood./Jo came in just now.He lived in Hong Kong for ten years and then he moved to Macau.2. Habits in the past We often played badminton together.3. In novel, story, descriptive language Laura grew up in the suburbs. Unfortunately, he died a few years ago. 4. Talk about the dead Edison was a great inventor. / My grandfather lived a very simple life.5. To answer the question “when/ what time”When did you leave the party last night?/ What time did you arrive home?

Past Perfect Tense1. Action completed before a certain time or a certain action in the past When I arrived Jane had just left./ By the end of June they had treated 100 patients2. In clause (object position)and reported speech I heard that they had made an import discovery./ He said that he had been in China for over ten years.3. In Adverbial Clause I found the letter long after he had gone away./ He refused to go until he had searched all the rooms/ As soon as he had done it, he knew it was a mistake.

Past Perfect Continuous Tense1. Generally the same usage as Past Perfect Tense, but it emphasizes on the process, not the result. I had painted the wall. (finished)I had been painting the wall. (not finished yet)I didn’t know you had been waiting for me.I didn’t know that you had won the prize.That was the letter she had been expecting for long.

The simple future tense1. Predictions ( giving personal opinion or judgment about the future, no support)I think my sister will come back soon.2. Sudden decisionWhat’s your plan for New Year?Well, I think I will just stay in Macau.3. In conditions (but not in the if clause)If you don’t wear warm clothes, you will catch cold easily. 4. Use “shall” with “we” and “I” in formal English.We shall invite Mr. Robinson to the party tomorrow.

be + going to + V 1. For decided plans (but not arranged)She is going to hold a party for Christmas.2. Predictions (have sth. to support)Peter is going to fall asleep, he looks extremely tired.3. was/were going to…(want to do sth in the past, but didn’t do it/ sth you thought would happen in the past, but didn’t happen) They were going to buy some present for us, but they had no money.

The present continuous tense (for future plans)1. (decided and arranged)We are leaving Macau this Sunday. We have bought the flight tickets.2. Personal arrangement, usually in the near future---What are you doing tonight? ---I am seeing a film with a friend.

The simple present tense ( for future timetable, settled)The next bus arrives at 5:45.Our company has an annual party this weekend.

Future Continuous Tensesth takes place at a certain time in the futureI will be enjoying the concert at this time next Monday.

Future Perfect Tensesth which will be finished before a certain time in the futureWe are late. The meeting will have started by the time we arrived.