Tenses
1. Present Simple Tense
• Things that are true in general and permanent
When to use present simple tense
Permanent – we live in New York. (for a long time)
- he works at a bank.
Routines – I wake up at 6.
- I go to sleep at 10
Facts – The sun rises in the east.
Frequency – She always takes the bus.
Schedules – Our class start at 9.
Positive
I, you, we, they work.
He, she, It works.
Negative
I, you, we, they don’t work.
He, she, It doesn’t work.
Interrogative (Question)
Do I, you, we, they work?
Does he, she, it work?
１
• Most verbs add ‘s’
Dance---dances
Cook---cooks
Sleep---sleeps
• Verbs ending in s, sh, ch, x add ‘es’
Kiss---kisses
Wash---washes
Teach---teaches
Fix---fixes
• Verbs ending in consonant and y drop ‘y’ add ‘ies’
Study---studies
Try---tries
• Verbs ending
in Consonant Vowel Consonant Double the last
latter.
Example,
Plan Planning
R(3)u(2)n(1) Running
Mistakes
Tense – I am living in Tokyo. ( it should be live since we are
using present simple tense)
Verb – We likes to travel. (like)
Form – They doesn’t eat vegetables. (don’t)
Does you often tale to him often? (do)
Missing word – What time you finish work? (helping verb)
２
2. Present Continuous Tense or Present Progressive
When to use Present Continuous Tense.
Now – The baby is sleeping.
Around now – He is writing a book. (means : he might not be
writing it now. But he is writing it.)
Temporary – we are staying at a hotel.
Trend – the prices of homes are increasing. (changing)
Repeated action – they are always making noise. (negative,
usually something negative, use for complaining)
Future – she is flying to Maxico next week. (future)
she is flying to Maxico. (she is flying now)
•When not to use Present continuous
Permanent – I’m living in Canada. (live)
I’m working at ABC company. (work)
Stative Verbs – I’m understanding English. ( understand )
we are liking the show.
They are having a car
Are you needing help?
Form
Subject + to be + Ving
I am working.
Positive
I am working.
３
We, you, they are working.
He, she, it is working.
Negative
I am not working.
We, you, they are not working.
He, she, it is not working.
Interrogative
3. Present Perfect Tense
• Connects present + past.
• Action in the past have effect in the present.
Eg : I have lost my book. ( lost the book sometimes in the past
and still missing)
{past simple} I lost my book. ( Maybe I lost my book on
Monday and found it on Tuesday.)
Form
I, you, we, they have worked.
He, she, it has worked.
For + period of time (length of time)
I have worked for two hours.
Since + Point in time (when something begin)
I have worked since this morning.
When to use Present Perfect Tense
<finished in the past and still true> or
<unfinished and still true>
Past true I have seen that movie.
I have found my keys.
４
Past finished I have finished my homework.
I have cooked dinner.
Past unfinished I have worked here for 5 years.
I have lived here since 2012.
Past result I have just eaten lunch. ( short time ago. Have
some kind of effect)
Past repetitive I have shopped here for many years. (happen
repeatedly)
Finished vs Unfinished
Finished :
I have already read that book.
Our team has just won the game.
Just refers action in the past that happened very recently.
Unfinished :
She has worked here for 3 years.
She has worked here since Jan.
The fight has not arrived yet.
When not to use Present Perfect Tense
• Finished time Expression (last week, last year, last
month, 1919, 2 years ago, 2 minutes ago)
Eg : I have spoken to him three times last week. (wrong)
I spoke to him three times last week.
I have spoken to him three times this week.
５
Form
Subject + has/have + past participle (V3)
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• connects present + past
• Started in the past / continuing in the present
•
Present Perfect I have cooked dinner.
( I cooked in the past and it’s ready. I don’t have to cook
anymore.)
Present Perfect Continuous I have been cooking dinner since
6.
Present Perfect focuses on the result.
Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the process or activity.
Not so much on the result.
６
Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous
Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity
You've cleaned the bathroom! I've been gardening. It's so nice
It looks lovely! out there.
Says 'how many' Says 'how long'
She's read ten books this She's been reading that book
summer. all day.
Describes an activity which may
Describes a completed action
continue
I've written you an email. I've been writing emails.
When we can see evidence of
recent activity
The grass looks wet. Has it been
raining?
I know, I'm really red. I've been
running!
７
When to use PPCT
Started and still continuing we have been working on this
project for six months.
(started 6 months ago and still working.)
sea level has been rising.
Started and finished I’ve been calling you for hours.
we’ve been waiting for you.
(started in the past and finished recently)
Note: you can’t use PPCT with stative verbs.
Form
Subject + has/have been + Ving.
