VERB TENSES REVIEW

 Present Simple:

- It is used for describing routine actions or habits, permanent situations, definite facts.
- It is used with frequency adverbs (never, sometimes etc.), once a week, every day
- It is also used to refer to a future event that is part of a timetable.

Before breakfast, I go online to check my emails.

The next train to London leaves in 10 minutes.

 Present Continuous:

- It is used to describe a situation happening now, or a temporary situation, or changes.

- It is used with always when we are annoyed or surprised by an action.
- It is also used to talk about future arrangements (it says when)

I’m doing a training course at the moment.

The population of the world is increasing very fast.
I’m having dinner with Peter tomorrow night.

 Past Simple (Second column of verb table):

- It is used for past events or actions. It is often used with a specific time.

Yesterday evening I finished work early and went home.

 Past Continuous (was/were + verb + ing):

- It is used for a continued action which is interrupted.

- It is also used to set the scene at the beginning of a story.

When he called, I was watching my favourite soap opera.

It was raining hard and an icy wind was blowing.

The continuous tenses cannot normally be used with stative verbs, which describe a state, as opposed to an action.
Some common stative verbs are: agree, believe, belong, know, like, love, mean, need, own, prefer, realise, remain,
remember, seem, suppose, think, understand, want.

 Present Perfect Simple (have/has + past participle):

- It is used for an action/event that started in the past and continues to the present.

I’ve known Sally since we were 3 years old.

- It is used to emphasise the result of an action.

I’ve sent 12 emails this morning.

 Present Perfect Continuous (have/has been + verb + ing)

- It is used to emphasise an action, maybe unfinished.

I’ve been sending emails all morning.

  Past Perfect (had + past participle):

- It is used to show that an action happened earlier than another past action.

When I arrived at the party, my friend had already left.

 Past Perfect Continuous (had been + verb + ing)

- It is used for a continued action which happened before another past action.

We had been working so hard that we decided to take a break.

 Future Simple – will/won’t:

- It is used when we decide to do something at the time of speaking.

- It is used for promises and predictions.

That bag looks heavy. I’ll help you with it.

I won’t tell anybody what happened.
I think Real Madrid will win the championship.

 Going to Future (verb to be + going to):

- It is used with intentions/plans, things we have decided to do.

- It is used for predictions based on evidence.

I’m going to clean my house this morning.

Look at those black clouds. It’s going to rain.

Common Words

Present Simple Present Continuous

Always, never, sometimes etc. At the moment

Once/twice/three times a week (right) now
Every day/month/year This week/morning/year etc.
On Saturdays etc Always (when complaining or surprised)
How often…?
Past Simple Past Continuous

Yesterday Yesterday
Last month/year etc. Last month/year etc.
When While
Ago

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous

Just/yet/already/still/for/since Just/yet/already/still/for/since
Today/this year/ this term/recently Today/this year/ this term/recently
How long…? How much/many…? How many times…?
Ever/before Ever/before

Future – Will

Probably
I expect
I’m sure
I (don’t) think
I wonder
PRACTICE - Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb:

1. I’m too tired to walk home. I think I _________ take a bus.

2. We were good friends. We _________ (know) each other for years.

3. Are you hungry? _________ (you/want) something to eat?

4. George _________ (not/be) well last week.

5. Let’s go out. It _________ (not/rain) now.

6. Peter and I _________ (go) to the cinema tomorrow evening.

7. I don’t know where Lisa is. _________ (see) her?

8. We _________ (play) for half an hour when it started to rain.

9. Julie _________ (not/drink) tea very often.

10. _________ (go) to the theatre last night?

11. How long _________ (you/learn) French?

12. You _________ (always/watch) television. You should try to do something more active.

PRACTICE - Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb:

1. I’m too tired to walk home. I think I _________ take a bus.

2. We were good friends. We _________ (know) each other for years.

3. Are you hungry? _________ (you/want) something to eat?

4. George _________ (not/be) well last week.

5. Let’s go out. It _________ (not/rain) now.

6. Peter and I _________ (go) to the cinema tomorrow evening.

7. I don’t know where Lisa is. _________ (see) her?

8. We _________ (play) for half an hour when it started to rain.

9. Julie _________ (not/drink) tea very often.

10. _________ (go) to the theatre last night?

11. How long _________ (you/learn) French?

12. You _________ (always/watch) television. You should try to do something more active.