SYNTAX

Past tenses
Uses of the present perfect
The present perfect is used to indicate an action that is
completed in the present time and to connect two points
of time one in the past and the other in the present.
Actions that started in the past and continue up to
the present
I have lived in Huelva for three years. [I still live in
Huelva]
Actions that happened in the past but with a result
connected to the present
Sarah has written a book. [There is now a book
written by Sarah]
Actions that happened in a period of time that
continues up to the present
Have you ever been abroad? [in your life, up to the
present]
Uses of the present perfect continuous
The present perfect continuous is used to indicate an
action that is completed in the present time. It connects
two points of time one in the past and the other in the
present while emphasizing that the action is seen as
progressing in time.
Actions that started in the past and have been in
progress up to the present
I have been waiting here for an hour.
Actions in progress up to the recent past but with a
result connected to the present
It has been snowing. [There is snow on the ground]
Repeated actions in a period up to the present or the
recent past.
I have been visiting my parents very often lately.
Present Perfect vs.
Present Perfect Continuous
the action may or may
not be finished
I have been washing the
dishes. I will be done in a
few minutes.
we emphasize how long
something has been
going on
Ive been walking all
morning
when we consider the
action very temporary
Ive been living here for a
few weeks now
the action is finished
I have washed the
dishes. I finished a few
minutes ago
we emphasize what has
been achieved
Ive walked 3 miles in
an hour
when we consider the
action more permanent
Ive always lived here.
Uses of the past tenses
The simple past is used to locate events completely in the
past without any reference to any particular aspect.
I lived in Evanston from 1990 to 1998.
The past continuous is used to talk about actions that were
in progress at a past time, but were not finished at that
time.
When the phone rang, I was watching TV.
When we are talking about the past, the past perfect is
used we to refer to an earlier time (an earlier past)
We got to the station at 8:00 but the train had left at 7:30.
The past perfect continuous is used when we are talking
about the past to refer to an action that had been in
progress up to that past time
I had been walking for an hour when I decided to go back
home.
Present Perfect vs. Simple Past (I)
an action that starts in the
past and continues up to
the present
I have lived in Evanston for
8 years. [I still live there].
the result of the past action
is connected to the present
Ive lost my wallet. [I dont
have a wallet now]
when we talk about an
indefinite time up to the
present
Ive never been here
before.
an action that starts
and finishes in the past
I lived in Evanston for
8 years. [I dont live
there now].
the result of the past
action isnt connected
to the present
I lost my wallet. [but
I got it back, or got a
new one]
when we talk about a
definite past time
I lived here in 1987.
Present Perfect vs. Simple Past (II)
with today, this morning,
this afternoon, when
those periods of time are
not finished
Ive spoken to Peter this
morning
with today, this
morning, this afternoon,
when those periods of
time are finished
I spoke to Peter this
morning.
to ask when something
happened
When did you speak to
Peter?
Would + infinitive, used to + infinitive

Used to (actions and states) and would
(actions) are also possible:
I used to be addicted to chocolate.
When I was younger, I would get up at 6.