USE OF TENSES

Talking about the present

The present progressive is used:

·        To talk about an action that is happening now, or about a temporary situation:

Ø     We’re just having breakfast.

Ø     What are you reading?

Ø     She’s not listening to me.

Ø     They’re spending a year in Spain.

·        To talk about something that is not yet finished, even if you are not doing it at the moment when you are talking.

Ø     I’m learning Italian.

Ø     She’s writing a novel.

·        With always, to talk about something that happens often, and that you find annoying:

Ø     He’s always asking silly questions.

Ø     They’re always coming around here to borrow something.

NOTE: some verbs are not used in the progressive tense, for example need, want, know, agree, seem, appear, understand, smell, hear etc. These verbs refer to a state, not an action.

Ø     I need some new shoes.

Ø     He wants to go home.

Ø     Do you know Tania Smith?

Ø     They love Japanese food.

Ø     She hates her job.

NOTE: other verbs are used in the present progressive when they refer to an action, and the present simple when they refer to a state.

Ø     He’s tasting the soup.                       

The soup taste salty.

Ø     She’s being difficult again.              

She’s a difficult child.

Ø     What are you thinking about?          

Do you think I should leave?

The present simple is used:

·        To talk about a permanent situation or something that is always true:

Ø     He lives in Spain.

Ø     Does he work in a factory?

Ø     Insects have six legs.

Ø     What temperature does water boil at?

·        To talk about things that happen regularly:

Ø     She leaves for school at 8 o’clock.

Ø     We don’t often go out for a meal.

Ø     What time do you catch the bus?

Talking about the past

The past simple is used:

·        To talk about an action that took place in the past.

Ø     He got up, paid the bill and left.

Ø     I didn’t read the letter, I just gave it to Lee.

Ø     What did you say?

NOTE: Often a specific time in the past is mentioned:

Ø     Did you speak to Amy yesterday?

·        To talk about actions that happened regularly in the past.

Ø     I often played tennis with her.

Ø     They never went to the cinema when they lived in the country.

The present perfect is used:

·        To talk about something that happened during a period time that is not yet finished

Ø     The train has been late three times this week.

Ø     He still hasn’t visited her.

·        When the time in the past is not mentioned, or is not important.

Ø     He’s written a book.

Ø     We’ve bought a new computer.

·        When the action finished in the past, but the effect is still felt in the present.

Ø     He’s lost his calculator (and he still hasn’t found it)

·        With for and since to show the duration of an action or state up until the present:

Ø     I have worked here since 1990.

Ø     She hasn’t bought any new clothes for years.

In British English, with just, ever, already, yet

NOTE: In informal American English the past simple can be used with just, already, yet.

+ He already packed his suitcase.                          

+ Didn’t you finish yet?

The present perfect progressive is used:

With for and since to talk about an activity that started in the past and is still happening:

Ø     I’ve been working since eight o’clock.

Ø     He’s been learning English for several years.

·         To talk about an activity that has finished, but whose results are visible now:

Ø     My hands are dirty because I’ve been gardening.

The past progressive is used:

·        To talk about an action that was in progress at a particular time in the past:

Ø     What were you doing in the summer of 1999?

Ø     Was it raining when you left home?

·        To talk about something that was already in progress when something else happened. (you use the past simple for the action that interrupts it):

Ø     The doorbell rang while they were having breakfast.

NOTE: As with the present progressive, this tense cannot be used with ‘state’ verbs:

Ø     The fresh bread smelled wonderful. (NOT was smelling)

The past perfect is used:

·        To talk about something that happened before another action in the past:

Ø     I had already met Ed before he came to Bath.

Ø     When I got to the station, the train had left.

The past perfect progressive is used.

·        With FOR or SINCE to talk about an activity that started at a time further back in the past than something else:

Ø     She hadn’t been living there very long when she met Mark.

·        To talk about an activity that had a result in the past:

Ø     My hands were dirty because I had been gardening.

Talking about the future

There are several ways of talking about the future.

The future simple (will with the infinitive) is used

·        To talk about a decision that you make as you are speaking:

Ø     “It’s cold in here.” – “OK, I’ll close the window.”

Ø     I’ll have a salad, please.”

·        To talk about what you know or think will happen in the future (but not about your own intentions or plans.)

Ø     Her mother will be ninety next week.

Ø     Will he pass the exam, do you think?

Ø     This job won’t take long.

·        For requests, promises and offers:

Ø     Will you buy some bread on your way home?

Ø     We’ll be back early, don’t worry.

Ø     I’ll help you with your homework.

However, other tenses and expressions are also used to express a “future” idea.

The present progressive is used:

·        To talk about future plans where the time is mentioned:

Ø     He’s flying to Japan in August.

Ø     What are you doing this evening?

Ø     I’m not starting my new job till next Monday.

Be going to with the infinitive is used:

·        To talk about what you intend to do in the future:

Ø     I’m going to phone Michael tonight.

Ø     What are you going to do when you leave school?

About to with the infinitive is used:

·        To talk about the very near future.

Ø     Go and ask him quickly. He’s about to go out.

The present simple is used:

·        to refer to a future time after when, as soon as, before, until …

Ø     Ring me as soon as you hear any news.

Ø     I’ll look after Jo until you get back.

Ø     You’ll recognize the street when you see it.

·        To talk about the future plans where something has been officially arranged, for example on a timetable or programme.

Ø     We leave Palma at 10 and arrive in Luton at 12.30

Ø     School starts on September 5^th.

The future progressive is used:

·        To talk about actions that will continue for a period of time in the future.

Ø     I’ll be waiting near the ticket office.

Ø     I’ll be wearing a green hat.

Ø     This time next week you’ll be relaxing in the sun!

·        To ask somebody about the plans or intentions:

Ø     How many nights will you be staying?

Ø     Will you be flying back or going by train?

The future perfect or the future perfect progressive is used:

·        To talk about the duration of something that you will be looking back on a particular time in the future

Ø     They’ll have lived here for four years in May.

Ø     She’ll have been working here for a year in October.