1.1 Present simple VS. Present Continuous
We use the Present Simple to talk about:
- Permanent features and things that happen on a regular basis e.g.
My brother isa lawyer.
The factory makes aircraft components.
What does your company do?
We don’t often use subcontractors.
- Timetables and events ( see also 2.1) e.g.
The display begins at 10 a.m.
We use the present continuous to talk about:
- Things that are happening at the moment of speaking e.g.
What are you doing?
I’mjust typing up the report.
- Situations that are temporary, happening around thepresenttime ordeveloping trendse.g.
I’m working on an interesting project at the moment.
We’re trying to solve the problem.
How is the business doing?
Prices are going up all the time.
- Personal futures plans and arrangements (see also 2.2) e.g.
Are you going to the conference next week?
Some verbs are typically used in the continuous, as they can last for a period of time (e.g. wait, work, learn, study, live, stay, try, rain). E.g.
It’sraining.
I’m trying to mend the copier.
The present simple is usually used with state verbs:
- Verbs of thinking and knowing (believe, think (=believe), agree, understand, know, remember, forget, realize, expect, etc.) e.g.
I think that’s a great idea.
I agree
I expect he’ll be tired when he arrives.
- Verbs of feeling or preference (want, wish, like, hate, matter, mind, etc.) e.g.
The company wants to relocate.
I don’t mind where we go.
- Verbs of perceptions (taste, hear, see, smell, etc) e.g.
This coffee tastes awful.
(Often these verbs are used with can, e.g.
Can you smell burning?)
- Verbs of possession (have, have got, own, belong, etc.)E.g.
Whodoes this jacket belong to?
They have sales offices all over the world.
- Some of these verbs can be used in the present continuous but with a different meaning.E.g.
We`re having some problems with our suppliers at the moment.
What are you thinking about?
I`m seeing Eduardo tomorrow.
I`m expecting him to arrive any minute now.
- With some verbs we can use either the present simple or the present continuous with no change of meaning (feel, hurt, hope, etc).E.g.
I don`t feel/I`m not feeling very well.
My leg is hurting/hurts.
We`re hoping/we hope to finish on time.
1.2 Past simple vs. present perfect simple
We use the past simple for finished time periods which are specified or known from the context. It is used to talk about:
- Actions/events at specific times in the past. e.g.
Theysold the company last year.
When did you arrive?
- States in the past (see also 1.6). e.g.
I lived in Paris for five years.
- Habits in the past (see also 1.6). e.g.
I smoked 20 a day when I was at university
We use the present perfect simple when there is a strong connection with the present. It is used to talk about:
- Things in have happened up until now in someone`s life at an unspecified time (or thing that have not happened); ever, never, before and how many times are common with this usage. e.g.
I`ve neverbeen to Australia.
How many times have youtaken your driving test?
- Things that started in the past and still continue; since, for and how ling are typically use. E.g.
How long have you been in your present job?
I`ve been with the company since I left college/for five years.
(Note the past simple is used after since for completed events)
- News and recent events at an unspecified time in the past where there is an impact on the present; the focus is on what has ( or hasn`t) happened rather the details of when, how, why, who, etc e.g.
The chairperson has resignedmobile
They have opened a new sales office in Madrid.
Oil prices have risen sharply.
The situationhasn`t changed at all.
I`ve lost my mobile phone.
- Time periods which are unfinished ( this morning, this week, this year, this month, today, etc.) e.g.
Have youseenMaria today?
Sales have risen this year.
Note that yet, already, just, recently, during/in the last/past are commonly used with the Present Perfect.e.g.
They haven’t sent the invoice yet.
Profits have fallen considerably during/in the last few months.
The company has recently expanded into the Far East.
In US English past tense can be used to talk about news and recent event. e.g.
Did you talk to John yet?
I just saw the CEO.
Note the change from the Present Perfect to the Past Simple when the focus shifts from announcing news to details. e.g.
Have you heard? Kai has broken his leg.
Really? How did he do that?
He hadan asking accident.
1.3 Present Perfect Continuous vs. Present Perfect Simple
We use the present perfect continuous to talk about an activity that has continued over a period of time leading up to the present. It isused to talk about:
- Things which started in the past and are still happening. e.g.
I’ve beenliving in this apartment for five years.
How long have you beenworking here?
- Things which have you finished, and might explain a present situation e.g.
What have you been doing?
(You look exhausted.)
It might not always be obvious whether theactivity is finished or not. The context usually makes the meaning clear. e.g.
I’ve been trying to get through all morning.
How long have you been waiting?
Sometimes the difference between the two tenses is clear. e.g.
We’ve reorganized our storage system.
We’ve been reorganizing our storage system.
In the first sentence, we use the present perfect simple because we are giving news of a completed action. In the second sentence, the focus is on the process. There is no indication that the reorganization is complete. The present perfect continuous on the time period rather than a result.e.g.
Priceshave fallenconsiderably.
Prices have been falling all year.
We use the present perfect simple when talking about numbers and quantities as there is idea of completion. e.g.
Sales have fallen by 10%.
We’ve sold over 10,000 units.
- Some verbs can be used with either tense with no significant difference in meaning.e.g.
I’ve lived in Bahrain for three years.
I’ve been living in Bahrain for three years.
- Some verbs are normally only used in the present perfect simpleState verbs (have, be,know, understand,like, etc.)E.g.
I´ve been here for a week.
Have you known each other long?
- verbs which describe actions that only last for a moment (find,lose,close,open,close,stop, etc.,)e.g.
He`s lost his wallet.
Have they closed the factory?
1.4 Past continuous vs. Past simple
We use past continuous to talk about:
- The background situation at the moment something happened. e.g.
I was having when you called yesterday.
It was snowing when we landed Hearthrow.
- What was happening at particular time is the past. e.g.
What were you doing this time yesterday?
This time last year, I was living in the states.
The time reference in the past does not always have to be given once it has been established.e.g.
Wewere working very hard to fulfill orders.
The company was goingthrough a bad time.
- Notice the difference between these two sentences.
We were having a meeting when the fire alarm went off.
I left the building when the fire alarm went off.
In the first sentences, the first verb tells us about the background situation (we were having a meeting) When something happened (the fire alarm went off). In the second sentences, one action (the fire alarm went off) is followed by another (I left the building). This difference becomes very clear in the question forms.e.g.
Whatwere you doing when the fire alarm went off?
What did you do when the fire alarm went off?
1.5 Past perfect vs. Past simple
The past perfect is used when we need to make it clear that something happened before another situation or action in the past. It is used when telling a story or explaining a situation to establish the background. It is commonly used:
- In when, by the time, before sentences (often with already, just) e.g.
When we arrived, the presentation had just started.
By the time we got to the airport, the flight hadalready left.
He had already left before I joined the company.
- with time adverbials such as the previous year, before e.g.
I´dneverseen him before.
The previous year, the situation had been much worse.
- with because (to give reason)E.g.
The order was delayed because the machine had broken down.
- with said told, asked, etc. (see also 5.1) e.g.
They said they had sent the order.
- With because (to give reasons.) e.g.
The order was delayed because the machine had broken down.
- With said, told, asked, etc. see also 5.1) e.g.
They said they had sent the order.
- With verbs like thought, found, discovered, realized e.g.
We discovered (that) there had been problems.
She realized (that) she had made a mistake.
Note the difference between these two sentences.
The meeting had (already) started when the managing director arrived.
In the first sentence, the meeting started after the MD arrived.
1.6 To
Use to + the infinitive is used:
- For regular actions in the past that no longer happen. e.g.
I used to go jogging every day.
For past situations that are no longer true. e.g.
He used to live in Stockholm.
We used to use an advertising agency.
Note that negatives and questions are formed with
Did/didn´t and no-d. e.g.
Didn´t you use to work in sales?
We didn´t use to get so many complains.
The used to be is used to describe past situations that no longer exist. e.g.
There used to be an old school on that site. (There isn´t one now.)
There didn´t use to be much demand for that size. (There is now.)
Didn´t thereused to be a car park here? (There isn´t one Now.)My back and had to cancel the trip.)
1.7 was/were going/ hoping/planning
To/thinking of
These can be used for.
- Changed plans e.g.
I was going/hoping/planning to go skiing(but I
Hurt my back and had to cancel the trip.
I was thinking of buying a bigger house (but decided I
couldn´t affordit.)
- Tentative suggestions and invitations e.g.
Were you planning to do anything tomorrow night?
- Not really, no.
I was thinking of going to see a film.
- That sounds a good idea.
1.8 do and did for emphasis
Do and did can be used in affirmative sentences for emphasis. They are always stressed when spoken. e.g.
I do hopeyou enjoy your holiday.
The team did play well on Saturday.
Sometimes it is used when there is a difference of opinion.
e.g.
We do Cleary state that goods can only be exchanged
With a receipt.
I did confirm the flight. (So why isn´t there a seat for me?)