TENSE USE

For permanent states, repeted

actions and daily routines.
For general truths and laws of
Present nature.
For timetables (trains, planes,
Simple etc) and programmes.

For sports commentarie,

rewiews and narration.
For action taking place now, at
the moment of speaking, or for
temporary action; that is actions
that are going on around now,
but not at the actual moment of
With always when we want to
Present speaking.
express our irritation at actions
Continuous which happen too ofen.
For action that we have aready
arranged to do in the neart
future, especially when the time
and place have
For changing or been decided
developing
situations.
For an action which happened at
a definite time in the past. The
time is stated, alredy known or
implied.
For actions which happened
immediately one after the oter in
Past Simple the
For past.
past habits or states which
are now finished. In such case
we can also use the expression
used to.
 To talk about the lives of people
who are no longer alive.
For an action which was in
progress at a stated time in the
past. We do not mention when
the actionwhen
progress started or finished.
another action
interrupted it. We use the past
continuous for the action in
Past progress (longer action) and the
Continuous past simple for the action
which
For twointerrupted it (shorter
or more simultaneous
past actions.the atmosphere, the
To describe
settings, etc. in the introduction
to a story before we describe the
To
maindescribe
events.an action which
started in the past and continues
up to the present, especialy with
state verbs such as have, like,
know, be, etc. In this case, we
For
oftenanuse
action which
for and was recently
since.
finished and whose result is
visible in the present.
For an action which happened at
Present an unstated time in the past. The
Perfect exact time is not important, so it
is not mentioned. The emphasis
is placed om the action.
 Perfect

For an action which has

happened within a specific time
period, which is not over at the
moment of speking, such: as
today, this morning/afternoon/
week/month/year, etc.
Is used to put emphasis on the
duratin of an action which stated
in the past and continues up to
the present, especially with time
expressions such: as for, since,
Present all
Formoring/day/week, etc. and
an action which started
Perfect finished in the past and lasted for
Continuous some time. The result of the
action is visible in the present.
To expres anger, annoyance or
irritation.

For an action which happened

before another past action.

For an action which happened

Past Perfect before a stated time in the past.

For an action which finished in

the past and whose result was
visible in the past.
 To put emphasis on the duration
of an action which started and
finished in the past before
Past Perfect another past action or stated
Continuous time in the past, usually with
For
sincean and
action
forwhich
. lasted for
sime time in the past and whose
In predictions
result about
was visible the past.
in the future
usully with the verbs: think,
believe, expect, etc.,
The expretions: be sure, be
afraid, etc., and the adverbs:
probably,
For perhaps, certainly, etc.
For on-the-spot decisions
promises (usualy with the
Future verbs promise, swer, guarantee,
Simple etc.) threats, warnings, requests,
hopes (usully with the verb hope)
and offers. / events / situations
For actions
which will definitely happen in
the future and which we cannot
control.
For plans, intentions or
ambitions we have for the future.
Be
going For an actions we have already
decided to do in the near future.
to In predictions when there is
evidence that something will
happen in the near future.
For an action which will be in
progress at a stated
For an action future time.
which will
definitelly happen in the future as
Future the result of a routine or
Continuous arrangement.
 Future
Continuous When we ask politely about
someone's plans for the near
future (what we want to know is
if our wishes fit with their plans).

For an action which will be

Future
finished before a stated future
Perfect time.

Future
To emphasise the duration of an
Perfect action up to a certain time in the
Continuous future.

After the time expressions: by the

The future perfect and t

A) I wo
B) By the tim

We can use the future simple, future continuous or future p

A) The

C
 EXAMPLE

He works at the hotel.

He lays the table and serves dinner every day.

It rarely rains in the desert.

The plane to London takes off at 6:50 am.

Hill kicks the ball and passes it to Dawson.

Laura Hunt acts superbly in the film.
So, the prince tells her

Helen is working hard these days.Right now she's

reading a newspaper.

You're always forgetting to pay the bills.

Melanie is getting married at 3 this afternoon.

More and more forests are disappearing because

of fires.
They spent their holidays in Switzerland last winter.
They had a great time.
First, he read the message. Then, he called his
boss.
People travelled / used to travel by carrage in
those days.
Marilyn Monroe starred in a number of successful
films.
At three o'clock yesterday afternoon, they were sitting
at outdoor caf.

He was walking when he slipped on a banana skin.

She was steering the boat while he was playing

the quitar.
Todd and Emily were riding through the forest. The
sun was shining and the birds were singing.

They have been friends for twenty years.

She has picked a lot of apples.

He has broken his arm.

Peter has been to Paris four times.

She has received three faxes this morning.

She received three faxes this morning.

Sarah has been picking vegetables for two hours.

He is dirty. He has been playing fooball.

Who has been reading my business papers?

They had already reserved the table when they

went to the restaurant.

They had alredy sat down for dinner by 8 pm.

Bill had injured his legs in a car accident, so he had

to use a wheelchair for six months.
They had been skating together for five years
before they entered the competition.

She had been working hard that day, so she was

tired.

I'm afraid we won't be on time for the meeting.

I'll take this leg of lamb.

I don't understand this exercise. Will you help me
with it?
Of course! I'll explain it to you.

The temperature will reach 40 C tomorrow.

I'm going to become a famous violinist one day.
Now that they've won the lottery, they are going to
buy a big house.
They are going to get married in three months.
BUT: They're getting married next month.

Look at the clouds! It'is going to rain.

This time next week, we'll be cruising round the
islands.
Don't call Julie. I'll be seeing her later, so I'll pass
the message on.
 A: Will you be using the photocopier for long?
B: No. Why?
A: I need to make some photocopies.

She will have delivered all the newspapers by 8

o'clock.

By the end of the next month, she will have been

teaching for twenty years.

After the time expressions: by the time, until, before, we use the present simple be
The future perfect and the future perfect continuous may come either b

A) I won't have finished cleaning the house until you co

B) By the time they reach York, they will have been travelli

imple, future continuous or future perfect to make a prediction about the present or pa

A) There's somebody on the phone for you. "That'll be my

B) Don't call her now - she'll be sleeping.
C) It's seven o'clock. Dad will have left the office by
 Is used with the following
EXPLANATION
time expressions

Permanent states.
Daily routine / repeted actions always,
usually, etc.,
every day / week / month /
year, etc,
on Mondays / Tuesday, etc.,
in the morning / aftermoon /
evening,
Sport commentary.
Review.
at night / the weekend, etc.
Narration.

She is not working at the moment of

speaking. now,
at the moment,
these days,
at present,
tonight,
nowadays,
The time and the place for the
wedding ceremony have been
still,
decided. etc.

When did they go to Switzerland?

Last winter. The time is stated. yesterday,
The time is alredy known. last night / week / month / yesr
/ Monday, etc.,
two days/week/month, etc.,
ago,
then,
when,
How long ago?,
in 1992/1845,
etc.
 then,
when,
How long ago?,
in 1992/1845,
etc.

We do not know when they got to or

when they left the caf.

when,
while,
as,
all day/night/morinig,
etc.

- already
They met each other twenty years
ago and they are still friends. We have already seen this
film.
Have you finished already?
The apples are in the basket, so the - yet
action has finished. Has Roger left yet?
The exact time is not mentioned.
What is important is the fact that his Simon has not finished yet.
arm is broken. - just
I have just phoned Jill.
The exact time of each of his visits is - always
not mentioned. What is important is
She has always loved
the fact that he has visited Paris four
times. animals.
 animals.
The action has been repeted three
times up to now and may happen
- never
again because the time period - this She has never been to
morning - is not over yet. France.
- so far
The time period - this morning - is I have sent twenty
over. It is now afernoon or evening. invitations so far.

She started picking vegetables two

hours ago and she still picking them
now.

He is no longer playing football, but

the fact that his clothes are dirty is
visible now.

The speaker is irritated.

before,
They made a reservation first and after,
then they went to the restaurant. already,
for,
since,
just,
till / untill,
when,
by,
The action finished in the past and by the time,
its result was visible in the past, too. never,
etc.
 for,
since,
how long,
before,
She spent all day working hard and until,
the result of the action was visible in etc.
the past, too.

Request tomorrow,
the day after tomorrow,
Offer
tonight,
soon,
next week / month / year,
in a week / month / year,
in two / three days / weeks,
Ambition etc.

Intention / Plan
They have already decided to do it.
They have decided and arranged
to do it.
 before,
by,
by then,
by the time,
until / till

by,
for

, before, we use the present simple because they introduce time clauses.
erfect continuous may come either before or after the time clause.

nished cleaning the house until you come back.

ch York, they will have been travelling for four hours.

ake a prediction about the present or past, that is to say what we believe may be happening or

ody on the phone for you. "That'll be my mother."

n't call her now - she'll be sleeping.
o'clock. Dad will have left the office by now.
NOTE
Both the present perfect and the present
perfect continuous are udes with the following
time expresions:

- how long
- how long
How long have you known Jack?
How long have you been learning English?
- for (duration)
I have known Jack for five years.
I have nor seen Emely for a long time.
She has been working here for twenty years.
- since (starting point)
They have been married since last April.
We have been living here since 1980.
I have not talked to Ann since last Sunday.
- lately / recently
Have you seen any good films lately / recently?
She has been going out a lot lately / recently.

With the verbs feel (have a particular emotion), live, work and
teach we can use the present perfect or present perfect
continuous with no difference in meaning.

e.g. He has
felt / been feeling unwell all morning.
The pastperfect is the past equivalent of the
present perfect.
a) He had broken his leg, so he couldn't walk.
(The action "had broken" happened in the past, and the result
"couldn't walk" was visible in the past, too.)
b) He has broken his leg, so he can't walk.
(The action "has broken" happened in the past, and the result
"can't walk" is visible in the present.)

We can use the past perfect or the past simple with

before or after without any difference in meaning.

e.g. She left after she had finished her work.

She left after she finished her work.
The past perfect continuous is the past
equvalent of the present perfect continuous.

a) He had been waiting for hours, so he was bored.

(The action "had been waiting" lasted for some time in the
past, and the result "was bored" was visible in the past)
b) He has been waitingfor hours, so he is bored.
(The action "has been waiting" started in the past and the

1) We normally use be going to to talk about something

we intend to do and will to give details or make coments.
e.g. A: I 'm going to have a party next week. I'll invite
all my friends.
B: That 'll be great
2) We normally use the present continuous rather that be
going to with verbs which express movement, especially the
verbs go and come.
 Until / till are only used in negative sentences.
A) She will have fineshed the report by tomorrow.
(NOT: until / till tomorrow).
B) She won't have completed the report
untill / till 5 o'clock.

duce time clauses.

time clause.

what we believe may be happening or have happened.