Simple

Simple Present: Example He drinks tea at breakfast. She only eats fish. They watch television regularly. Martin lives in Canada. I work in a hospital. What kind of music do you like? I like all kinds of pop music. We catch the bus every morning. It rains every afternoon in the hot season. They drive to Monaco every summer. They often go out to restaurants. I travel to London twice a month. He gets up at 6 oclock. She goes to church every Sunday. Water freezes at zero degrees. The Earth revolves around the Sun. Oil floats on water. Two and two make four. Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water. You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford. Use - for habits - for things that are true about your life, for example where you live, your job, or the kinds of things you like.

- for repeated actions or events. Use words such as always, often, sometimes, occasionally, and never, or phrases such as on Tuesdays or every day with the simple present in this meaning.

- for general truths.

- for instructions or directions

Simple Past: Example He kicked the ball into the net. I went home early because I had a headache. The police found a dead body in the river. Our visitors arrived yesterday. Where did you go last week? The war ended in 1945. Use - talk about a completed action in a time before now. Duration is not important. The time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past. - often use words or phrases such as at midnight, on Tuesday, in 1992, yesterday, and last year with the simple past.

 Simple Future: Example Itll probably snow tomorrow. Well have a break at six oclock. Perhaps things will be better next week. He'll carry your bag for you. The baby won't eat his soup. I won't leave until I've seen the manager! Shall I open the window? Shall we go to the cinema tonight? You will do exactly as I say. Will you come to the dance with me? Will you marry me? Use - to predict or talk about plan, future event. - to express willingness or unwillingness - to give an offer, an order, a suggestion or an invitation.

Continuous

Present Continuous: Example You are using theInternet. You are studying English grammar. Use - to describe an action that is going on at this moment, often use this meaning with words and phrases that express present time, such as now, at the moment, and currently. - to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend - to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared.

Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian. We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?. He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment. We live in France. (=France is our permanent home) Were living in France. (=we are living there for a limited period of time) He cooks his own meals. (=he

- to describe a temporary event or situation (happening now, but will only continue for a limited period of time.)

always does it) Hes cooking his own meals. (=he does not usually do it) Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forevercomplaining about your mother-in-law!

- with 'always, forever, constantly', to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions Use - to talk about something that happened in the past, and continued to happen for only a limited period of time.

Past Continuous: Example We were living in France at that time. I was trying to get the waiters attention. The man was looking at me in a very strange way. I was watching TV when the phone rang. They met each other while they were staying in London.

- to talk about something which continued to happen for a period of time, during which another thing happened.

Future Continuous: Example This time next week I will be sunbathing in Bali. This time next week you will be working in your new job. At four thirty on Tuesday afternoon I will be signing the contract. You'll be feeling thirsty after working in the sun. He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect. Use - to talk about events in progress in the future or to project ourselves into the future and see something happening.

- to predict or guess about someone's actions or feelings, now or in the future.

Notes: These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning: a. This coat feels nice and warm. (= your perception of the coat's qualities) b. John's feeling much better now (= his health is improving) a. She has three dogs and a cat. (=possession) b. She's having supper. (= She's eating) a. I can see Anthony in the garden (= perception) b. I'm seeing Anthony later (= We are planning to meet)

Perfect

Present Perfect: Example Someone has broken the window. (RESULT NOW: it is still broken, and needs to be mended) The taxi has arrived. (RESULT NOW: someone needs to go and get into the taxi) Janes hurt her hand, so she cant write. (RESULT NOW: Jane cant write) Janes just left, but you might catch her in the car park. There is a clear difference with the past tense, which you use when the action is finished. -present perfect: I have lived in Chicago for many years. (=I still live there now) -simple past: I lived in Chicago for many years. (=now I live somewhere else) -present perfect: Jim has worked for us since 1992. (=he still works for us now) -simple past: Jim worked for us from 1992 to 1996. (=he does not work for us any more) She has had several jobs abroad. Use - to talk about something that happened in the past and is finished, but which still affects the situation now. Often use just and recently with the present perfect in this meaning.

- to say that something started to happen in the past, and has continued to happen up to now.

- to talk about something that happened at some time in the There have been problems with past before now, when it is not this system in the past. important to say when it happened. There has been a big earthquake (This meaning of the present in Japan, and hundreds of people perfect is often used in this way have been killed. in news reports. If you give the date, year, or Have you ever visited Scotland? time when something happened, you must use the Ive never been in a plane before. simple past, not the present perfect.)

Past Perfect: Example After the visitors had left, we watched TV. They told me that the taxi had already arrived The train had just left when I arrived at the station. I had just put the washing out when it started to rain. Use - to talk about a past action which took place before another past action.

Future Perfect: Example I'll have been here for six months on June 23rd. By the time you read this I'll have left. You will have finished your work by this time next week. Use - to refers to a completed action in the future. It is often used with a time expression using by a point in future time (When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some time later than now.)

Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Continuous: Example How long have you been learning English? Weve been expecting them to arrive since last Thursday. You look tired. Ive been working really hard. Its been raining all week, so the grounds very wet. Use - to talk about something which has continued to happen for a period of time in the past, and which may still be happening now. - to talk about something which has been taking place recently and which affects the situation now.

The present perfect progressive has very similar meanings to the present perfect, but draws attention to the period of time during which the action has taken place.

Past Perfect Continuous: Example Had you been waiting long before the taxi arrived? We had been trying to open the door for five minutes when Jane found her key. It had been raining hard for several hours and the streets were very wet. Her friends had been thinking of calling the police when she walked in. Use - to focus on how long an activity continued or forcus on the activity itseft.

Future Perfect Continuous: Example I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock. By 2001 I will have been living here for sixteen years. By the time I finish this course, I will have been learning English for twenty years. Next year I will have been working here for four years. Use - to show how long an activity or situation has been in progress before a specified time in the future. Usually mention the length of time.