Simple present

Subject Pronoun + verb base form + complement

Subject Pronoun + auxiliary + verb base form + complement
Subject Pronoun 3
rd
person + verb base form + s + complement
auxiliaries do/does, don't/doesn't for questions and neative form!
Use 1: Repeated actions.
"#ins t#at #appen al$ays or usually! %se t#e simple present to express t#e idea t#at an action is repeated or usual
"#e action can be a #abit, a #obby, a daily event, a sc#eduled event or soment#in t#at often #appens! &t can also be
somet#in a person often forets or usually does not do!
'xamples(
& play tennis!
S#e doesn't play tennis!
)oes #e play tennis*
"#e train leaves every mornin at + ,-!
.#en does t#e train usually leave*
S#e al$ays forets #er purse!
/e never forets #is $allet!
Use 2: Facts or generalizations
"#e Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believe that a fact $as true before, is true no$, and $ill be true in
t#e future! &t is not important if t#e spea0er is correct about t#e fact! &t is also used to make generalizations about
people or t#ins!
'xamples(
1ats li0e mil0!
2irds do not li0e mil0!
)o pis li0e mil0*
.indo$s are made of lass!
3e$ 4or0 is a small city! 5it is not important t#at t#is fact is untrue6!
Use 3: Scheduled events in the near future.
Spea0ers occasionally use Simple Present to tal0 about sc#eduled events in t#e near future! "#is is most commonly
done $#en talking about public transportation, but it can be used $it# ot#er scheduled events as $ell!
'xamples(
"#e train leaves toni#t at 7 P-!
"#e bus does not arrive at 88 ,-, it arrives at 88 P-!
.#en do $e board t#e plane*
"#e party starts at + o'cloc0!
.#en does class bein tomorro$*
Use : !o" #!on$%ontinuous &erbs'
Spea0ers sometimes use t#e Simple Present to express t#e idea t#at an action is #appenin or is not #appenin no$!
"#is can only be done $it# !on$%ontinuous &erbs #to be( like( need( have to possess( "ant( hate( cost( seem( care(
contain( e)ist( o"e( to fear( to env*( here' and certain +i)ed &erbs( other"ise used ,resent %ontinuous.
'xamples(
& am #ere no$!
S#e is not #ere no$!
/e needs #elp ri#t no$!
/e does not need #elp no$!
/e #as #is passport in #is #and!
)o you #ave your passport $it# you*
,dverbs and expressions of frecuency(
Spea0ers often use t#e Simple Present $it# adverbs of frequency 5al$ays, often, sometimes, usually, #ardly ever,
never6! ,dverbs of frequency usually o before t#e main verb, but after verb to be! 'xpressions of frequency 5every
day, once a $ee0, etc6 usually o at t#e end of a sentence!
'xamples(
/e never oes out!
S#e's al$ays late!
9o#n never eats pi::a!
Sara al$ays $atc#es "; in #er room!
"#ey sometimes exercise in t#e par0!
& #ave 'nlis# calsses t$ice a $ee0!
& am often #unry!
/e is usually late to sc#ool!
S#e is al$ays a bad person $it# c#ildren!
,resent continuous
Subject Pronoun + verb to be + verb base form + in + complement
;erb to be( am/are/is
%se 8( 3o$
%se t#e Present 1ontinuous $it# 3ormal ;erbs to express t#e idea t#at somet#in is #appenin no$, at t#is very
moment! &t can also be used to s#o$ t#at somet#in is not #appenin no$!
'xamples(
4ou are learnin 'nlis# no$!
4ou are not s$immin no$!
,re you sleepin*
& am sittin!
& am not standin!
&s #e sittin or standin*
"#ey are readin t#eir boo0s!
"#ey are not $atc#in television!
.#at are you doin*
.#y aren't you doin your #ome$or0*
%se <( =oner ,ctions in Proress 3o$
&n 'nlis#, >no$> can mean( t#is second, today, t#is mont#, t#is year, t#is century, and so on! Sometimes, $e use t#e
Present 1ontinuous to say t#at $e are in t#e process of doin a loner action $#ic# is in proress? #o$ever, $e mi#t
not be doin it at t#is exact second!
'xamples( 5,ll of t#ese sentences can be said $#ile eatin dinner in a restaurant!6
& am studyin to become a doctor!
& am not studyin to become a dentist!
& am readin t#e boo0 "om Sa$yer!
& am not readin any boo0s ri#t no$!
,re you $or0in on any special projects at $or0*
,ren't you teac#in at t#e university no$*
%se 3( 3ear future!
Sometimes, spea0ers use t#e Present 1ontinuous to indicate t#at somet#in $ill or $ill not #appen in t#e near future!
'xamples(
& am meetin some friends after $or0!
& am not oin to t#e party toni#t!
&s #e visitin #is parents next $ee0end*
&sn't #e comin $it# us toni#t*
%se @( Aepetition and &rritation $it# >,l$ays>
"#e Present 1ontinuous $it# $ords suc# as >al$ays> or >constantly> expresses t#e idea t#at somet#in irritatin or
s#oc0in often #appens! 3otice t#at t#e meanin is li0e Simple Present, but "ith negative emotion! Aemember to put
t#e $ords >al$ays> or >constantly> bet$een >be> and >verb+in!>
'xamples(
S#e is al$ays comin to class late!
/e is constantly tal0in! & $is# #e $ould s#ut up!
& don't li0e t#em because t#ey are al$ays complainin!
Simple ,ast
Subject Pronoun + verb past / irreular verb + complement
Subject Pronoun + auxiliary + verb base form + complement
auxiliaries did/didn't for questions and neative form!
;erb to be in past tense( am/are/is BBC $ere/$as $eren't/$asn't
%se 8( 1ompleted ,ction in t#e Past
%se t#e Simple Past to express t#e idea t#at an action started and finis#ed at a specific time in t#e past! Sometimes,
t#e spea0er may not actually mention t#e specific time, but t#ey do #ave one specific time in mind!
'xamples(
& sa$ a movie yesterday!
& didn't see a play yesterday!
=ast year, & traveled to 9apan!
=ast year, & didn't travel to Dorea!
)id you #ave dinner last ni#t*
S#e $as#ed #er car!
/e didn't $as# #is car!
%se <( , Series of 1ompleted ,ctions
.e use t#e Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in t#e past! "#ese actions #appen 8st, <nd, 3rd, @t#, and so
on!
'xamples(
& finis#ed $or0, $al0ed to t#e beac#, and found a nice place to s$im!
/e arrived from t#e airport at +(EE, c#ec0ed into t#e #otel at F(EE, and met t#e ot#ers at 8E(EE!
)id you add flour, pour in t#e mil0, and t#en add t#e es*
%se 3 )uration in Past
"#e Simple Past can be used $it# a duration $#ic# starts and stops in t#e past! - duration is a longer action often
indicated b* e)pressions such as: for t"o *ears( for five minutes( all da*( all *ear( etc.
'xamples(
& lived in 2ra:il for t$o years!
S#auna studied 9apanese for five years!
"#ey sat at t#e beac# all day!
"#ey did not stay at t#e party t#e entire time!
.e tal0ed on t#e p#one for t#irty minutes!
,( /o$ lon did you $ait for t#em*
2( .e $aited for one #our!
%se @ /abits in t#e Past
"#e Simple Past can also be used to describe a #abit $#ic# stopped in t#e past! &t can #ave t#e same meanin as >used
to!> "o ma0e it clear t#at $e are tal0in about a #abit, $e often add expressions suc# as( al$ays, often, usually, never,
"hen . "as a child( "hen . "as *ounger( etc.
'xamples(
& studied Grenc# $#en & $as a c#ild!
/e played t#e violin!
/e didn't play t#e piano!
)id you play a musical instrument $#en you $ere a 0id*
S#e $or0ed at t#e movie t#eater after sc#ool!
"#ey never $ent to sc#ool, t#ey al$ays s0ipped class!
%se H( Past Gacts or Ienerali:ations
"#e Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or enerali:ations $#ic# are no loner true! ,s in %S' @ above,
t#is use of t#e Simple Past is quite similar to t#e expression >used to!>
'xamples(
S#e $as s#y as a c#ild, but no$ s#e is very outoin!
/e didn't li0e tomatoes before!
)id you live in "exas $#en you $ere a 0id*
People paid muc# more to ma0e cell p#one calls in t#e past!
,ast %ontinuous
Subject Pronoun + verb to be past + verb base form + in + complement
;erb to be in past tense( am/are/is BBC $ere/$as $eren't/$asn't
%se 8( &nterrupted ,ction in t#e Past
%se t#e Past 1ontinuous to indicate t#at a loner action in t#e past $as interrupted! "#e interruption is usually a
s#orter action in t#e Simple Past! Remember this can be a real interruption or /ust an interruption in time.
'xamples(
& $as $atc#in "; $#en s#e called!
.#en t#e p#one ran, s#e $as $ritin a letter!
.#ile $e $ere #avin t#e picnic, it started to rain!
.#at $ere you doin $#en t#e eart#qua0e started*
& $as listenin to my iPod, so & didn't #ear t#e fire alarm!
4ou $ere not listenin to me $#en & told you to turn t#e oven off!
.#ile 9o#n $as sleepin last ni#t, someone stole #is car!
Sammy $as $aitin for us $#en $e ot off t#e plane!
.#ile & $as $ritin t#e email, t#e computer suddenly $ent off!
,( .#at $ere you doin $#en you bro0e your le*
2( & $as sno$boardin!
%se <( Specific "ime as an &nterruption
&n use 8, described above, t#e Past 1ontinuous is interrupted by a s#orter action in t#e Simple Past! /o$ever, you can
also use a specific time as an interruption!
'xamples(
=ast ni#t at 7 P-, & $as eatin dinner!
,t midni#t, $e $ere still drivin t#rou# t#e desert!
4esterday at t#is time, & $as sittin at my des0 at $or0!
&-PJA",3"
&n t#e Simple Past, a specific time is used to s#o$ $#en an action bean or finis#ed! &n t#e Past 1ontinuous, a specific
time onl* interrupts the action.
'xamples(
=ast ni#t at 7 P-, & ate dinner!
& started eatin at 7 P-!
=ast ni#t at 7 P-, & $as eatin dinner!
& started earlier? and at 7 P-, & $as in t#e process of eatin dinner!
%se 3( Parallel ,ctions
.#en you use t#e Past 1ontinuous $it# t$o actions in t#e same sentence, it expresses t#e idea that both actions
"ere happening at the same time! 0he actions are parallel.
'xamples(
& $as studyin $#ile #e $as ma0in dinner!
.#ile 'llen $as readin, "im $as $atc#in television!
.ere you listenin $#ile #e $as tal0in*
& $asn't payin attention $#ile & $as $ritin t#e letter, so & made several mista0es!
.#at $ere you doin $#ile you $ere $aitin*
"#omas $asn't $or0in, and & $asn't $or0in eit#er!
"#ey $ere eatin dinner, discussin t#eir plans, and #avin a ood time!
%se @( ,tmosp#ere
&n 'nlis#, $e often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
'xample(
.#en & $al0ed into t#e office, several people $ere busily typin, some $ere tal0in on t#e p#ones, t#e boss $as
yellin directions, and customers $ere $aitin to be #elped! Jne customer $as yellin at a secretary and $avin #is
#ands! Jt#ers $ere complainin to eac# ot#er about t#e bad service!
%se H( Aepetition and &rritation $it# >,l$ays>
"#e Past 1ontinuous $it# $ords suc# as >al$ays> or >constantly> expresses t#e idea t#at somet#in irritatin or
s#oc0in often #appened in t#e past! "#e concept is very similar to t#e expression >used to> but $it# neative
emotion! Aemember to put t#e $ords >al$ays> or >constantly> bet$een >be> and >verb+in!>
'xamples(
S#e $as al$ays comin to class late!
/e $as constantly tal0in! /e annoyed everyone!
& didn't li0e t#em because t#ey $ere al$ays complainin!