Uses of Past simple:

1. Definite time in the past

2. Single or habitual events or states
3. The past simple with no time reference, this happens especially when we know the time.
4. Past simple and the order of events. If we change the order of the verbs, this changes the
meaning.

1. Examples:

i. He left at the end of November.

ii. When they were young, they hated meat.
iii. Did you watch that film yesterday?

2. Examples:

i. He fell off his bike and his friends took him to a doctor. (Single events)
ii. As children, we played all kinds of games on the street. (Habitual events)
iii. She looked a bit upset (States)

I did a lot of travelling when I was younger. (Or I used to do a lot of travelling when I was
younger.) [When we use the past simple to refer to habitual events, the meaning is similar to used
to]

3. Examples:

i. Leonardo Da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa. (We know from our general knowledge)
ii. Do you know Grace? She was in my class at primary school. (without a definite time but
both are aware of time)
iii. Do you know Grace? She was in my class at primary school in the 70s. (definite time
reference)

4. Examples:

i. I turned off the light and got into bed.

event 1 event 2

ii. I got into bed and turned off the light.

event 1 event 2

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 Past continuous: uses

1. Events happening at a particular time in the past

2. Background events: When one event is more important than another in the past, we can use
the past continuous for the background event (the less important event) and the past simple
for the main event
3. Often use the past continuous to give a reason or context for an event
4. Ongoing and repeated events, It can suggest that the situation was temporary or subject to
change.
5. Sometimes use the past continuous to refer to a definite period of past time. This usually
emphasizes the event continuing over a period of time.

1. Examples

i. Where was Donna last night?

I’m not sure. I think she was visiting her family. (action)
ii. I remember that night. You were wearing that red dress. (state)

2. Examples

i. Lisa was cycling to school when she saw the accident.

background event main event

ii. What were you thinking about when you won the race?
background event main event

3. Examples

i. I didn’t make the meeting last week; I was travelling to Rome.

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 4. Examples

i. She was feeding her neighbors’ cat every morning while they were on holiday. Then
one morning, it was gone.
ii. The neighbors were making so much noise, night after night. We had to complain
eventually.

Warning:

We only use the past continuous for repeated background events. If they are repeated main
events, we use the past simple:

i. I phoned you four times last night. Where were you?

Not: I was phoning you four times last night.

We don’t use the past continuous in the same way as used to when we talk about things in the
past which are no longer true:

ii. We used to go on holiday to Yorkshire every year when I was little.

Not: We were going on holiday …

5. Examples

i. We were cooking all morning because we had 15 people coming for lunch.
ii. Lots of us were working at the office on Saturday because we had to finish the
project by Monday

➢ Adverbs such as always, constantly, forever are used with the past continuous when we talk
about repeated, unplanned or undesired events:

i. We were always spending so much time in traffic. That’s the main reason why we
decided to move to the country and work from home.
ii. My boss was constantly phoning me in my last job. I hated it.
iii. She was forever losing her keys.

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 Past continuous or past simple?
Choice of emphasis

Often there is little difference between the past continuous and the past simple, except that the past
continuous suggests that the event(s) were in progress at a time in the past or that they were
happening as background or temporary events. Whether we choose to use the past continuous or past
simple often depends on how we see the past event(s).

i. Doctors were treating patients in Past continuous: writer chooses to show the
temporary beds and they were trying to events as ongoing at that time in the past.
do their best in a difficult situation
ii. Doctors treated patients in temporary Past simple: writer chooses to show the events
beds and they tried to do their best in a as finished.
difficult situation

Events in progress in the past

We use the past continuous to talk about events and temporary states that were in progress around a
certain time in the past. We use the past simple to talk about events, states or habits at definite times
in the past.

i. At 4 pm last Tuesday, I was working in The past continuous emphasizes the action or
the office. event in progress around a time in the past. The
event (working) was in progress at 4 pm. The
event was not completed at that time.
ii. At 4 pm last Monday, I finished work The past simple emphasizes the event that
early and went home. happened at a definite time in the past.
The focus is not on events in progress but rather
on the whole events (finished work, went
home).
The events were completed at that time.

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Emphasizing main events with the past simple

When one event is more important than the other in the past, we can use the past simple to emphasize
the main event. We can use the past continuous for the background event (the less important one)

✓ I was listening to the radio when Helen phoned.

background event main event
✓ I was sitting in the park and suddenly I saw an old school friend I hadn’t seen for 30 years.
background event main event

Past simple or present perfect?

Definite time in the past

We use the past simple to refer to definite time in the past (when we specify the time or how long) and
usually with past time expressions such as yesterday, two weeks ago, last year, in 1995:

✓ We met in January 1975. We went to America together in 1978.

Not: We have met in January 1975. We have gone to America together in 1978.

Time up to now

We use the present perfect to talk about time up to now, that is, events that took place in the past but
which connect with the present. The present perfect is often used with time expressions which
indicate time up to now, for example today, this year, in the last six months:

✓ I haven’t seen her since January 1995.

Not: I didn’t see her since January 1995.

i. I haven’t seen her for over 20 The last time I saw her was over 20 years ago.
years.
ii. I didn’t see her for over 20 years I saw her last week but the last time I saw her before last week
and then I bumped into her last was over 20 years ago.
week.
iii. I finished my homework an hour Definite time in the past. I finished my homework at a time in
ago. the past (one hour ago).

iv. I haven’t finished my homework From a time in the past up to now. I started my homework at a
yet. time in the past and it is not finished yet (yet means ‘up to
now’).

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 v. We had a good day yesterday. Definite time in the past. We had a good day in the past
(yesterday).
vi. We have had a good day so far. From a time in the past up to now.
The day has been good until now but it hasn’t finished yet.
vii. We didn’t see Diana last week. Definite time in the past (last week).
viii. We haven’t seen Diana this From the beginning of the week until now.
week.
ix. I didn’t have any lunch today. Today is not finished but it is almost the end of the day and past
lunchtime.
x. I haven’t had any lunch today. It is still today and not too late to have lunch.

Past perfect simple: uses

1. Time up to then
The past perfect refers to time up to a point in the past (time up to then), just as the present
perfect refers to something that happened in the time up to the moment of speaking (time up
to now):
2. Reported clauses
We commonly use the past perfect in reported clauses where the reporting verb (underlined)
is in the past.
We also use the past perfect when the reporting verb is a verb of perception and is in the past
tense.

3. The past perfect to refer to situations which have changed. In speaking, had is often stressed.

4. We must use the past perfect when we imagine a different past in a clause with if.

1.Examples

i. I’d seen all of Elvis Presley’s movies by the time I was 20

ii. I’d been to five countries in Europe by 2001. (Past perfect: ‘time up to then’ (2001).
iii. I’ve been to five countries in Europe. (Present perfect: ‘time up to now’)

2. Examples

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 i. “Mr Hammond drove through a red light.”
The policeman said Mr Hammond had driven through a red light.
ii. No one told me that the shop had closed.
I phoned Katie and she said the kids had had a day off school so she’d taken them ice
skating.
iii. My Dad was really angry because he heard I hadn’t come home until 3 am!
iv. I saw she’d bought the DVD so I asked if I could borrow it.
v. The doctor felt my mother had got worse since last week.

3. Examples

A: Are you going anywhere today?

B: I had planned to go to the beach but look at the rain! (Had is stressed; the meaning is ‘I
have now changed my mind’)

✓ I’m very happy working as an engineer but I had wanted to be an actor when I was younger.

3. Examples

i. I would have helped to paint the house if you’d asked me. (You didn’t ask me.)
ii. Sarah couldn’t come with us to the cinema. She would have loved it if she had been
there. (She wasn’t there.)

Warning:

We don’t use the past perfect in the main clause of a conditional sentence. It is only used in the
conditional clause:

If we had seen you walking, we would have stopped to give you a lift.
conditional clause main clause

Not: If we had seen you walking, we had stopped …

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 Past perfect continuous: uses
Continuing events in the past

We use the past perfect continuous to talk about actions or events which started before a particular
time in the past and were still in progress up to that time in the past.

i. It was so difficult to get up last Monday for school. I had been working on my essays the
night before and I was very tired. (The past perfect continuous focuses on the activity of
working on the essays up to a particular time in the past.)

ii. A: Why did you decide to go travelling for a year?

B: Well, I’d been reading an amazing book about a woman who rode a horse around South
America. I was just halfway through the book when I decided I had to go travelling and that
was it. I just took a year out of work and went.

(The past perfect continuous focuses on the activity of reading the book at the time when she
made her decision. She hadn’t finished the book when she made her decision.)

We can use the past perfect continuous to talk about events which started before a time in the past and
which finished, but where the effects or results were still important at a point in the past:

iii. It had been raining and the ground was still wet.

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 Past perfect simple or past perfect continuous?
Past perfect simple = I had worked Past perfect continuous = I had been working

1. We use the past perfect simple with action verbs to emphasize the completion of an event. We
use the past perfect continuous to show that an event or action in the past was still continuing.
i. The builders had put up the scaffolding Past perfect simple emphasizes the completion
around the house. of the action (the scaffolding is up).
ii. The builders had been putting up the Past perfect continuous emphasizes a continuing
scaffolding when the roof fell in. or ongoing action.

2. We use the past perfect simple to refer to the completion of an activity and the past perfect
continuous to focus on the activity and duration of the activity.

i. I’d waited an hour for the bus. Past perfect simple emphasizes the completion
of the activity (the waiting is over).
ii. I’d been waiting an hour for the bus. Past perfect continuous focuses on the duration
of the activity.

3. The past perfect simple suggests something more permanent than the past perfect continuous,
which can imply that something is temporary.
i. She’d always lived with her parents. We don’t know how long.
ii. She’d been living with her parents. Suggests a temporary situation.

4. Some verbs are not used very often in the continuous form.
We don’t use the continuous form with some verbs of mental process (know, like, understand,
believe) and verbs of the senses (hear, smell, taste)
i. We’d known for a long time that the company was going to close.
Not: We’d been knowing …
ii. We’d tasted the milk and had decided it was bad, so we threw it away.
Not: We’d been tasting the milk …
We don’t use the continuous form with actions that are completed at a single point in time
(start, stop):
iii. Had they started the game on time?
Not: Had they been starting the game on time?

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 Past perfect simple or past simple?

Past perfect simple: I had seen | Past simple: I saw

1. The past perfect simple is used to sequence events in the past to show which event happened
first.

i. The music started when the curtains Past simple + past simple: the music started at
opened. the same time as the curtains opened.
ii. The music had (already) started when Past perfect simple + past simple: the music
the curtains opened. started and then the curtains opened.

2. The past simple often suggests a stronger connection between the time of the two events.

i. When she came through the door, Past simple + past simple: this sentence shows
everyone shouted, ‘Surprise! Happy that as she came through the door, everyone
Birthday!’. immediately shouted ‘Surprise!’.
ii. When she had read all the greetings Past perfect simple + past simple: this sentence
cards, she made a short thank-you emphasizes that she had finished reading the
speech. cards before she made her speech.

Past verb forms referring to the present

1. Being polite or less direct: We sometimes use a past verb form to talk about present time, in
order to be more polite or less direct.

i. I thought you might like to know that Linda has been promoted.
ii. We were hoping you’d stay for dinner.
iii. Would you give these to Richard, please? (more polite/less direct than Will you give
these to Richard, please?)

2. Conditional and hypothetical structures with if, what if, wish and supposing often use past
forms with a present meaning

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 i. If James was here now, he’d know what to do.
ii. What if we left now instead of later, would we avoid the rush-hour traffic?
iii. I wish I had more time. I could stay and help you.
iv. Supposing you were married. Where would you be living now, here or somewhere
else?

3. Things in the past that are still true: Sometimes we use past verb forms to refer to things
which were true or which happened in the past, even when they are still true now.
✓ A: That woman at the party last night was Russian.
✓ B: I thought so.

He went for an interview for the airforce the other day but he didn’t get in because his
eyesight wasn’t good enough.

4. It’s time: We use the expression it’s time … to refer to the present moment with a past verb
form:

i. It’s eleven-thirty. It’s time I went to bed.

It’s time I go to bed.

Past: typical errors

1. We use the past simple, not the past continuous, to talk about past habits.

i. I walked to school every day when I was young.

Not: I was walking to school every day …

2. We use the past simple, not the past continuous, to emphasize completed events at a specific
time in the past

i. I called her office at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

Not: I was calling her office at 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon.

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3. We use the past simple to refer to a definite time in the past, not the present perfect or the past
perfect.
i. I woke up at seven o’clock this morning.
Not: I’ve woken up at seven o’clock this morning.

4. We use the present perfect, not the past simple, to refer to time up to now.
i. I haven’t paid my electricity bill yet.
Not: I didn’t pay my electricity bill yet.

5. We use the past simple, not the past continuous, to refer to repeated main events. We only use
the past continuous for repeated background events.

i. He cycled to Claire’s house last night. (main event)

Not: He was cycling to Claire’s house last night. (We see this as the background
event and expect to hear the main event following it.)

6. We don’t use the past continuous in the same way as used to when we refer to things in the
past which are no longer true.

i. We used to have picnics in the park in the summer.

ii. Not: We were having picnics in the park in the summer.

7. We don’t use the past perfect in the main clause of a conditional sentence. It is only used in
the conditional clause.

a. If we had known you were alone, we would have visited you.

conditional clause main clause

b. Not: If we had known you were alone, we had visited you.

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 Present continuous: uses
1) To talk about events which are in progress at the moment of speaking
2) To talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of speaking.
3) To describe actions which are repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary.
4) To talk about a gradual change
5) Words like always, constantly, continually and forever (adverbs of indefinite frequency) to
describe events which are regular but not planned, and often not wanted.
6) To refer to the future when we talk about plans and arrangements that have already been
made.

1. Examples

I. A: What time’s dinner?

B: I’m cooking now so it’ll be ready in about half an hour.
II. She’s pressing the button but nothing is happening.

2. Examples

I. Her mother’s living with her at the moment. She’s just come out of hospital.
II. Who’s looking after the children while you’re here?

3. Examples

I. I’m not drinking much coffee these days. I’m trying to cut down.
II. She’s working a lot in London at the moment. (She doesn’t usually work in London.)

4. Examples

I. They’re building a new stand at the football ground.

II. Maria, 37, is getting better and doctors are optimistic she will make a full recovery.
III. Recent evidence suggests that the economic situation is improving.

5. Examples

I. My wife, she’s always throwing things out. I like to keep everything.

II. I’m constantly spilling things.

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6. Examples

I. We’re moving to Cambridge in July.

II. Sarah isn’t taking Rory to football training later. She hasn’t got the car tonight.
III. Aren’t you playing tennis on Saturday?

Present perfect continuous: uses

1) To talk about a finished activity in the recent past. Using the present perfect continuous
focuses on the activity. We don’t give a specific time. Even though the activity is finished, we
can see the result in the present.
2) For a single activity that began at a point in the past and is still continuing.
3) To talk about repeated activities which started at a particular time in the past and are still
continuing up until now

1. Examples

i. I’ve just been cleaning the car. (The car is wet and clean.)
ii. It’s been snowing. (The ground is covered in snow.)
iii. What have you been buying?

2. Examples

i. I’ve been reading your book – it’s great. (I’m still reading it.)
ii. He’s been living in the village since 1995. (He is still living in the village.)
iii. She has been writing her autobiography since 1987.

3. Examples

i. I’ve been going to Spain on holiday every year since 1987.

ii. I haven’t been eating much lunch lately. I’ve been going to the gym at lunchtimes.
iii. She’s been playing tennis on and off for three years.

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How long …?

We often use the present perfect continuous to ask and answer questions about the duration of an
activity. We use the question How long …+ present perfect continuous:

A: How long have you been waiting for me?

B: About ten minutes. Not too long. (I’ve been waiting for about ten minutes.)

Present perfect simple: uses

Experiences

1. To talk about our experiences up to now. The time of the experiences is not important.

i. And I’ve seen ‘Buddy’ and I’ve seen ‘Starlight Express’ in London. And I want to
see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ next.
ii. We’re going to Wagamama’s for dinner tonight. I’ve been there a couple of times
before.

2. Although we do not give a specific time, we often use general time expressions like ever,
never, before, in my life, so far, up until now with this use of the present perfect simple

i. We haven’t met before, have we?

ii. They’ve sold 110 so far. (So far = from a point in the past up until now)

3. We often use ever, not … ever and never when we talk about experiences.

i. It was the worst performance we have ever seen.

ii. Have you ever tried to write your name and address with your left hand?
iii. She’s never said sorry for what she did.

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 4. We often use the present perfect simple for a unique experience when we are using a
superlative
i. I felt the happiest I have ever felt. My first Olympic final; the bronze medal;
European record of 9.97 seconds.
ii. The dome of the Blue Mosque in Isfahan is the most beautiful building I have ever
seen.
iii. It was the best decision I have ever made in my life.
iv. It’s the worst sports programme I have ever seen and the first I have ever turned
off.

5. We usually use the present perfect simple with the first time when we’re talking about an
immediate, continuing or recent event

i. That’s the first time I’ve seen you get angry.

Recent completed events

To talk about a finished event or state in the very recent past. We do not give a specific time. We
often use words like just or recently for events taking place a very short time before now.

i. What’s this? What has just happened?

ii. The company employs around 400 staff and has recently opened an office in the UK.
iii. Niki and John have just come back from a week in Spain.

Past events, present results

We use the present perfect simple when a single past action has a connection with the present.

i. She has broken her arm in two places. (Her arm is still broken now.)
ii. Why haven’t you dressed in something warmer? (You got dressed in the past but the clothes
are not warm enough for now.)
iii. A fire has broken out at a disused hotel on the seafront. (The fire is burning now; it’s a recent
event too.)

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 iv. Your flowers haven’t arrived. (Your flowers are not here; they were supposed to arrive in
the past.)

Present perfect simple or present perfect continuous?

Completed or continuing events

We use the present perfect simple with action verbs to emphasize the completion of an event in the
recent past. We use the present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing events or activities which
started at a time in the past and are still continuing up until now.

i. I have written the Politics essay. Completed event.

ii. I have been writing the Politics essay. Ongoing activity: I’m still writing it.
iii. I have thought about buying a laptop. Suggests that I’m not thinking about it anymore.
iv. I have been thinking about buying a Focuses on the action of thinking over a period
new laptop for a while but I haven’t of time up to now.
decided which one to get.

Sometimes we can use either form and the meaning is the same:

i. I have lived here for 20 years.

ii. I have been living here for 20 years.

Warning:

The present perfect continuous form is not normally used with verbs that refer to actions that are
completed at a single point in time such as start, stop, finish:

i. Has the concert started already?

Not: Has the concert been starting already?

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Mental process and sense verbs

Some verbs are not used very often in the continuous form. We don’t use the continuous form with
verbs of mental process (know, like, understand, believe):

i. They haven’t known each other for very long.

Not: They haven’t been knowing each other for very long.

We don’t use the continuous form with verbs of the senses (hear, smell, taste):

i. Have you heard the news?

Not: Have you been hearing the news?

Spoken English:

In speaking you will sometimes hear these verbs used in the continuous form to refer to events that
are ongoing or temporary:

i. I’ve been hearing some strange noises coming from outside.

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 Present perfect: typical errors
➢ We don’t use since with periods of time:
i. I’ve lived here for most of my life.
Not: … since most of my life.

➢ We don’t use the present simple or the present continuous when we talk about ‘time up to
now’. We use the present perfect:

i. They’ve known each other since January.

Not: They know each other since January.
Not: They’re knowing each other since January.

➢ We usually use the present perfect simple with the first time when we’re talking about an
immediate, continuing or recent event:

i. Was that the first time you’ve played that song?

Not: Was that the first time you play that song?

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 Present simple: uses
General truths and facts

1) To talk about general facts that are always true and permanent about the world.
2) To talk about general facts that we think are true and permanent at the present time

1.Examples

ii. Ten times ten makes one hundred. (10 x 10 = 100)

iii. There is always a holiday on the last Monday in August in the UK.
iv. Time passes very quickly when you get older.

2.Examples

i. I really love my job.

ii. Mrs Clare doesn’t teach me but she teaches my sister.
iii. Do you live in Glasgow? My cousin lives there too.
iv. Spiders don’t frighten me.
v. Martha does what she wants. No one tells her what to do.

Regular and habitual events

3) To talk about regular or habitual events. We often use always, often, usually, sometimes,
never and other frequency adverbs for regular and habitual events.

3.Examples

i. How do you get to work? Do you get the bus?

ii. I read every night before I go to sleep.
iii. We always have a holiday in the summer. We never work in August.
iv. We usually fly to France when we go. Lorea doesn’t like the ferry. It makes her feel
sick.

Instructions and directions

4) When we are giving instructions or directions. We often use ordering words, such as and, first
and then with this use of the present simple.

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 4. Examples

i. You take the train into the city centre and then you take a number five bus. You
don’t get off at the museum. You get off at the stop after the museum.

ii. So what you do is … you read the questions first and then you write down your
answers in the box. You don’t write on the question paper.

Stories and commentaries

5) 5.To describe a series of actions – one action after another. We see this especially in stories,
summaries of stories or reviews.
6) 6.The present simple is often used by sports commentators to give commentaries or report
actions as they are happening:

5. Examples

i. Alex doesn’t ring back at midnight … she waits till the morning to ring, and
they get annoyed with Liz when she goes on … they know she’s got plenty of
money by their standards …

6. Examples

i. Mwaruwauri Benjani fouls Cahill. Habsi takes the free kick, Caicedo shoots and
volleys. O’Brien blocks.

Immediate reactions

7) 7.We use the present simple, often with verbs of senses and perception, to talk about feelings
and reactions at the moment of speaking.

7. Examples

i. Do you think that meat is ok to eat? It doesn’t smell very good.

ii. Where does it hurt?
iii. I don’t like the colour. I think I look terrible.
iv. It seems a bit quiet in here. Where is everyone?
v. Don’t you believe me? It’s true, honestly.

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I promise, I swear, I agree (speech act verbs)

8) We use the present simple with speech act verbs (verbs which perform the act that they
describe)
9) We also use the present simple in a similar way in formal statements and in business or legal
communications.

8. Examples

i. I will pay you back, I promise, when I get paid.

ii. I agree with everything you say.

9. Examples

i. I attach the original signed copies for your records.

ii. On behalf of the Society, and particularly those involved in medical work, I write to
thank you for your kind gift of £20,000 … (more formal than I’m writing to thank you
…)

Timetables and plans

10) 10. We use the present simple to talk about events that are part of a future plan or timetable
11) 11. We can also often use will in these sentences, with no change in meaning.

10. Examples

i. The lesson starts at 9.30 tomorrow instead of 10.30.

ii. Lunch is at 12.30. Don’t be late.
iii. What time do you land? (talking about a flight at some time in the future)
iv. They don’t start back to school until next Monday.

11. Examples

i. The lesson will start at 9.30 tomorrow instead of 10.30.

Present simple after when, before, etc.

12) We use the present simple for future reference in subordinate clauses after words like when,
before, as soon as, if and whether:

12. Examples

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 i. I’ll call you when I get there.
Not: I’ll call you when I’ll get there.
ii. Don’t forget to ring before you go.
Not: Don’t forget to ring before you’ll go.
iii. They hope to move in to the new house as soon as they get back from Australia next
month.
Not: … as soon as they’ll get back from Australia next month.

Present simple or present continuous?

Permanent and temporary

i. She lives with her parents. to talk about permanent facts and general truths.
In this example we don’t expect the situation to
change.
ii. She’s living with her parents. to talk about something temporary. In this
example we do expect the situation to change.
iii. They speak Portuguese in Brazil. A general, permanent fact.
iv. A: What language are they speaking? It’s happening now. I can hear it.
v. B: They’re speaking Portuguese.
vi. Hani smiles a lot. A general fact or characteristic about Hani.
vii. What are you smiling about? An action around now.

Verbs not often used in the present continuous

Some verbs are normally used in the present simple and not in the present continuous. Here are some
of them:

➢ mental process verbs: know, suppose, think, understand

➢ verbs expressing feelings: admire, adore, detest, hate, like, respect
➢ verbs describing the senses: smell, taste
➢ verbs describing permanent qualities: consist, contain, last
➢ speech act verbs: promise, swear

i. You could ask Greg if he can help. He knows a bit about cars.
Not: He’s knowing a bit about cars.

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 ii. Those batteries don’t last very long.
Not: Those batteries aren’t lasting very long.
iii. Each chapter contains authentic reading texts and a variety of listening and speaking
activities.
Not: Each chapter is containing …
iv. I swear I gave you back the keys.
Not: I’m swearing I gave you back the keys

Be in the present continuous

We use be in the present continuous to talk about current actions or behavior rather than about a
quality or characteristic.

i. I think she is being really really Her behaviors now.

rude.
ii. I think she is rude A characteristic of her; she’s a rude person.

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 Present: typical errors
1) We always use the -s form for third person singular present simple.
i. Good health depends on having a good diet.
Not: Good health depend on having a good diet.
ii. The building has three rooms.
Not: The building have three rooms.
2) We don’t use the present simple for actions that are going on at the present time. We use the
present continuous:
i. Look, she is winning!
Not: Look, she wins!
3) We use the present simple, not will, for future reference after words like when, before, as
soon as, if and whether:
i. We’ll come and pick you up as soon as you call.
Not: We’ll come and pick you up as soon as you’ll call.
4) We don’t use the present continuous for facts and permanent situations. We use the present
simple:
i. Six plus four makes ten. (6 + 4 = 10)
Not: Six plus four is making ten.
5) We don’t use the present continuous with some verbs, e.g. verbs expressing feelings,
describing senses, mental process verbs:
i. Horrible weather, isn’t it? But I hear it’s going to get better at the weekend.
Not: I’m hearing it’s going to get better.
ii. Some children hate playing any sport.
Not: Some children are hating …
6) We don’t use the present simple or the present continuous before since when we talk about a
specific time up to now. We use the present perfect:
i. I have been here since 4 o’clock.
Not: I’m here since 4 o’clock.

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 Present verb forms referring to the past

1) We commonly use the present simple to refer to the past when we want to make events sound
as if they are happening now. For example, news headlines are commonly written in the
present simple.

i. Rebels attack government buildings.

ii. German Finance minister resigns.

2) In formal writing the present simple is also used to refer to important events in the past.

i. In spring 1984 the government is defeated and an election takes place. By the end of
the year the strikes end.

3) We also use the present simple when we tell stories or jokes. It makes them sound more
immediate.

i. It’s seven o’clock in the evening and an old woman walks slowly out of her garden
and towards the bus stop. The soldier watches her and after a few minutes follows
her.
ii. A man walks into a restaurant with a monkey on his shoulder. The monkey says, ‘I’d
like soup please.’

4) We also use the present simple when we report what people say as part of a story:

i. It was only eleven o’clock and my mum says, ‘You’re late again.’ And I say, ‘No,
I’m not.’ Then my dad starts to shout.

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 Future

There is no future tense in English. We use several different ways to talk about the future. The most
common are:

i. They are going to build a new shopping center here. (Be going to)
ii. Leena is working in Singapore next week. (Present continuous)
iii. I think they will postpone the match. (Modal verb will)
iv. Nadia arrives in about half-an-hour from now. (Present simple)
v. I will be running ten kilometers a day for the next two weeks to get ready for the marathon.
(future continuous)
vi. We’re late. Do you think the lecture will have started? (Future perfect)
vii. We are just about to leave for the cinema. (be about to)
viii. The president is to visit Brazil in November. (be to)
ix. The visitors are due to arrive at the factory early in the morning. (be due to)
x. I was on the point of leaving my job but then I got promoted so I changed my mind. (be on
the point of)
xi. She promised she would return soon. (future in the past)
xii. They said they were having a holiday next April. (future in the past)

Will and shall: uses

Predictions

We use will and shall to make predictions and to state facts about the future.

i. There will be strong winds tomorrow in the south of the country.

ii. The year 2025 will be the four-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the university.
iii. We shall need an extra bedroom when the new baby arrives.

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Decisions and offers

Will and shall (usually in the short form ’ll) are used to announce decisions and to make offers:

[a salesperson in a clothes shop is talking to a customer]

i. A: Which size do you want? Medium or large?
B: I will have large. (decision)
ii. Wait. I will open the door for you. (offer)
Not: Wait. I open the door for you.
iii. I shall contact you again when I have further information

Shall with I and we

We can use shall instead of will with I and we in statements. Its use is more formal:

i. We shall never forget the holiday we had in Vietnam.

When we use shall I and shall we in questions it is usually to make suggestions rather than to refer to
future time:

i. It’s getting late. Shall we go home?

ii. Shall I invite Louisa and Jill to the party?

Future: be going to (I am going to work)

Be going to: form

We use be going to + the base form of the verb:

i. I am going to take a few exams at the end of the year.

ii. It is going to be difficult to get a job during the summer as the tourist industry is suffering
from the economic downturn.

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Be going to: uses

i. Be going to is commonly used in informal styles.

Intentions: We use be going to to talk about future plans and intentions. Usually, the decision about
the future plans has already been made:

i. She is going to be a professional dancer when she grows up.

ii. I am going to look for a new place to live next month.

Predictions: We use be going to to predict something that we think is certain to happen or which we
have evidence for now:

i. It is going to snow again soon. (The speaker can probably see dark snow clouds.)
ii. Look out! He is going to break that glass.

Commands: We use be going to when we give commands or state that something is obligatory:

i. You are going to pick up all of those toys right now. This room is a mess!

Gonna (informal contexts)

Spoken English:

We use gonna /gənə/ instead of going to in informal contexts, especially in speaking and in song
lyrics. We write gonna to show how to pronounce it:

i. Are you gonna try and get stuff sorted as soon as you can then? (Are you going to try and get
things organised as soon as you can?)
ii. One day I’m gonna be a star.

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Be going to or will?

Will is often used in a similar way to be going to. Will is used when we are talking about something
with absolute certainty. Be going to is used when we want to emphasize our decision or the evidence
in the present:

[An ‘A’ road is a main road. A ‘B’ road is a smaller road.]

i. We are now very late so we are going to take the ‘B’ road. (the speaker refers to the present
and emphasizes the decision)
ii. I know the ‘B’ road will be quicker at this time of day. (the speaker states a fact)

Be about to

We use be about to + base form of the verb to refer to things that we expect to happen very soon. We
often use it with just, for emphasis:

i. The ferry is about to leave.

ii. The driver is about to collect them. Shall I phone to stop him?
iii. We are just about to set off for a walk. Do you want to come?

Warning:

With time expressions, we don’t use be about to, we use the present simple:

i. Hurry up, please! The coach is about to leave!

ii. Hurry up, please! The coach leaves in five minutes!
Not: The coach is about to leave in five minutes!

Be on the point of

We can also use be on the point of + -ing form to refer to things that we expect to happen very soon.
Be on the point of is similar to be just about to:

i. I was on the point of leaving my job but then I got promoted so I changed my mind.

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Be due to

We use be due to + base form of the verb to talk about things that are scheduled:

i. The visitors are due to arrive at the factory at 10:30.

Be to

Be to + base form of the verb has a number of meanings. It is rather formal.

Obligations

Be to refers to what someone is obliged or required to do. We also use it to refer to formal decisions:

i. If I am not to tell anyone, then that’s simply not fair. [referring to an obligation]
ii. So, George is to contact the Stockholm office, and Patricia is to speak to the Elsico
representative. Agreed? [making decisions at a business meeting]

Commands and instructions

We can also use be to when we give someone commands or instructions:

i. You are to report to the head office by 8.30 am.

ii. She is not to be late. OK? (তার দেরর করা চলবে না।/তার সময়মবতা আসবত হবে)

Headlines

Be to is common in newspaper headlines to refer to events which have been fixed or decided. We
don’t always use the verb

i. Prime Minister to announce emergency plan on climate change. (a headline – used without a
verb)
ii. The Prime Minister is to announce an emergency plan on climate change. (Full form).

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 Future continuous: use
We use the future continuous to refer to temporary actions and events that will be in progress at a
particular time in the future

i. This time next week, I will be taking photographs with my new camera.
ii. I’ll post your letter for you. I’ll be passing a post-box.
iii. Next week they will be flying to Australia from Saudi Arabia.
iv. She will not be working on Tuesday.
v. Unfortunately, we won’t be attending the wedding.

Future perfect continuous: use

We use the future perfect continuous form when we are looking back to the past from a point in the
future and we want to emphasize the length or duration of an activity or event:

i. In September the head teacher will have been teaching at the school for 20 years.
ii. In September, she will have been living in France for a year.
iii. I will have been studying English for three years by the end of this course.
iv. We’re late. I think they’ll have been waiting for us. We’d better go.

Future perfect simple: use

We use the future perfect form when we look back to the past from a point in the future. We usually
use a time phrase, for example by tomorrow, for three years:

i. Do you think she’ll have seen the doctor by four o’clock?

ii. Next month my parents will have been together for thirty years.
iii. At the end of this month, they will have been in their house for one year.
iv. Next month I will have worked for the company for six years.
v. I think they’ll have got there by six o’clock.
vi. Won’t she have retired by the end of the year? (More common than will she not have
retired?)

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Future: present continuous to talk about the future (I’m working
tomorrow)

The present continuous can refer to the future. It shows that we have already decided something and
usually that we have already made a plan or arrangements:

[talking about plans for a tour by a rock music group]

i. The band is visiting Denmark next May.

ii. I am taking the train to Paris tomorrow.

Warning:

We don’t use the present continuous when we predict something. Instead, we use going to or will:

i. It is going to rain again soon.

Not: It’s raining again soon.

Future: present simple to talk about the future (I work tomorrow)

The present simple is used to refer to events in the future which are certain because they are facts, or
because there is a clear or fixed schedule or timetable:

i. Her birthday falls on a Friday next year. (a known fact about the future)
ii. She has her driving test next week, does she? (a fixed arrangement)
iii. The train arrives at 20.12. (a timetable)
iv. What time does their flight to Seoul leave? (a schedule)

Future: typical errors

➢ We don’t use the present continuous when we predict something:

i. You’re going to fail the exam unless you attend more classes.
Not: You’re failing the exam, unless …
➢ When we make an immediate decision, we use ’ll not will or shall or the simple present tense:
i. Wait a minute, I’ll lend you my car.
Not: … I shall lend you my car. or … I lend you my car.

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 Going to
Going to: present continuous

We use the present continuous form of the verb go + preposition to + noun phrase to talk about
movement in relation to a place or a person in the present:

i. Are you going to Maggie’s party tonight?

ii. I’m going to the shops. Do you want anything?

Going to: future

We can use a present form of be + going to + the base form of a main verb to talk about the future.
We use it for plans and intentions, predictions and commands:

i. I’m going to buy a new car next week. (plan or intention)

ii. You’re not going to do all this in an hour. There’s just too much to do. (prediction:
the speaker can see how much there is to do)
iii. I’m telling you; you’re going to do it. You don’t have a choice. (command)

Was going to

We use a past form of be + going to when we talk about a plan, we had that may have changed.

i. A: You’re not staying out in this rain, are B definitely intends to stay out in the rain.
you?
B: Well, I am going to, yes.
ii. A: You’re not staying out in this rain, are B intended to stay out but may have
you? changed his mind.
B: Well, I was going to, yes.

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