TENSE REVIEW

ASK YOUR PARTNER

What do you usually do on the weekend?

Where do you normally buy your groceries?

Do you ever go to the gym? How often?

Do you often watch scary movies?

What do you bring to class with you every day?

The Simple Present Tense Expresses a habit or often repeated action. Adverbs of

frequency such as, often, seldom, sometimes, never, etc. are used with this tense.

She goes to work everyday.

They always eat lunch together.

The Simple Present Tense This tense also expresses general truths or facts that are

timeless.

Snow falls in the December in Minnesota.

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

simple present tense

Indicators

Always Whenever Everyday

Usually Often Frequently

Sometimes Rarely Occasionally

never

Check your knowledge!Answer the questions:

Where do polar bears live?

How many legs does a butterfly have?

What country does the football player Ronaldinho come from ?

How many strings does a violin have?

Fill the blanks using the frequency adverbs

Hi Jessica

Now Guess….

What do you think is happening at the party now?

The Present Progressive This tense is used to describe an action that is occurring

right now (at this moment, today, this year, etc.). The action has begun and is still in progress.

She is typing a paper for her class.

He can’t talk. He is fixing the sink right now.

The Present Progressive The present progressive can also be used to describe an

action that is occurring in the present, but is temporary.

John is living in Modesto, but he might move soon.

The Present Progressiveto criticise somebody or something with always,

continuously, and forever.

You are always lying to me.She is continuously complaining about

the system.They are complaining about the school

forever.

Item 12

The Present Progressiveto talk about actions which are

gradually changing.

It is getting darker.My English is improving.Our sales are increasing.

Item 13

The Present Progressivebut present continuous tense can not be

used with stative verbs.

I do not understand you.We do not like it.They look very happy right

now.This sounds weird.

Item 15

However, some stative verbs can be used with present continuous tense when there is a change in their meaning.

This soup smells good. --- I am smelling the soup.

It tastes bad. --- I am tasting it.I see you are right. --- I see you playing

soccer there. --- I am seeing a doctor.She looks very sad. --- She is looking

at you.I have this table. --- I am having

dinner.It weighs one hundred kilos. --- I am

weighing this.I expect you will pass. --- We are

expecting a baby.I feel you are right. --- I am feeling

very well today. Item 16

Past Simple&Past ContinuousAsk the Qs to your friend:

1) What was the last movie that you watched ?

2) Where did you spend your last holiday?

3) Did you study for the finals or was it just luck that passed to level D ? :S

4) If the answer to the 3rd question is “No”, what were you thinking?

The Simple Past The simple past is used to describe actions and/or events

that are now completed and no longer true in the present.

I attended MJC in 1998. (I no longer attend MJC.)

I saw a movie every weekend when I was a teenager. (I don’t see movies very much anymore.)

Simple Past Tense

Indicators

Last night, week, year, month, Saturday,semester, etc.

Yesterday

ago

The Past Progressive The past progressive is used to talk about an activity that

was in progress at a specific point of time in the past. The emphasis is on the duration of the activity in the past.

I was studying for an exam while my mother was cooking dinner.

We were walking in the park around 7 p.m. last night.

The Past Progressive The past progressive is often used with the simple past

to show that one action was in progress when another action occurred.

I was taking a bath when the doorbell rang.

They were eating dinner when the neighbors stopped by for a visit.

• When can be used with a past simple and past continuous tense verb.

He was preparing his presentation when the accident happened.The accident happened when he was preparing the presentation.

• When can be used with ages and states. We played games together when we were children.

• When can be used to join past simple events that are consecutive.

When the door was knocked, my wife opened it.

• While is used only with a past continuous tense verb.

The accident happened while he was preparing the presentation.

• As is used to combine two short past events happening at the same time.

As he drove fast, he became more careful.As he was working, he phoned me.As he was studying, I was making the dinner.

While and As

US

ED

TO

+ V

1USE ONLY FOR PAST HABITS!

USED TO & WOULD “Would” and “used to” to talk about about “our past

activities”.

They would/used to do breakfast every day when they were in the camp.

Last year I would/used to study English every day to pass the prep-school.

He would/used to talk on the phone for long hours before he did his military service.

“Used to” VS “Would”

“Used to” and “would” are used to talk about our repeated past actions, but “would” can not be used to talk about past states.

I used to / would study lesson before I deserved to register a university.

Past states are related to possession, mind, and being (remember what state verbs are).

I used to/would think the earth was the center of the universe.

I used to/would have a car when I was at high school.

She used to/would be the most hardworking students there.

WO

ULD

+ V

1

When I was at faculty, I used to / would get up very early and prepare breakfast.

but…

When I was at faculty,I used to/ would think that the lifeis so cool.

would + V1not with past states

USED TO

When I was young, we………………. In a big

house in the country side. On summer

mornings, we ……………. while everyone was

asleep. I ………………. breakfast for myself

and creep out of the house to go fishing. I

…………….. hours fishing in a small river near

our house. Once, I……………. an enormous

trout.

used to live

used to get up

used to make used to

spend

caught

Get up- spend – catch - live-- make

The Present Perfect The present perfect is used to talk about an event that

began in the past and continues up to the present.

He has lived in Modesto for two years.

(He began living in Modesto two years ago and he still lives there.)

The Present Perfect The present perfect is also used to talk about an event

that was completed in the past, but the specific time of the event is not important.

I have seen that movie before.

He has already visited Vietnam.

(Specific dates and times are not mentioned.)

Present Perfect Tense

Indicators

PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT vs. PAST SIMPLE

Time expressions

AlreadyEverFor

LatelyNever

RecentlySinceyet

Ago

2003

Last week

On my birthday

Then

When

yesterday

Perfect tense

Past tense

Sally wants to go to a law school and is being interviewed by John Smith, one of the lecturers 

John : Right Sally. Let’s find out something about you. When (you/graduate) _______________ from high school ?

Sally : Two years ago.

John : What (you/do) ________________ since then ?

Sally : I (have) _____________________ some work experience.

 John : What job (you/do) ____________ first ?

Sally : I (work) _______________ as a shop assistant first ; but some customers (be) __________________

too difficult to handle, so I (start) _________________ working as a taxi driver. I really (need) __________________ to save some money for my future education.

 John : How long (you/work) ___________________ as a shop assistant?

Sally : Nearly for three months. And since then I (be)________________ a taxi driver.

John : How much (you/save) _________________ so far ?

Sally : About $ 2000.

John : That’s quite good. Good luck in your future career.

Present Perfect Progressive This tense is used to describe the duration of an action

that began in the past and continues into the present.

He has been studying grammar for an hour.

She has been cooking all day.

(He is still studying and she is still cooking.)

Present Perfect Progressive This tense is also used to describe events that have been

in progress recently and are rather temporary.

She has been living in Taiwan for the last two months, but she plans to move soon.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

It began raining two hours ago.

It is still raining now.

*It has been raining for two hours.

This is the present

perfect continuous

tense.

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

Jane started to work in her garden at 8:00 this morning. Now it is 12:00.

She has been working in her garden for 4 hours!

Wow! She must be tired now!

Where’s Kelly?

She’s sleeping.

She’s been sleeping for a long time.

Sam and Paul are talking in the hallway. They

have been talking

since class ended.

Present perfect progressiveWe use it for changes.

The village has been growing.

Their music has been getting more popular.

Present Progressive Tense

Indicators

Right now, at thismoment

Still

This year, week,month, etc.

As we speak

What is the difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive?

There is almost no difference in meaning.

How long have you been living here?

How long have you lived here?

(=The same meaning)

What is the difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive?

If you say: “I have been writing for 5 hours.”

The important thing in the sentence is the time.

If you say: “I have written thirty pages.”

The important thing in the sentence is number of pages.

When can’t you use Present Perfect Progressive?

With non-progressives.

You can say: “I have known Alex for 20 years.”

You can’t say: “I have been knowing Alex for 20 years.”

With experiences.

You can say: “I have flown twice before.”

You can’t say: “I have been flying twice before.”

Wıth expressions such as already, just, yet

You can say: I have already had my lunch.

You can’t say: “I have already been having my lunch”

Exercise : Look at the chart and make

sentences using present perfect progressive and present perfect tense.

Thanks!