TENSE REVIEW

PRESENT FORMS

PR

ESEN

T S

IMPLE

Permanent (changeless) situations or states

She works as a nurse.

She owns a large shop.

Repeated/habitual actions(especially with frequency adverbs)

I usually get up at 7.30.

Permanent truths or laws of nature

Money doesn’t buy happiness.

Water freezes at 0°C .

Timetables/Programmes

The match finishes at 7:45.

Reviews/sports/commentaries/dramatic narrative

Meryl Streep acts brilliantly in this film.

Time expressions;

Every day/week month/year

Usually

Often

Always

Rarely

Never

Sometimes

In the morning

In the evening

In the afternoon

At night

On Mondays etc.

PR

ESEN

T

CO

NTIN

UO

US

Temporary (changeable) situations

They’re staying at the Park Hotel at present.

Actions happening at or around the moment of speaking

She is looking for a better job.

I’m reading Elif Şafak’s Forty Rules of Love.

Repeated actions with “always” expressing annoyance or criticism

She is always interrupting me

Fixed arrangements in the near future

The Browns are visiting us tonight.

I’m flying to İstanbul this weekend.

Changing or developing situations

His English is getting better.

time expressions

Now

At the moment

At present

Nowadays

Today

Tonight

Always

Still

Right now etc.

PR

ESEN

T

PER

FEC

T

Recently completed actions which has evidence in the present

She has tidied her room.

(She has finished tidying her room. You can see it is tidy now. EVIDENCE IN THE PRESENT)

He has painted the room. (The paint is wet.)

Actions which happened at unstated past time.

He has lost his keys. (We don’t know when. )

He has sold his car. (When? We don’t know)

For actions which started in the past and continue up to the present

She has lived in this house for two years. (She still lives in this house.)

For past actions whose time is not mentioned but it is connected with the present.

I have seen Madonna. (I may meet her again; she’s still alive.-period of time not finished yet.)

Time expressions;

Just

Ever

Never

Already

Always

How long

So far

Recently

Today

This week

This month

Yet(negatives / questions)

Since(from a starting point in the past)

For (over a period of time)

PR

ESEN

T P

ER

F. C

ON

T

Actions started in the past and continuing up to the present

He has been writing a letter for two hours. (He stared two hours ago and still writing it.)

Past actions of certain duration which has visible results or effects in the present

She has been crying. (Her eyes are red.)

Actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism

Who has been using my toothbrush? (annoyance)

Emphasis on duration (usually with for, since or how long)

She’s been calling on client since this morning.

Time expressions;

How long

Since

for

NOTE

live, feel, and work can be used either in the Present Perfect or the Present Perfect Cont. with no difference in meaning.

I’ve been living in Rome for a year.

=

I’ve lived in Rome for a year.

PAST FORMS

PAS

T S

IMPLE

Complete action or event which happened at a stated past time. (In present Perfect time is not stated.)

She called an hour ago. (-When? -An hour ago.)

Past actions which happened one after the other.

She sealed the letter, put a stamp on it, and posted it.

Past habit or state

He used to go to school on foot.

He went to school on foot.

Action which happened at a definite past time although the time is not mentioned. This action is not connected with the present. (Remember the example about Madonna to compare it with Present Perfect)

Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays. (Shakespeare is now dead; he won’t write again.-period of time now finished.)

Time expressions;

Yesterday

Last (week, year, week etc. )

… ago

Then

Just now

When……

In 1986 etc.

PAS

T C

ON

TIN

UO

US

Action in the middle of happening at a stated past time

He was playing tennis at 4:30 yesterday

Past action in progress interrupted by another past action.

While I was getting dressed, the bell rang.

Two or more past actions happening at the same time

While I was sunbathing, Tim was swimming.

Description to events in a story

She was flying to Paris…

The sun was shining…

Time expressions;

While….

When…

As… etc.

FUTURE FORMS