There are a number of state verbs in English;

we rarely use them in a continuous tense.

Existing or being be, consist of, contain, exist

belong to, have (=own), include, lack, own,

Possessing
possess. State verbs 'believe', 'have', 'like', etc.

adore, desire, despite, detest, dislike, envy,

Feeling or wanting hate, like, love, need, pity, prefer, trust,want,
wish.
They often describe states of being, thinking,
possessing or feeling.
believe, doubt, expect, feel (=think), forget,
imagine, intend, know, realize, recognize,
Thinking or believing
remember, see (=understand), suppose, think,
understand.
STATE VERBS
appearence appear, resemble, seem.

concern, cost, depend, deserve, fit, matter,

Other verbs
mean, measure, mind, weight.

It is possible to use many of the above verbs

in the continuous, but the verb either has a
different meaning or expresses a temporary
action. Using these verbs in the continuous

We use the present perfect continuous, often

with 'since' or 'for', to talk about an ongoing
situation or action which began in the past
and is still continuing, or has just finished.

We don't usually use the present perfect

continuous in the passive.

The present perfect simple often (but not

always) refers to a completed action, while
the continuous usually refers to an action that
Ongoing situations and actions.
is still ongoing.

When we use the continuous we focus on

duration, so we do not mention the number
of times that we have done an action.

If we give a number of times, we use the

present perfect simple,

The present perfect continuous can suggest

a temporary situation or action.

With 'lately' or 'recently', it often refers to new

developments which may be temporary.

We use the present perfect continuous + 'for',

not the present continuous, to specify the
Temporary situations.
duration of an activity which started in the
past and is still continuing.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS.
Verbs like 'live', 'work', 'study', 'teach' can be
used in either the simple or continuous with
little difference except that the present
perfect simple is seen as more permanent.

We can use the present perfect continuous

to explain a present result. The focus is on
the activity rather than the result. In this case,
we don't usually use time adverbs. Present results.

Completions

Repeated action
Present perfect simple
Permanent situation

Focus on present result Present perfect simple and continuous:

Differences.
Continuation

Duration of action
Present perfect continuous
Temporary situation

Focus on the activity

We use the present perfect simple to talk

about situations that started in the past and
are still continuing in the present.

We often use the prepositions 'for' and 'since'

with this use..

When we use 'since' to introduce a new

Ongoing situations and actions.
clause, we usually use the past simple after it.

But note the use of either the present perfect

os past simple after 'it's (weeks/years/ages) The present continuous + 'for' expresses a
since...' to express a period of time when we present situation continuing into the future,
haven't done something. NOT a situation that began in the past.

We can use the present perfect for

completed actions in the past if they may
happen again, i. e. if the time period in which
the actions took place has not ended.

Sometimes we know the time is not 'finished'

because of the time expressions.
Unfinished time periods.
British English uses the present perfect after
superlatives, ordinal numbers, often followed
by 'ever'.

These adverbs are very common with the Already, always, ever, never, often, recently,
present perfect. seldom, so, far, still, to, now, yet.
Adverbs often used with the present perfect.
We use 'already' with the affirmative but 'yet'
with the negative and in questions. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE.

We can use the present perfect simple to talk

about an action completed in the past which
has a present result.
Present results.
Common adverbs with this use of the present
perfect are 'just', 'recently' and 'lately'.

As the present perfect simple expresses

relevance to the present, news reports often
start with this tense, before moving into past
tenses.

Similarly, we often use it to introduce a new

topic of conversation. Other uses.

In time clauses we can use the present

perfect with future reference.

We use a past or past perfect form, not the

present perfect, to correct an incorrect belief
or expectation, or to confirm a correct one. Present perfect and past simple: differences.

We use the past perfect simple to describe a

single action, or repeated actions, completed
before a time in the past.

We often include a specific time reference,

such as a clause with 'when' or 'by the time'.

We also use this form to describe a situation

which existed before a past event.

We use the past perfect continuous to

describe an ongoing situation or action which
continued up to, or stopped just before, a Actions and situations before a time in the
time in the past, often with 'before' or 'by the past.
time'.

We often use the continuous with 'for' or '

since' when we want to focus on the duration
of an action.

We don't usually use the past perfect

continuous for actions and backgrounds
situations still continuing at the same time as
the past simple narrative. We prefer to use
the past continuous.

The past perfect simple often refers to a

completed action, whereas the past perfect
continuous may refer to an action that was
still ongoing at the time of the statement.

We do not mention the number of times that Completed and ongoing actions.
we have done an action when we use the
past perfect continuous.

We often use the past perfect to describe the

reason for a past action or situation. Past reasons.

We can use the past perfect with the past

simple to make a sequence of events clear.

We use the past perfect for the earlier action

and the past simple for the later one.
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE AND
CONTINUOUS.
We can use 'just' with the past perfect to
show that the earlier action was very recent.
Or we can use 'already' to show that the
action happened sooner than we expected.

We don't usually use the past perfect if the

sequence is obvious and the first action
Sequence of past actions.
makes the second happen.

We can use either the past perfect or the

past simple with time conjunctions, e. g. '
after', 'before', 'as soon as', 'when'.

With 'before' + past perfect the action in the

past simple happens first.
We use them with main verbs to form tenses,
We can use this pattern for a past action questions and negatives.
which prevented a later action from Be, Have, and Do
happening. Auxiliary verbs We don't use them with modal verbs.

We can use the past perfect with

superlatives, ordinals (the first, second, last,
etc.), the only, etc. + ever.
Is the same as the infinitive, except after he,
We use the past perfect with verbs such as ' Present simple she or it. We form the negative and questions of the
hope', 'expect', 'want', 'plan', 'think about', ' present and past simple with the auxiliary
wish' to describe past intentions which were Other uses Forming Present and Past simple We add -ed to the infinitive. The form is the do.
unfulfilled. tenses Past simple same for all persons except with be.

Remember that we don't usually use the

continuous form with state verbs. Ch. 5: TENSES
Present continuous am/is/are + -ing form of main verb.

We use this for completed actions in the past. Past continuous was/were + -ing form of main verb.
If the context is clear, it is not necessary to
give a past time reference. Present Perfect Simple Has/have + past participle have walked

- Actions happening at the same time. Present perfect continuous Has/have been + -ing form of the main verb.

Repeated actions Completed actions and situations (past Past perfect Had + past participle.
simple). Forming other tenses
We use the past simple for Sequences of actions Past perfect continuous Had been + -ing form of main verb.

One action resulting in another Be careful not to omit have with the present
perfect.
States in the past
Use to is followed by an infinitive. Notice the
The past continuous describes an action in possible spellings in questions and negatives.
progress at a point of time in the past; the
action began before this point of time and
continued after it.

Temporary

We often use the past continuous to show Changing or developing

that a past action was
Providing a background to completed past
actions

We can use the Past Continuous for two

actions in progress at the same time. Past actions and situations in progress (past
continuous).
We usually use the Past simple for repeated
actions in the past, but we can use the past
continuous if we want to emphasize that the
repeated action took place over a temporary
period.

As with the present continuous, we can use

the past continuous (with 'always' and other
adverbs) to talk about repeated actions that
happened very often, or to express
annoyance.

We use the past continuous to contrast an

PAST SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS; '
ongoing action with a single (past simple)
event which interrupts it. USED TO' AND 'WOULD'

We can put either clause first, and we can

use 'when', 'while' or 'as' to introduce the
Interrupted actions.
interrupted action.

We use 'when' (not while) to introduce the

interrupting (past simple) action.

We can use the past continuous to describe

past arrangements that may or may not have
taken place.

We often use verbs such as 'plan', 'expect', '

hope' for unfulfilled arrangements.
Other uses of the past continuous.
We can make requests, suggestions and
questions more tentative and polite by using
the past continuous. We often use the verbs '
think' and 'wonder'.

Both 'used to' and 'would' describe actions

which happened regularly in the past but no
longer happen or now happen with more or
less frequency.

To avoid confusion with other uses of 'would',

we usually mention the past time or situation.

We often continue with 'would' after a past

narrative has started with 'used to'.

We use 'used to', but NOT 'would' to describe

Used to and would.
past states which have changed.

Periods of time
We use the past simple, NOT 'used to', for
A number of times

Don't confuse 'used to' + infinitive with 'be/

get used to' which means 'be/become
accustomed to'.

Permanent situations, facts, things which are

generally true, opinions. We often use the present simple to describe

The present continuous describes a

temporary situation or action in progress at or
around the time of speaking. The action is
likely to continue after the time of speaking.

Common adverbs with this form are 'now', '

just', 'still', 'at the moment' and 'currently'.
Permanent and temporary situations
We use 'live', 'work' and 'stay' in the
continuous if the action is temporary.

We can use the present simple to draw

attention to someone arriving or leaving with '
here comes' and 'there goes'. These are
always present simple and appear before the
subject.

We use the present simple to describe things

that happen on a regular basis.

We often use the present simple with

adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes)
and expressions of frequency (every day,
once a week).

It is possible to use the present continuous to

talk about repeated events or actions, usually
if they happen within a temporary period.

We can use the present continuous for a Regular or repeated actions

series of actions that are more frequent than
we would normally expect.

We can use the present continuous with an

adverb such as 'always' 'forever' or '
continually' for frequently repeated actions.

This use is more emphatic than using the

present simple for repeated actions, and, with
a stressed adverb, expresses annoyance with Present simple or continuous?
the person who is doing the action.

We use the present simple to give directions

or instructions, often with impersonal 'you'.

This is similar to the imperative, but the

imperative can sound more abrupt.
Series of events/actions.
We use the present simple to express the
immediacy of an event, e. g. in sports
commentaries, particularly when the action is
over before the description finishes.

We use the present continuous to describe

pictures.

We can use the present continuous with the

present simple to give more immediacy to an
anecdote. We use the continuous for actions
which form a background and the simple for
Describing pictures, plots and telling
the actions that make up the narrative.
anecdotes.
This is often the way that we describe the
beginning of books, films or plays.

Newspaper headlines often use the present

simple to express a past event, which again
gives more immediacy to the event.

We use the present continuous to describe

things which are in the process of changing. Other uses

We use 'have' and 'be' to make perfect,

continuous and passive form of tenses.

We use 'do' (does/did) to form questions and

negatives in the present and past simple.
Uses of auxiliary verbs
It is possible to omit the auxiliary, and
sometimes the subject, in very informal
English and in headlines.

We usually use contracted auxiliaries in

speech and informal writing, either with the
subject or with 'not'.

'Has' and 'is' have the same contracted form '

s. Similarly, 'had' and 'would' are both
contracted 'd.

In spoken English (and when representing Use of contractions with auxiliaries

speech in writing), we can combine
contracted 'not' and contracted auxiliaries, e.
He shouldn't've done it. g. 've with modal verbs

We don't contract 'was'.

Exceptions and special cases
In formal English we don't use contractions
when there is more than one subject.

BE: exist, located in, behave.

DO: perform an action or complete a task. They can function as main verbs as well as
auxiliaries.
HAVE: to talk about possession, inclusion,
relationships, experiences, illnesses/ AUXILIARIES AND 'HAVE GOT'
disabilities and dreams, actions.

Sometimes we use 'have + noun' when there

is no single appropriate verb in English.
Be, have and do as main verbs
In British English we can use 'have' without
auxiliary 'do' in questions and negatives.

We DON'T usually use the passive of main

verb 'have'. When we do, it has the meaning '
be tricked or cheated'.

We use 'have got' as an alternative to 'have'

for possession and other states in the
present. It is generally preferred to 'have' in
informal British English, especially in the
negative.

We usually use a form of 'have', not 'have

got', to talk about past or future possession.

'Have got' and 'have' do not have continuous

or passive forms when they mean 'posses'.

We also use 'have/has/had got' as the

present/past perfect form of the verb 'get'.
Have got
We can use 'have got' as a perfect infinitive (
past form of the infinitive) with these
Obtain and receive meanings.

To describe actions

In short answers

In questions tags We don't use 'have got' in these ways

With 'used to'

As a perfect infinitive expressing 'posses'