Grammar Tenses

PRESENT TENSES
PRESENT SIMPLE. - (DO /DOES) (DON’T / DOESN’T) (S) (ES) (SS) (IES)
● For routines or regular repeated actions (always, usually, sometimes, etc)

● For present habits
● For permanent situations
● Scientific facts
1. We go running every evening
2. I generally park outside the library
3. They live in London
4. Water freezes at 0° C.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS. – (AM / IS / ARE)
● Dynamic verbs
● Actions happening now
● Plans for future
1. I think he is watching TV
2. I am playing soccer tomorrow at night.
PRESENT PERFECT. – (HAVE / HAS)
● To talk about single or repeated actions over a period of time (ever, never)
● To talk about recent single actions with a present result (just, already, yet)
● To talk about an unfinished period of time up to the present (for and since)
1. I have always wanted to be an actor / She has read that book twice/ Have you ever been
to Australia?
2. Have you finished your essay yet? / Our friends have just arrived / Our friends have
already arrived
3. I have been in love with her since 2002 / He has lived in England for five years
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS. - (HAVE BEEN / HAS BEEN)
● To talk about a recent activity when the effects of that activity can still be seen.
● To emphasise how long an action has been going on for
● A temporary situation
1. Why are you out of breath? I have been running
2. I have been cleaning the house all day
3. She has been living here for five years, but She is going to move soon.
PAST TENSES
PAST SIMPLE. - (DID / DIDN´T)
● To talk about a finished event that happened at a specific time in past

● To describe a sequence of finished events in chronological order
● To talk about habits in the past
● To talk about states in the past
1. I saw Paul last night. I went to Brazil five years ago
2. I took out my key, opened the door and walked in.
3. Did your parents read to you when you were younger?
4. When I was a child, I didn´t enjoy watching Tv at all.
PAST CONTINUOUS. - (WAS / WERE)
● To describe an action in progress in the past, often to set the scene for a particular event.
● To talk about temporary situations in the past.
● To talk about an event that was in progress in the past and was interrupted.
● To talk about multiple actions in progress at the same time in the past.
● To talk about anticipated events that didn´t happen.
1. I was sitting in the garden, reading a book.
2. Rodolfo was living in Mexico at the time.
3. I was going out of the house when I heard a noise.
4. While I was painting, you were watching TV.
5. We were going to Rome for a holiday, but then I broke my leg.
PAST PERFECT (had + past participle). -
● To refer to a time earlier than another past time, when this is needed to make the order of
events clear.
1. The bird´s wings had been clipped so it couldn´t fly.
2. By the time the fire engine arrived, the house had completely burned down.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS (had been + ing). -
● With action verbs to talk about longer continuous actions or situations that started before
the main events happened and have continued up to that point.
● With non-action verbs are not normally used in the past continuous or past perfect
continuous.
1. Lina was crying because she had been reading a very sad book
2. Lina didn´t want to see the film, because she had already read the book.
The past perfect continuous emphasizes the continuation of an activity. The past perfect
emphasizes the completion of an activity.
FUTURE TENSES
FUTURE SIMPLE (WILL) (WON´T)
● For predicting something based on our belief or our knowledge of characteristic behavior.
● For promises, threats, offers and requests.
1. This medicine will make you feel sleepy
2. You will feel better when you have had a good night´s rest
3. I promise I´ll pay the money back
4. I´ll meet you at the station if you want.
5. Shall I meet you at the station?
FUTURE GOING TO. - PRONOUN + AM /IS / ARE + GOING TO + COMPLEMENT
● To talk about things that have already been decided.

● To talk about things that are certain to happen because there is present evidence.
1. She´s decided she´s going to lose ten kilos.
2. Where are you going to have the wedding reception?
3. I´ve got no sense of direction, I know I´m going to get lost.
4. Look out, you are going to fall!!
*We use will /shall + infinitive without “to” to talk about future actions decided at the time of
speaking
1. I think I will give up smoking.

2. I will wear my black jacket.
FUTURE WITH PRESENT SIMPLE. –
● To talk about the future as expressed in timetables, regulations and programmes.

● In time clauses with a future meaning (after, as soon as, if, until, when).
1. The plane leaves at 8:45 am. When do the holidays begin?
2. I´ll see her when / as soon as she is free. Tom can´t apply for the job until he gets
the right qualifications
3. Give this to Susie if you see her
FUTURE WITH PRESENT CONTINUOUS. –
● For plans and arrangements in the future.

1.- Are you going out this evening?
FUTURE CONTINUOUS (WILL + BE+ ING). -
● To talk about an action will be in progress at a definite time in the future.

● To talk about an interrupted future action
● To talk about a supposition that may happen in the future.
1. I will be living a normal life by this time next year (Estaré viviendo…)
2. I will be cooking when you arrive
3. In 50 years, people will be owning a flying car.
FUTURE PERFECT (WILL /SHALL + HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE). -
● To describe something that will be completed before a definite time in the future.
1. By the end of June, I will have been at this school for a year. (Habré estado..)

Grammar Tenses

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PRESENT TENSES

● For routines or regular repeated actions (always, usually, sometimes, etc)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS. – (AM / IS / ARE)

PRESENT PERFECT. – (HAVE / HAS)

PAST SIMPLE. - (DID / DIDN´T)

● To talk about a finished event that happened at a specific time in past

PAST CONTINUOUS. - (WAS / WERE)

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS (had been + ing). -

FUTURE SIMPLE (WILL) (WON´T)

FUTURE GOING TO. - PRONOUN + AM /IS / ARE + GOING TO + COMPLEMENT

● To talk about things that have already been decided.

1. I think I will give up smoking.

FUTURE WITH PRESENT SIMPLE. –

● To talk about the future as expressed in timetables, regulations and programmes.

● For plans and arrangements in the future.

FUTURE CONTINUOUS (WILL + BE+ ING). -

● To talk about an action will be in progress at a definite time in the future.

FUTURE PERFECT (WILL /SHALL + HAVE+ PAST PARTICIPLE). -

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