PRESENT TENSES

FORM USE
Aff: V adds –s for 3rd person Routines
Present Simple
Neg: don’t/doesn’t+V Stative verbs: opinion (think, believe consider...); likes and dislikes (like, prefer, love...);
possession (have, own...); perception (look like, seem...)
Questions: Do/Does+S+V?
Adverbs of frequency: always, almost always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, seldom,
never. Other expressions that imply frequency: every X, on Mondays, once a week...
Present Continuous Aff: Be (am, is, are) + V + ing Actions that are ongoing at the moment of speaking

Neg: Be (‘m not, isn’t, aren’t) (Right) now, at the moment, currently...
+ V + ing After calls of attention to the listener such as: Look!, Listen!
Questions: Be (am, is, are) + V
+ ing EXCEPTION: He is always complaining!  When we want to emphasise the action is constant
Present Perfect Aff: have/has + participle 1. Actions that started in the past and continue in the present
(Simple) 2. Actions that started in the past and have just finished
3. Life experiences that are considered special or unique (and not routines)
Neg: haven’t/hasn’t +
participle For/Since  I have worked in this school for three months/since September.
Just  I have just finished my homework.
Questions: have/has + S + Ever  Have you ever climbed a mountain?
participle? So far/until now  Have you understood so far? (fins ara)
Lately/Recently  Things have changed lately (darrerament)
Present Perfect Aff: have/has + been + V + I have written a thousand letters vs. I have been writing letters all day.
(Continuous) ing - The first sentence emphasised the action and the second one emphasises the duration of
the action
Neg: haven’t/hasn’t + been +
V + ing How long have you been waiting for me?  Emphasis on duration. We are not interested in who
Questions: have/has + S + or where you have waited, but the time.
been + V + ing?
“You look tired!” “Yes, I have been running this afternoon”  Another use is when you can still
see the consequences of a recent action.
PAST TENSES

FORM USE
Aff: V + ed /2nd c. irreg verbs Finished actions in the past
Past Simple Neg: didn’t + V
Questions: did + S + V?
Aff: was/were + V + ing Actions that were ongoing in a particular moment in the past
Past Continuous Neg: wasn’t/weren’t + V + ing
Questions: Was/Were + S + V
+ ing?

PAST SIMPLE AND PAST CONTINUOUS COMBINED

1. Actions happen chronologically, one after the other: Past Simple, Past Simple (e.g. I woke up, I had a shower, I went to school...)
2. Actions happen at the same time, simultaneously: Past Continuous, Past Continuous (e.g. I was sleeping and he was studying)
3. A short action (Past Simple) happens in the middle of a longer action (Past Continuous) (e.g. I was walking when I fell)

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAST SIMPLE AND PRESENT PERFECT

I have lived in New York for a year vs. I lived in New York for a year.
In the first sentence, I still live in New York or I just came back. In the second sentence, the action is finished, and now I live somewhere else.
This vs. Last
e.g. It has rained a lot this year vs It rained a lot last year

Aff: had + participle

Past Perfect (Simple) An action that happens BEFORE another action the past.
Neg: hadn’t + participle
Questions: had + S + When I arrived, the film had started = The film started BEFORE I arrived.
participle?
Aff: had + been + V + ing Same cases as Present Perfect Simple but in the past.
Past Perfect Neg: hadn’t + been + V + ing
(Continuous)
Questions: had + S + been +
V + ing?
FUTURE TENSES

FORM USE
Aff: will + inf Predictions: Humans will live on Mars in the future.
Will + Inf
Neg: won’t + inf Spontaneous decisions: Are you thirsty? I will give you some water.

Questions: will + S + inf?

Aff: Be (am, is, are) + going Plans: I’m going to visit Peru this summer.
Be going to + Inf to + inf
Neg: Be (‘m not, isn’t, aren’t) Actions for which there is evidence: Look at the clouds! It’s going to rain!
+ going to + inf
Questions: Be (am, is, are) + S Warnings: Be careful! You’re going to fall!
+ going to + inf
Aff: Be (am, is, are) + V + ing Immediate plans in which you take active part
Present Continuous Neg: Be (‘m not, isn’t, aren’t)
+ V + ing e.g. I am going to the dentist (this afternoon, tomorrow, next Monday, next week...)  You don’t
Questions: Be (am, is, are) + V go to the dentist if you don’t call to make an appointment.
+ ing
Aff: V adds –s for 3rd person Timetables: someone else decides the time, you cannot decide.
Present Simple Neg: don’t/doesn’t+V
e.g. The train leaves at 9. The school year starts in September.
Questions: Do/Does+S+V?

*As soon as, before, after, until  when used in the future they are ALWAYS followed by a Present Simple or Present Perfect

e.g. I will call you as soon as he arrives.

* Future Continuous  WILL + BE + GERUND  used for future actions that will take place at a specific time in the future.

e.g. I will be sleeping tomorrow at 8 because I don’t have school.

* Future Perfect  WILL+HAVE+PARTICIPLE  used for future actions that will be finished at a specific time in the future.

e.g. I will have finished the project by the time you come back.