Present Simple Present Continuous

(PRESENT INDEFINITE) (PRESENT PROGRESSIVE)

1. for permanent states, repeated actions and daily 1. for actions taking place now, at the
routines moment of speaking
Mr. Freeman works in a bank. (permanent state)
He takes the train to work every morning. (daily routine/repeated actions) What are you doing, Jack? Are you reading a book?
No, I’m getting ready for tomorrow’s grammar test.
2. for general truths and laws of nature
2. for temporary actions; that is, actions
The sun sets in the west.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
that are going on around now, but not
at the actual moment of speaking
3. for timetables (planes, trains, etc.) and programmes
My older sister is looking for a new job these days.
The plane from Brussels arrives 8:30. (She is not looking for a job at the moment of speaking.)
When does this shop open?
4. for sports commentaries, reviews and narration,
3. to express annoyance, irritation or anger
opera and theatre librettos, stage directions for actions, which happen very often,
Peterson overtakes Williams and wins the race. (sports commentary)
usually, with adverbs such as:
Mike Dalton plays the part of Macbeth. (review) always, constantly, continually
Then the prince gets on his horse and quickly rides away. (narration)
I'm always meeting Sara when I go shopping,
5. to give instructions or directions (instead of the (action which happens very often and the speaker is displeased with it)
imperative mood) You're constantly interrupting me when I'm talking,
(expressing annoyance, irritation)
You sprinkle some cheese on the pizza and then you bake it,
(instead of: “Sprinkle some cheese on the pizza...”) 4. for already arranged future actions,
6. in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the especially when the time and place
following conjunctions: have been decided
They're moving into their new house next week.
when if as long as as soon as in case
(The time has been decided.)
unless before till until while after
5. for changing or developing situations
7. with stative verbs instead of Present Continuous More and more species are becoming extinct.
I hate when it drizzles like this. More and more forest are disappearing because of fires.
The cake smells delicious.
6. With the following time expressions
8. With the following time expressions (adverbial (adverbial modifiers of time):
modifiers of time:
• Usually • From time to time now at the moment nowadays today
• Often • now and then at present = these days still tonight
• Always
• everyday/week/month/ year
• Seldom
• Occasionally • in the morning/
afternoon/evening
• Sometimes
• Ever • at night, at the weekend
• Rarely • on Mondays, etc.
• Never
• Permanently
9. To make sentences in Present Indefinite more
emphatic auxiliary verbs “do” or “does” are added
in affirmative sentences
I do want to meet your parents
Fiona does insist on your going to Kiev.

10. Note should be taken about questions to the

subject which are asked without an auxiliary verb
and with the direct order of words
Who usually cooks in your family? – Our mum does.
 Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous
(PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE)
1. Present perfect connects the past and the present. That
is, it describes actions, which started in the past and 1. Present Perfect Continuous is used to put
continue up to the present or actions, which were emphasis on the duration of an action, which
completed in the past but whose results affect the present. started in the past and continues up to the
Mrs. Swift has looked after little children all her life. present, especially with time expressions such
I’ve done all my work for today and I’m free now. as for, since, all morning/day/week,etc.
2. Used to describe an action which started in the past Sarah has been picking vegetables for two hours. (She started
and continues up to the present, especially with stative picking vegetables two hours ago and she is still picking them now.)
I have been learning to drive since September.
verbs such as have, like, know, be, etc. In this case,
prepositions for and since are often used 2. Present Perfect Continuous is also used for an
They have been friends for twenty years. action which started and finished in the past
(They met each other twenty years ago and they are still friends.) and lasted for some time. The result of the
They have been friends since they met in 1990. action is visible in the present.
3. Used for an action, which has recently finished and He is dirty. He has been playing football. (He is no longer playing
whose result is visible in the present. football, but the fact that his clothes are dirty is visible now.)
Have you been crying? Your eyes are red and swollen.
Look at my basket. I’ve picked a lot of apples.
(The apples are in the basket, so the action has finished.) NOTE: With the verbs to feel (have a particular
4. Used in clauses of time and condition for an action, emotion), to live, to work and to learn Present
which will be over before a certain moment in the future Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous can be used
with no difference in meaning.
The doctor will stay with us until your sister has fully recovered.
Could you wait till I have made these sandwiches? He has felt/ has been feeling unwell all morning.

5. Used for an action, which happened at an unstated time 3. Present Perfect Continuous is also used in
in the past. The exact time is not important, so it is not clauses of time and condition for an action,
mentioned. The emphasis is placed on the action which will be in progress for some time before
Paul has broken his arm. (The exact time is not mentioned because what is a certain moment in the future
important is the fact that his arm is broken.) I’m sure she’ll get used to our way of life after she has been staying
with us for a couple of weeks.
6. Also used for an action which has happened within a
specific time period, which is not over at the moment 4. Present Perfect Continuous is used to express
of speaking, such as today, this morning, this anger, annoyance or irritation
afternoon/week/month/year, etc. Who has been reading my business papers and misplaced them?
Pat has received three faxes this morning. (The speaker is irritated.)
(The action has been repeated three times up to now and may happen again
because the time period - this morning - is not over yet.)
5. Both Present Perfect and Present Perfect
Continuous are used with the following time
7. Usually used in the attributes the first, the second, expressions (adverbial modifiers of time):
the only
It is the only book the writer has written. How long…? for (duration)
8. Used for ‘breaking the news’ since (starting point) lately /recently
Mum, I have got married!
9. Used to speak about people’s life experiences
I have been to many European countries.
10. Used to speak about a series of repeated actions in
the recent past
Maria has typed ten reports today.
11. Is preferably used in negative sentences
instead of Present Perfect continuous
What has Bertha been doing all day?
I don’t know for sure, but I do know that she hasn’t lazed about.
12. Used with the following time expressions (adverbial
modifiers of time):
already yet just always,often
ever,never so far lately,recently
NOTES (Pr.P time expressions (adverbial modifiers of time)):
• “Yet” and “already” in general interrogative sentences have different meaning.
“Already” is used to show surprise,
e.g. Have you already done your homework? It can’t be so!
You began only 10 minutes ago.
“Yet” has no emotional colouring,
e.g. Have you done your homework yet? Good. Now we can play football.
• “Recently” = not long ago = недавно
• “Lately” = recently, in the recent past = в последнее время; за последнее время
• “For” ≠ ‘during”.
“During” is used to say “when” something happened and is used with past tenses,
e.g. It rained all Monday but stopped raining during the night.
Paul was ill for a week and during that time he didn’t eat anything.
“For” answers the question “how long?” and can be used with all tenses,
e.g. I’m going to stay in Kiev for 3 weeks. (present continuous)
I stayed in Kiev for 3 weeks last year. (past indefinite)
I have stayed in Kiev for 3 weeks already. (present perfect)
I have been staying in Kiev for 3 weeks already. (present perfect continuous)
I had stayed in Kiev for 3 weeks before moving to Lviv. (past perfect)
How long will you stay in Kiev? – I’m not sure. Probably, I will stay for three weeks.
(future indefinite)