PRESENT TENSES: PRESENT SIMPLE, PRESENT CONTINUOUS, PRESENT PERFECT

SIMPLE, PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS


1. PRESENT SIMPLE
a) uses:

*daily routines
*repeated actions
*habits
*permanent states/situations
*general truths/ facts
*instructions and directions
*stories and commentaries(We often use the present simple to describe a series of
actions– one action after another. We see this especially in stories, summaries of
stories or reviews).
*Immediate reactions (We use the present simple, often with verbs of senses and
perception, to talk about feelings and reactions at the moment of speaking:

examples: Do you think that meat is ok to eat?

It doesn’t smell very good.
Where does it hurt?

*I promise, I swear, I agree (speech act verbs)- We use the present simple with
speech act verbs (verbs which perform the act that they describe):
examples: I will pay you back, I promise, when I get paid.
I agree with everything you say.

*Timetables and plans: to talk about events that are part of a future plan or timetable.

*Present simple after when, before, etc.- We use the present simple for future reference in
subordinate clauses (подчинени изречения) after words like when, before, as soon
as, if and whether:
examples: I’ll call you when I get there.
Don’t forget to ring before you go.
*Newspaper headlines-We often see the present simple in news headlines to report past
events. It emphasises the drama or immediacy of an event:
examples: A Man rescues a child from lake.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
a) uses:

*Events at the time of speaking/events which are in progress at the moment of speaking.
*Temporary states-to talk about temporary states which are true around the moment of
speaking.
*Repeated temporary events-we use the present continuous to describe actions which are
repeated or regular, but which we believe to be temporary:
examples: I’m not drinking much coffee these days I’m trying to cut down.
She’s working a lot in London at the moment. (She doesn’t usually work in London.)
*Change- we use the present continuous to talk about a gradual change:
Examples: They’re building a new stand at the football ground.
Maria, 37, is getting better and doctors are optimistic she will make a full recovery.
Recent evidence suggests that the economic situation is improving.

*Regular unplanned events-We often use the present continuous with words
like always, constantly, continually and forever (adverbs of indefinite frequency) to describe
events which are regular but not planned, and often not wanted/annoying.
example: I’m constantly spilling things.

*Plans and arrangements-we use the present continuous to refer to the future when we talk
about plans and arrangements that have already been made.

b) State and action verbs

A verb refers to an action, event or state.

*Action-We can use the simple or continuous form of action verbs:
Examples: I cleaned the room as quickly as possible.
She’s watching television at the moment.

*Event

We can use the simple or continuous form of event verbs:

Examples: Four people died in the crash.
It’s raining again.

*State

We usually use the simple form rather than the continuous form of state verbs:
Examples: I don’t know the name of the street.
Who owns this house?
Some verbs can be used to talk about both states and actions, but with different meanings:

state (usually simple form) action (simple or continuous)

I come from France. (This is where She is coming from France on Wednesday.
my home is.) He came from Italy yesterday. (travel from)
state (usually simple form) action (simple or continuous)

She is very friendly. (permanent She is being very unfriendly. (temporary

quality or state) behaviour)

We’re having a meeting to discuss it. (hold a

meeting)
We have two dogs. (own)
We had mussels for starter and prawns for main
course. (eat)

Jane is seeing her boss today and she’s going to

Do you see what I tell him she’s leaving.
mean? (understand) I don’t see Rebecca at work any more since I
moved office. (meet)

What are you looking at?

Your dress looks nice. (appear) I never look at the price on the menu. (see with
your eyes)

Spoken English:
In very informal speaking you will sometimes hear state verbs used as action verbs when
they refer to actions over short periods. These uses are not usually found in traditional
grammar books.
Compare

I like reading. Like used as a state verb describing a permanent fact about me.

I’m not liking this Like used as an action verb referring to the book I am reading but
book. not enjoying at the moment.

Compare

She loves classical music. Love used as a state verb to refer to a permanent fact about
her.

She’s loving the CD you Love used as an action verb referring to the CD which she is
gave her. listening to and liking very much at the moment.

Stative (or State) Verb List

 like know belong

love realise fit

hate suppose contain

want mean consist

need understand seem

prefer believe depend

agree remember matter

mind recognise see

own appear look (=seem)

sound taste smell

hear astonish deny

disagree please impress

satisfy promise surprise

doubt think (=have an opinion) feel (=have an opinion)

wish imagine concern

dislike be have

deserve involve include

lack measure (=have length etc) possess

owe weigh (=have weight)

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

 Be

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or
'acting'

 you are stupid = it's part of your personality

 you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think

 think (stative) = have an opinion

I think that coffee is great
 think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday

Have

 have (stative) = own

I have a car
 have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See

 see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand

I see what you mean
I see her now, she's just coming along the road
 see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years
I'm seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste

 taste (stative) = has a certain taste

This soup tastes great
The coffee tastes really bitter
 taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup

('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')

3. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

a) uses:
*Experiences-We use the present perfect simple to talk about our experiences up to now.
The time of the experiences is not important. e often use ever, not … ever and never when
we talk about experiences.

We often use the present perfect simple for a unique experience when we are using a
superlative:
example: It was the best decision I have ever made in my life.

*Recent completed events- We use the present perfect simple to talk about a finished event
or state in the very recent past. We do not give a specific time. We often use words
like just or recently for events taking place a very short time before now:
examples: What’s just happened?
Niki and John have just come back from a week in Spain.

*Past events, present results- we use the present perfect simple when a single past action
has a connection with the present:

examples: He’s broken her arm in two places. (Her arm is still broken now.)
Why haven’t you dressed in something warmer? (You got dressed in the past but
the clothes are not warm enough for now.)
A fire has broken out at a disused hotel on the seafront. (The fire is burning now; it’s
a recent event too.)
Your flowers haven’t arrived. (Your flowers are not here; they were supposed to
arrive in the past.)
*Time + for and since-We use the present perfect simple with for and since to talk about a
present situation that began at a specific point in the past and is still going on in the present.
We are looking back from the present to a point in the past.

*We often use expressions with for and since to answer the question How long …+ present
perfect simple. We use the How long …? question to ask about the duration of a state or
activity:
Examples: How long have you worked there?
Since 21 August. So for about four months.

* Yet-We use yet + the present perfect simple, mainly in questions and negative statements,
to refer to things we intend to do in the future but which are not done:

examples: Don’t wash up that cup. I haven’t finished my coffee yet. (I intend to finish it.)

* Already- we use already + the present perfect simple when we want to emphasise that
something is done or achieved, often before the expected time:
Example: I’ve already booked my flight home.

* Still- we use still + the present perfect simple when we want to emphasise that something
we expected to happen continues not to happen:

Example: She still hasn’t said sorry to me.

* Introducing past time events- the present perfect simple is often used in newspaper
headlines or TV news programmes to report a recent past event. It is then followed by a
series of verbs in the past simple (underlined):

Example: Charlton Heston has died aged 84, a spokesman for his family has said.
Heston died on Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills. His wife Lydia, whom he married in
1944, was at his side. Heston won a best actor Oscar for his starring role in the epic ‘Ben
Hur’.
We can also use the present perfect simple to introduce an ‘open’ general point about
something. We can then use the past simple (underlined) to give more detailed specific
information:
Have you seen any Arthur Miller plays? I saw a fantastic production of ‘The Crucible’.

American English

In American English the past simple is often used instead of the present perfect simple, often
with already and yet.
Compare

American English British English

Did you eat (yet)? Have you eaten (yet)?

Did you finish (already) Have you finished (already)
? ?

4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

a) uses:

* Recent past activities-we use the present perfect continuous to talk about a finished activity
in the recent past. Using the present perfect continuous focuses on the activity.We don’t give
a specific time. Even though the activity is finished, we can see the result in the present:

Examples: I’ve just been cleaning the car. (The car is wet and clean.)
It’s been snowing. (The ground is covered in snow.)

* One continuing event- we use the present perfect continuous for a single activity that began
at a point in the past and is still continuing:
Examples: I’ve been reading your book – it’s great. (I’m still reading it.)
He’s been living in the village since 1995. (He is still living in the village.)

* Repeated continuing events-we use the present perfect continuous to talk about repeated
activities which started at a particular time in the past and are still continuing up until now:

Examples: I’ve been going to Spain on holiday every year since 1987.
 I haven’t been eating much lunch lately. I’ve been going to the gym at lunchtimes.

* How long …?- we often use the present perfect continuous to ask and answer questions
about the duration of an activity. We use the question How long …+ present perfect
continuous:

Examples: A: How long have you been waiting for me?

B: About ten minutes. Not too long. (I’ve been waiting for about ten minutes.)