SIMPLE PRESENT PRESENT CONTINUOUS PRESENT PERFECT PRES. PERFECT CONTIN.
FORM: verb + (e)s - pers.3 sg. TO BE + verb + ing HAVE/HAS + verbed/3 HAVE/HAS + BEEN + verb-ing
USES: 1. habitual actions USES: 1. actions developing USES: 1. action started in the USES: 1. actions started in the
(usually, generally, every day) NOW past that comes up to the past that continue in the present
He works in the currency department. The clerk is talking with the customer present (SINCE/FOR) (SINCE/FOR)
He hasn’t received the statement for 1 month He has been working in this company for more
2. actions repeated too often than 5 years.
2. general truths 2. actions finished in an
Money makes the world go round which disturb
The employees are always finding faults with indefinite past 2. to give the reason for a
the management.
He has received the statement.
present result
Why is the file misplaced? Nick has been using
3. future objective actions 3. future (subjective) plans it.
The new branch opens (will open) in May next The manager is traveling (will travel) to Vienna 3. With time markers: EVER,
year.
next weekend. NEVER, SELDOM, JUST,
ALREADY, YET.
He hasn’t received the statement yet
? DO/DOES ? INVERSION ? INVERSION ? INVERSION
SIMPLE PAST PAST CONTINUOUS PAST PERFECT PAST PERFECT CONTIN.
FORM: - VERB-ED WAS/WERE + verb + ing HAD + verbed/3 HAD + BEEN + verb-ing
VERB3 USES: 1. action in
USES: 1. actions finished in a development in the past (at this USES: 1. past action finished USES: past action that
definite past (yesterday, last time yesterday) before another past action continued up to another past
year, an hour ago…) At this time yesterday they were checking the He had worked in a tourist agency before he action
balance sheet. moved to our human resources department
Between 2002 – 2004 he worked in the
accounts department.
2. two parallel actions in They had been developing the product for more
development in the past HARDLY…..WHEN than a year before it was launched on the
While they were checking the balance sheet the NO SOONER……THAN market.
2. past habits secretary was typing the report.
He used to be / was a well-organized manager.
3. past continuous + simple
3. questions asking When….. past
When did they make the transaction? The manager arrived while they were checking
the balance.
? DID + verb 1 ? INVERSION ? INVERSION ? INVERSION
