Grammar tenses

Present

Present Simple is used for:

-          Permanent states, repeated actions, daily routines

He works at a restaurant. (permanent state)

He gets up at 7 am. (daily routine)

They play basketball every week. (repeated action)

-          General truths and laws of nature

It seldom snows in England.

Kangaroos live in Australia.

-          Timetables (trains, buses, planes, etc.), programmes

The bus to Warsaw leaves at 5 in the afternoon.

-          Sports commentaries, reviews, narration

Beckham kicks the ball and passes it to Ronaldo. (sports commentary)

Johnny Depp acts superbly in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (review)

The king tells her son…. (narration)

Present Simple is used with the following time expressions: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, every week/day/month/year, on Mondays/Fridays, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night/weekends

Ćwiczenia on-line:

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,12,Present_Simple.html

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,40,Present_Simple_pytania.html

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,41,Present_Simple_pytania_szczegolowe.html

Present Continuous is used for:

-Actions taking place now, at the moment of speaking

He's driving the car at the moment.

Mary and Tom are listening to music now.

- Temporary actions; actions that are going on around now, but not at the actual moment of speaking.

I'm looking for a babysitter these days.

I'm looking for a new computer.

- Actions that we have already arranged to do in the near future, especialy when the time and place have been decided.

I'm flying to Paris next week.

I'm having a party on Saturday.

-  Changing or developing situations.

More and more people are recycling their rubbish.

More and more people are eating raw fruit.

- with adverbs such as: always, constantly, continually, etc. for actions which happen very often, usually to express annoyance, irritation or anger.

You are never listening to me.

I'm always meeting Jude in the store.

Present Continuous is used with the following time expressions: now, at the moment, at present, these days, still, nowadays, today, tonight, etc.

Ćwiczenia on-line:

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,16,Present_Continuous.html

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,75,Present_Simple_Present_Continuous.html

Present Perfect is used for:

- An action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with state verbs such as be, have, like, know, etc. In this case, we often use for (duration) and since (staring point).

Rosie has had the cat for three years.

Mikey has had the car since 2000.

- An action which has recently finished and whose result is visible in the present.

She has just bought a new house.

Mum has already finished cooking dinner.

-An action which happened at an unstated time in the past. The exact time is not mentioned because it is either unknown or unimportant. The emphasis is placed on the action.

The Smiths have bought a car.

Mary has cut her hair.

- An action which has happened within a specific time period which is not over at the moment of speaking. We often use words and expressions such as today, this morning/evening/week/month, etc.

She has taken a lot of photos today.

He has visited many museums this month.

Present perfect is used with the following time expressions: for, since, already, yet, always, just, ever, never, so far, today, this week/month, etc., how long, lately, recently, etc.

Ćwiczenia on-line:

 http://www.e-ang.pl/test,17,Present_Perfect__test_wyboru.html http://www.e-ang.pl/test,64,Present_Perfect.html

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,18,Present_Perfect__Adverbs_of_frequency.html

Present Perfect Continuous is used:

-          To put emphasis on the duration of the action which started id the past and continues up to the present (with time expressions such as for, since, all morning/day/month, etc.

Mark has been playing football for three hours.

She hasn’t been talking to her friend since they left school.

They have been learning English all day.

-          For an action which started and finished in the past and lasted for some time, the result of the action is visible in the present.

He is dirty. He has been playing football.

She is tired. She has been cleaning the windows.

Present Perfect Continuous is used with the following time expressions: how long, for, since, lately, recently, etc.

Ćwiczenia on-line:

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,48,for_since_ago_already.html

http://www.e-ang.pl/test,65,Present_Perfect_Simple_vs._Present_Perfect_Continuous.html