Present Simple
Present Continuous
Past Simple
Past Continuous
Present Perfect tenses
Past Perfect tenses
Present Continuous
Going to
Future Simple
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Other future forms
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

PRESENT TENSES

Simple Present

Form:

  • base form of the verb (3rd person singular + -s/-es)
  • auxiliary DO / DOES for negatives and questions

Use:

  • permanent facts - natural and scientific laws
  • simple fact
  • repeated actions (habits / routines)
  • verbs which cannot take the progressive form
    • verbs of thinking and understanding: believe, think (=believe), know, ...
    • verbs of the senses (involuntary actions): see, hear, ...
    • verbs of state: remain, be, have got, ...
    • verbs denoting feelings and emotions: love, like, hate, ...
  • to give instructions (usually in the 2nd person)
  • WHEN + Simple present to describe the future (usually combined with a verb in the future)
  • Simple present as future to describe an organized future timetable.
Present Continuous

Form:

  • AM / IS / ARE + VERB-ing

Use:

  • for an action in progress now
  • to show temporary events (=/= Simple present - permanent things)
  • for a repeated action to express the speakers annoyance
  • to express future plans (+ TIME WORD)
  • to express duration
 
Adapted from various sources
 
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© Olga Godoy Giménez, 2002 - 2005