English

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
Use: we use the present simple for
thoughts and feelings.
states, things staying the same.
facts and things that are true for a long time.
repeated actions or habits.
THE PRESENT SIMPLE
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Passive
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Use: we use the present continuous for:
something happening now.
Ex: it’s raining at the moment
I’m watching this programme
I am doing something = I’m in the middle of doing something.

Talking about changes happening around now.
Ex: the population of the world is raising very fast.
now, at present, at the moment, today, this week, this evening
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
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Passive

THE PAST SIMPLE
Use: we use the past simple for:
something in the past which is finished.
Ex: Emma passed her exam last year.
We went to the theatre on Friday.
Elvis Presley died in 1977.
last week, last year, last month, yesterday, ago, in 1977.
THE PAST SIMPLE
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Passive
THE PAST CONTINUOUS
Use: we use the past continuous to
say that somebody was in the middle of doing something at a certain time. The action or situation had already started before this time but had not finished.
Ex: I was watching TV at 10 o’clock last night.
I was walking home when I met David.
THE PAST CONTINUOUS
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Passive

THE PRESENT PERFECT
Use: we use the present perfect
when there is always a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now.
Ex: we’ve washed the dishes .(they are clean now.)
The aircraft has landed. (It’s on the ground now.)
We use the present perfect with just, already, yet, for, since, ever, never.

THE PRESENT PERFECT
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Passive
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Use: we use the present perfect continuous
for an action over a period of time leading up to the present
Ex: we’ve been waiting here for twenty minutes. (we’re waiting now).
to talk about repeated actions up to now.
Ex: Nam has been playing the piano since 7 o’clock.
We can use the present continuous with for and since.
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
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Passive

THE PAST PERFECT
ex:
When Sarah arrived at the party, Paul wasn’t there. He had gone home (before Sarah arrived).
Sarah arrived at the party
This is the starting point, then if you want to talk about things that happen before this time, we use the past perfect.
THE PAST PERFECT
Positive forms
Negatives
Questions
Passive

THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
You can say something had been happening for a period of time before something else happened.
Ex:
I was very tired when I arrived home. I’d been working hard all day.
THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Positive forms
Negatives
Questions
Passive

ExercisePut the verbs into the correct form
We can go out now. It …… (rain) any more.
Maria …. (Learn) English for two years.
Jane …….. (not/drink) tea very often.
I was very tired, so I …..(go) to bed early.
Jane ….(wait) for me when I …(arrived).
Jim is on holiday. He …(go) to Italy.
Was Tom at the party when you arrived? “No, he … (go) home.
Our game of tennis was interrupted. We … (play) for about half an hour when it started to rain very heavily.