Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous

Objective: This is a grammar-based lesson that focuses on the difference in meaning between simple tenses and progressive (continuous) tenses. This is the kind of lesson you may wish to do with students who are about to take a grammarbased English examination, such as Cambridge First Certificate or Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English.

Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Lesson Length: 60-90 minutes, depending on the level of your students. Assumed Knowledge: Learners at this level will be familiar with the different simple, perfect and progressive tenses. Usually, as teachers, we elicit the meaning of the structure before the form, but as your learners are looking not just to practice their English, but to understand the nuances of English grammar in preparation for an exam, you will need to elicit the subtle differences between the simple and the progressive forms.

Elicit:

Task One You many wish to start your lesson by writing the following sentences on the board:

_ _

I have read The Da Vinci Code. I have been reading The Da Vinci Code.

Now ask your learners what the difference is between the two. If they need some encouragement to speak, you may wish to ask the following concept questions:

Sentence one: Have I finished reading the book? Sentence two: Did I read the book ten years ago?

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

It is sometimes good to put your learners in pairs or groups to brainstorm the answers. Hopefully, they will come to the following conclusion: Ive read The Da Vinci Code.

(One clause: Present Perfect)

[I have finished reading the book. It could be recently or it could have been a long time ago. It is something I did at some unknown time in the past, which I remember in the present.] Ive been reading The Da Vinci Code.

(One clause: Present Perfect Continuous) [This is a recent activity. We dont know if the reading is complete or not there is not enough information given.]

Task Two Put another two sentences on the board. I dont eat dinner until 7.30pm. Im not eating dinner until 7.30pm.

_ _

Here are some concept questions you may wish to ask your learners:

Sentence one: Is this a regular event? Do I usually eat dinner at the same time every day? Sentence two: When did I make this decision? I dont eat dinner until 7.30pm. (One clause: Present Simple)

[A regular activity / habit.] Im not eating dinner until 7.30pm. (One clause: Present Continuous)

[A decision made on that occasion, possibly for a reason.]

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses Task Three
Now do the same with the following sentences on the board. Encourage your learners to identify the clauses, the tense used in each clause and the difference in meaning between the sentences:

When we got to the station, the train had just left.

(Two clauses: Past Simple / Past Perfect) [The train had gone. Did you see the train?]

When we got to the station, the train was just leaving.

(Two clauses: Past Simple / Past Continuous) [Did you catch the train? We dont know not enough information is given. / Did you see the train?]

Task Four

Will you join us for lunch?

(One clause: Present Simple) [When is the invitation given? Is it a prior arrangement?]

Will you be joining us for lunch?

(One clause: Present Continuous) [Is this a prior arrangement? Could it be a clarification?]

Task Five
_

The class stood up when Mark entered the room.

(Two clauses: Past Simple / Past Simple) [One event takes place as a result of something that happened.]

The class was standing when Mark entered the room.

(Two clauses: Past Continuous / Past Simple) [Something was already in progress when another thing happened.]

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

Task Six

My students are always asking questions in class.

(One clause: Present Continuous) [How does the teacher say this? How does the teacher feel? Is there a feeling on the part of the speaker?]
_

My students always ask questions in class.

(One clause: Present Simple) [A general observation.]

Task Seven
_

I think Andrew is stupid.

(One clause: Present Simple) [He is generally a stupid man.]

I think Andrew is being stupid.

(One clause: Present Continuous) [He is being stupid on this occasion.]

Task Eight

I usually cook dinner when my children arrive home.

(Two clauses: Present Simple / Present Simple) [The dinner begins to be cooked after the children arrive home.]

I am usually cooking dinner when my children arrive home.

(Two clauses: Present Continuous / Present Simple) [The cooking of the dinner began before the children arrived home.]

I have usually cooked dinner when my children arrive home.

(Two clauses: Present Perfect / Present Simple)

[The cooking of the dinner is usually finished when the children arrive home.]

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

Practice: Give the handout to your learners. Encourage your learners to work with a different partner. Monitor them and see how they get on. Remember to leave enough time to do feedback at the end of the lesson.

First Task: Look at the following sentences and rewrite them so that they are correct. One of the sentences does not need changing.

1. While I was driving along in my car, I realised that I had left my bag at home. 2. The last time I saw my friend Chris, he was catching the bus to work. 3. Dinner is usually served in the refectory, but today it is being served in the canteen. 4. You can find me in the refectory at lunchtime as I usually have my dinner there. 5. Last week I stayed at home as I had a cold. 6. Next weekend, I am planning a trip to the countryside for my students. But what will we do if it starts to rain? 7. Who does this textbook, which lies on the desk, belong to? 8. My daughter Chlo hated vegetables when she was a child, but now she enjoys eating them whenever she has them. 9. Will you be waiting for your guests to arrive on Wednesday evening this week? [Correct] 10. How long have you been studying English and how many words do you think you have in your vocabulary so far? 11. I once walked 120 kilometres in less than 48 hours, which I found most tiring. 12. The traffic in Leeds is being diverted because of the new bridge that is being built.

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

Second Task: Complete the following sentences using one of the following verbs. Make sure you use the correct aspect of each tense. What tense is being used in each clause?

Choke Cough Drink Eat Have Like (neg) Listen Love Meet Phone (neg) Read Take Work 1. Please dont phone me while Im having / eating dinner. 2. I usually read the newspaper, while Im having / eating breakfast. 3. Most days I meet my friends for lunch, but today Im working through without a break. 4. I love pancakes with lemon and sugar, but I dont like them with honey or syrup. 5. I always listen to music when I take a shower in the morning. 6. The man started to cough when he was drinking a can of Diet Pepsi and nearly choked.

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses Handout

First Task: Look at the following sentences and rewrite them so that they are correct. Please make sure you use the correct aspect of each tense. 1. While I drove along in my car, I realised that I had left my bag at home. ______________________________________________________ 2. The last time I saw my friend Chris, he caught the bus to work. ______________________________________________________ 3. Dinner is usually being served in the refectory, but today it is served in the canteen. ______________________________________________________ 4. You can find me in the refectory at lunchtime as I am usually having my dinner there. ______________________________________________________ 5. Last week I stayed at home as I was having a cold. ______________________________________________________ 6. Next weekend, I plan a trip to the countryside for the students, but what will we be doing if it starts to rain? ______________________________________________________ 7. Who is this text book, which lies on the desk, belonging to? ______________________________________________________ 8. My daughter Chloe was hating vegetables when she was a child, but now shes enjoying eating them whenever she has been having them. ______________________________________________________ 9. Will you be waiting for your guests to arrive on Wednesday evening this week? ______________________________________________________ 10. How long did you study English and how many words do you think you have been getting in your vocabulary so far? ______________________________________________________ 11. I once have walked 120 kilometres in less than 48 hours, which I found most tiring. ______________________________________________________ 12. The traffic in Leeds was being diverted because of the new bridge that was built.

______________________________________________________

Lesson 25: Simple & Perfect Tenses v Continuous Tenses

Second Task: Complete the following sentences using one of the following verbs. Make sure you use the correct aspect of each tense. What tense is being used in each clause?

Choke Cough Drink Eat Have Like (neg) Listen Love Meet Phone (neg) Read Take Work 1. Please ______________ ___________ me while Im ________________ dinner. 2. I usually __________ the newspaper, while Im ___________ breakfast. 3. Most days I ____________ my friends for lunch, but today Im ______________ through without a break. 4. I ________________ pancakes with lemon and sugar, but I ___________ ___________ them with honey or syrup. 5. I always ____________ to music when I ___________ a shower in the morning. 6. The man started to _______ when he was ________ a can of Diet Pepsi and nearly _______.