Verb tenses revision: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous.

Look at the following sentences: - Where's Ann? - She's in the living room. She's watching TV. - Matthew's jokes are so funny! I think he's absolutely nuts. - She often has a toast for breakfast. - They go to the theatre twice a month. - Where does your brother live? - He lives in Minnesota, but currently he's spending a school year in Paris. - What are you doing this evening? - I'm watching the football match. Some friends are coming over and we are going to order some pizzas.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous.

Present simple:

- Structure: Subj.+ verb (s)+ obj. She's in the living room. Use the Present simple to talk about: - Permanent situations: I live in a flat. - Frequent actions or habits: They go out twice a week.

In combination with adverbs or frequency (always, usually, never, hardly ever...) or expressions of frequency (every day, once a month..)

Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb but after be: Frequency expressions (once a week, etc...) usually go at the

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous.

Present Continuous:

- Structure: Subj+ am/is/are + obj. - She's playing the guitar at the moment.

Use the Present Continuous to talk about:

- Actions happening now (with now, at the moment, this week).

- It's raining. We're listening to Classical music.

- Future arrangements (with expressions like this evening, tomorrow night).

- What are you doing this evening?

Past Simple vs Past Continuous.

Look at the following sentences:

- I met John six weeks ago. Now we're great friends! - I came, I saw, I conquered, said Julius Caesar.

- Last summer we went to Rome. It was a wonderful holiday!

- What were you doing yesterday at six o'clock?, asked the detective.

- It was a wonderful spring morning. The sun was shining and the birds were singing. He closed the door of his flat, and went down the street for a walk.
- The dogs were barking fiercely and running towards the postman, so he started to run as fast as he could. - The baby was taking a nap when the doorbell rang, so he started to cry.

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous.

Past Simple:

- Structure: Subj+ verb+ed/ 2nd column (irr.)+ obj. - Use the Past Simple to talk about completed actions in a specified time of the past. Yesterday evening, I saw an amazing show on TV.

Past simple vs. Past Continuous.

Past Continuous:

- Structure: Subj.+ was/were+ verb+ing+ obj. - Use the Past Continuous to talk about actions in progress at a specified time of the past, or actions that were interrupted (unfinished) by another action, or two incomplete actions in progress at the same time in the past.

In combination with the Past Continuous, the Past Simple is a simple tense, not a progressive tense. This means in the Past Continuous the action was still in progress and in the Past Simple, it was finished.

Going to and Will futures.

This evening I'm watching the match on TV, but next week I'm going to watch it at the stadium. I'm so excited about it! Next Saturday we are going to go to the beach for the first time this year. I hope the weather will be nice. You don't have to carry those heavy bags by yourself. I'll help you. The plane will take off at 7 o'clock in the evening. When I grow up, I'm going to be a hotel manager. Watch it! You're going to break the glass.

The soothsayer said that we will have at least three children. Can you imagine?

Going to and Will futures.

Going to future.

-Structure: Subj.+ am/is/are +going to+ inf+ obj. I'm going to work for my father.

Use the Going to future to talk about something that you have already decided to do. Future arrangements: A planned appointment, a meeting, something in the future that you have already arranged (Present continuous is also possible). I'm going to see the doctor on Monday. Predictions about an inmediate future, or based on observing a sequence of events:Look at those clouds. It's going to rain in a minute.

Going to and Will futures.

Will future:

- Structure: Subj.+ will+ inf. + obj. - She will be eighteen in November.

Use Will to make predictions (guessing, soothsaying, facts not depending on you).

I think they will win the race. The bus will leave at four. Don't be late!

To talk about unplanned decisions (making a decision or an offer at the moment of speaking). First person I/We.. will or shall. We shall overcome.

- It's windy, isn't it? I'll close the window.

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

- I heard that you had an accident last week. Are you alright? - You're late. The teacher has just told us what he will ask for the exam.

- Have you ever seen any film by the Coen brothers?

- Yes, they're great. About a month ago I saw The Big Lebowski.

- In any case, I didn't like No country for all men.

- Oh, I haven't seen that one. - Joe has recently started dating a girl. I think he's got a crush on her.

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

We use the Present Perfect to....

--> Talk about our experiences of the past.

--> Talk about an action that has recently happened or is expected to finish around this time. --> Talk about an action that took place at an unspecified time in the past and is still important.

With yet, ever, never, already, just, since, recently, lately. Structure: Subj + have/has + participle + obj.

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple.

We use the Past Simple:

--> To talk about finished actions that took place at a specified time of the past.

--> Often with phrases like: yesterday, last week, a month ago, in January, last Christmas...

Structure: Subj.+ main verb (ed)/ 2nd Column (irregular verb)+ object. In combination with the Present Perfect, the Present Perfect refers to an experience or an action that has developed around the time we are speaking.

Past Simple vs. Past Perfect.

- What did you do last night?

- Oh, not much. I spent the evening with my family.

- Before we met, I had heard about you. - They read the story after the child had brushed his teeth. - The robbers took all the jewels and money after they had tied up the shop assistant and the customers. - I was so tired. I had been working all day. - I have told you many times. Don't make me wait for so long. I've been waiting for you at least for an hour.

Past Simple vs. Past Perfect.

The Past Simple is often seen in combination with the Past Continuous, the Present Perfect or the Past Perfect.

- I saw Bob a week ago. He was walking in the street along with his sister. - I have already finisihed lunch. The meat was delicious! - I drunk some coffee last night. Afterwards, I couldn't sleep -> I couldn't sleep last night because I had drunk some coffee earlier.

In combination with the Past Perfect, the Past Perfect refers to an action that was previous to the time we are speaking about.

Past Simple vs. Past Perfect.

Past Perfect:

- Structure: Subj.+ had+ main verb (participle or 3rd column)+ obj.

We had had lunch before we met so we just drank a cup of tea.

Past Perfect Continuous:

- The Past Perfect Continuous is a progressive tense. It means that the action had been in progress before the time we refer to.
- We had had lunch before we met. I had been eating in the same restaurant where we met.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect.

I will be rich when I turn 35. Sally will be finishing her last year at University, when you start.

When you return from your holiday in the Canaries I will be still working at the office.
Tomorrow at this time I will be having coffee with my friends. She won't wait for you. By the time you get home she will have had dinner. It's quite late this evening. When we get home, Salvados will have finished.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect.

The Future (Will) is the Future Simple tense. Other future tenses are the Future Continuous and the Future Perfect.

- She will be reading her book when you phone her (Future Continuous). - She will have finished her book when you phone her (Future Perfect).

The Future Continuous refers to an action that will be in progress at a specific time in the future, often in connection with another action. Structure: Subj.+ will be+ verb (+ing)+ obj.

Future Continuous vs. Future Perfect.

The Future Perfect refers to an action that will have finished at a specific time of the Future, often in connection with another action.

- This time tomorrow I will have finished studying for my exam.

- When you get home, he will have cooked dinner.

Structure: Subj.+ have + main verb (Participle or 3rd column)+ obj.