A review

o Present simple o Present continuous o Present perfect simple o Present perfect continuous o Stative verbs

Use

Example
Tom gets up really early
He always goes to sleep at 10

Current habits To talk about how often things happen Permanent situations States General truths and facts

He works in a hospital He has long hair Getting up early is good for you

Use

Example
They are talking on the phone now.
Iberia pilots are complaining with strikes They are not working on Mondays Their working situation is becoming unbearable They are always spoiling peoples holidays

Actions happening now Temporary series of actions

Temporary situations Changing and developing situations Annoying habits (with always)

Use

Example

Present situations/states that started in the past A series of actions continuing up to now Finished actions in a nonmentioned past time Completed actions where the focus is on the present result

Sheila has had her cat for years

Weve travelled by taxi, plane and train all in the last 24 hours Have you ever eaten snake?

Sarah has broken her leg and is on crutches at the moment

Use

Example
Weve been living in this city for 10 years now
Im so wet because Ive been running in the rain

Actions continuing up to the present moment Actions stopping just before the present moment

Use They often refer to: Thinking Existence

Example
Believe, imagine, know, mean, think, understand Be, exist Hate, like, love, need, prefer, satisfy, want Hear, see, smell, sound, taste Appear, look, seem, resemble

Emotions
The human senses Appearance Possession/relationship between things

Belong to, consist of, have, include, involve, own, owe

o Past simple o Past continuous o Past perfect simple o Past perfect continuous o Would/used to

Use

Example
Tom got up at five this morning,
He went swimming every day He worked in a hospital before becoming an actor My uncle fell down the stairs and broke his knee when he went to answer the door Chess was invented by the Chinese

Single completed actions Habits in the past Permanent situations in the past The main events in a story
General truths and facts about the past

Use Actions happening at a particular time in the past Temporary situations in the past Annoying past habits (usually with always) Actions in progress over a period of time

Example
They were jogging at seven in the morning. They were living in London for a while before settling down in Spain They were always fighting when they were kids They were working all day yesterday

Two actions in progress at the same time Background information in a story

Her friends were laughing when she was telling them the story It was raining heavily. Right then, the fire broke out.

Use

Example

Situations/states before the past Completed actions continuing up to now

Completed actions where the important thing is the result at a moment in the past

We had lived in the States before moving to Japan

John had found a new job days before winning the lottery The children didnt want to have a shower because they had already had one

Use

Example
When you saw us, wed been running for two hours
Sarah looked tired because shed been exercising all morning

Actions continuing up to a moment in the past Actions stopping just before a moment in the past

Use

Example
When he was young, he would cycle to school every morning

Past habits particularly for the distant past

Use

Example
When he was young, he used to have long hair.

Past habits and states particularly for the distant past

o Will/be going to o Present continuous o Present simple o Future perfect simple o Future perfect continuous o Time clauses

Use

Example
The new law will be passed tomorrow The new law is going to be passed tomorrow
In the future, cars will fly Its cold in here, Ill close the window if you dont mind.

Facts about the future

Predictions not based on present evidence Decisions made at the moment of speaking

Use

Example
Let me help you. Ill carry those bags for you.
Will you help me finish this?

Offers and suggestions

Requests

Most first conditional sentences

If people go on a diet now, theyll lose a few kilos before the summer

Use

Example
Peter is going to become a doctor or so he says
It looks as if its going to rain in a minute.

Plans and intentions

Predictions based on present evidence

Use

Example
They are seeing the dentist tomorrow morning

Arrangements made before the moment of speaking

Use

Example

Timetables, arrrangements, fixed events After if in 0 and 1st conditionals After certain time expressions

The bookshop closes at 8.30

If they dont close the door, people carry on going in As soon as they close the door, nobody dares to ring the bell

Use

Example
will we have stopped working by the age of 67?

Actions completed some time between now and a point in the future

Use

Example
Tomorrow at this time Ill be lying on the beach
Well be looking at unit 2 after the holidays

Actions in progress at a point in the future Habits, repeated actions at a point in the future

Use

Example
At three oclock in the morning Ill have been sleeping for three hours

Actions in progress up to a point in the future

Time words

Example
Itll be great when you are here. As soon as the sun starts shining, well go out We must visit India before were too old After we visit India, we should travel to Africa Stay here until you finish your work Dont get up while you have your lunch Once you arrive at work, turn on the computer

When As soon as
Before After Till/until While Once