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... were singing, the sun was shiningand in the cafes people were laughing and chatting An annoying and repeated action in the past, usually with 'always': He was always leaving the tap running (In. .. changing • • I'm getting better at playing the piano The weather is improving English Unit – Tenses We use this tense for unfinished and finished actions: Unfinished Actions English Unit – Tenses. .. help you English Unit – Tenses 1: First, we use it for things that are happening at the moment of speaking • • I'm working at the moment Please call back as– we are eating dinner now English •
English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses 1: First, we use the Present Simple when something is generally true: • • • The sun rises in the east. People need food. It snows in winter. 1 English 3 • • • Unit 2 – Tenses The sky isn't green. Plants die without water. Two and two make four. 2: We also need to use this tense for a situation that we think is more or less permanent (see the present continuous for a temporary situation - one which we think won't last long): • • • • • • Where do you live? She works in a bank. They love coffee. She has three children. I am married. I don't like mushrooms. 3: The next use is for habits or things that we do regularly. We often use adverbs of frequency in this case (also see the present continuous for new, temporary or annoying habits): • • • • • • • Do you smoke? I play tennis every Tuesday. We often go to the cinema. She gets up at seven o'clock every day. At the weekend, we usually go to the market. How often do you study English? I don't travel very often. 4: Four, we use the simple present to talk about what happens in books, plays, or films: • • • • The hero dies at the end of the film. A young woman travels through Europe, where she meets different people, and finally falls in love. In this book, an army invades Britain. The main character is very pretty and works in a bookshop. 5: We use it in the first and the zero conditionals: • • If it rains, I won't come. If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils. 6: Strangely, we can use this tense to talk about the future. When you are discussing a timetable or a fixed plan, you can use this tense. Usually, the timetable is fixed by an organisation, not by us: • School begins at nine tomorrow. 2 English 3 • • • • Unit 2 – Tenses Our train leaves at eleven. What time does the film start? The plane doesn't arrive at seven, it arrives at seven thirty. When does the class finish? 7: We also use it to talk about the future after words like ' 'when', 'until', 'after', 'before' and 'as soon as' in a future sentence: • • • • • I will call you when I have time. (Not: 'will have') I won't go out until it stops raining. She'll come as soon as her babysitter arrives. I'm going to make dinner after I watch the news. I'll give you the book before you go. 8: We need to use this simple tense with stative verbs (verbs which we don't use in continuous tenses), in situations where we'd usually use the present continuous: • • • • • This soup tastes great. You look fabulous. I think she is very pretty. I am cold. I promise I will help you. 3 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses 1: First, we use it for things that are happening at the moment of speaking. • • I'm working at the moment. Please call back as– we are eating dinner now. 4 English 3 • • Unit 2 – Tenses Julie is sleeping. You are studying the present continuous. 2: We can also use this tense for temporary situations, when we feel something won't continue for a long time. • • • • She's staying with her friend for a week. I'm living in London for a few months. John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field. I'm reading a really great book. Compare this with the present simple, which is used for permanent situations that we feel will continue for a long time. 3: We can use the present continuous for habits but they have to be temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use the present simple). • • • • He's eating a lot these days. She's swimming every morning (she didn't use to do this). You're smoking too much. They're working late every night. 4: Another present continuous use is for annoying habits, when we want to show that something happens too often and we don't like it. In this case we usually use an adverb like 'always', 'forever' or 'constantly'. • • • • You're always losing your keys! She's constantly missing the train. He's always sleeping in. They're forever being late. 5: The next use is for definite future arrangements (with a future time word). In this case we have already made a plan and we are pretty sure that the event will happen in the future. • • • • I'm meeting my father tomorrow. We're going to the beach at the weekend. I'm leaving at three. They're coming to the party at the weekend. 6: Finally we use this tense to talk about a situation which is slowly changing. • • I'm getting better at playing the piano. The weather is improving. 5 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses We use this tense for unfinished and finished actions: Unfinished Actions 6 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and continue to the present. Usually we use it to say 'how long' an action or state has continued with 'since' and 'for'. Often, we use stative verbs in this situation: • I've known Karen since 1994. • She's lived in London for three years. 'Since' and 'For' We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago). The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (since I was at school, since I arrived): I've known Sam since 1992. • I've liked chocolate since I was a child. • She's been here since 2pm. • We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months): I've known Julie for ten years. • I've been hungry for hours. • • She's had a cold for a week. Finished Actions 1: Life experience (we don't say when the experience happened, just sometime in the past) I have been to Tokyo. • She has lived in Germany. • They have visited Paris three times. • We have never seen that film. • • Have you ever read 'War and Peace'? 2: A finished action with a result in the present (focus on result) 7 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house). • She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today). • They've missed the bus (so they will be late). • • I've cooked dinner (so you should come and eat). 3: With an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today, in the last year) I haven't seen her this month. • She's drunk three cups of coffee today. • • This week they've been shopping four times. Note: We can't use the present perfect with a finished time word: • I've seen him yesterday. 'Been' and 'Gone' In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go', but in slightly different circumstances. Been We use 'been' (often when we talk about 'life experience') to mean that the person being talked about has visited the place, and come back. Notice the preposition 'to': I've been to Paris (in my life, but now I'm in London, where I live). • She has been to school today (but now she's back at home). • • They have never been to California. Gone 8 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to mean that the person is at the place now: 'Where's John?' 'He's gone to the shops' (he's at the shops now). • Julie has gone to Mexico (now she's in Mexico). • • They've gone to Japan for three weeks (now they're in Japan). 9 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses Using the past simple (also called the simple past tense) 1 Finished events in the past with no connection to the present: Leonardo painted the Mona Lisa. The Vikings invaded Britain. 2 With a finished time word (yesterday, last week, at 2 o'clock, in 2003): I went to the cinema yesterday. We visited Japan in 2007. 3 For stories / lists of events: He went to a café, sat down and lit a cigarette. Yesterday I went to the library, met a friend for lunch, and playedtennis. 4 Details of news: I've hurt my leg. I fell off a ladder when I was painting my bedroom. I've been on holiday. I went to Spain and Portugal. 5 As part of the second conditional: If I won the lottery, I would buy a house in Chelsea. If she knew his number, she would call him. 10 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses Using the Past Continuous (or past progessive tense) The past continuous tense in English is used quite often, especially when telling stories. (Click here to learn about how to MAKE this tense) 1 A continuous action in the past which is interrupted by another action or a time: I was taking a bath when the telephone rang. At three o'clock, I was working. 2 Background information, to give atmosphere to a story: It was a beautiful day. The birds were singing, the sun was shiningand in the cafes people were laughing and chatting. 3 An annoying and repeated action in the past, usually with 'always': He was always leaving the tap running. (In the same way as the Present Continuous) 4 For two actions which happened at the same time in the past: I was watching TV and he was reading. NB:Remember you can't use this tense or any continuous tense with stative verbs. 11 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses Using the Past Perfect Click here to learn how to MAKE the past perfect tense. We use the past perfect tense fairly often in English. 1: A completed action before something else in the past. • When we arrived, the film had started. (= first the film started, then later we arrived) 2: To explain or give a reason for something in the past. • • I'd eaten dinner so I wasn't hungry. It had snowed in the night, so the bus didn't arrive. 3: Stative verbs only: something that started in the past and continued up to another action in the past. • When he graduated, he had been in London for six years. (= he arrived in London six years before he graduated and lived there continuously until he graduated, or even longer) 4: As part of the third conditional. • If I had known you were ill, I would have visited you. 12 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses How to Use the Simple Future (Will) and 'Be Going To' We use the simple future for: 1. A decision at the moment of speaking: A: 'I'm cold'. B: 'I'll close the window'. 2. Prediction based on opinion: I think the Conservatives will win the next election. 3. A future fact: The sun will rise at 7am. 4. Promises / requests / refusal / willingness: I'll help you with your homework. Will you give me a hand? I will give up smoking! 5. In the same way as the future continuous, but with state verbs: I'll be at the station when you arrive. 'Shall' is used mainly in the forms 'shall I ?' and 'shall we?' in British English. These forms are used when you want to get someone's opinion, especially for offers and suggestions: • • Shall I open the window? (=do you want me to open the window). Where shall we go tonight? (=what's your opinion?). We use 'be going to' + infinitive for: 1. Future plans made before the moment of speaking: A: 'We've run out of milk.' B: 'I know, I'm going to buy some.' 2. Prediction based on present evidence: Look at those boys playing football! They're going to break the window. Other points about the future: We use the present continuous tense for definite future arrangements. Often, it doesn't really matter if we choose 'be going to' or the present continuous. In the following example, there is really very little difference in meaning: • I'm going to the cinema tonight. • I'm going to go to the cinema tonight. 13 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses We use the present simple tense in two cases. First, we use it for a timetabled event in the future, like public transport or the start of a class: • My train leaves at six tonight. • His class starts at 9am tomorrow. Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning. These words are: before / after / as soon as / until / when: • I'll call you when I get home. • She's going to study after she finishes dinner. • Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race. 14 [...]... birds were singing, the sun was shiningand in the cafes people were laughing and chatting 3 An annoying and repeated action in the past, usually with 'always': He was always leaving the tap running (In the same way as the Present Continuous) 4 For two actions which happened at the same time in the past: I was watching TV and he was reading NB:Remember you can't use this tense or any continuous tense... we choose 'be going to' or the present continuous In the following example, there is really very little difference in meaning: • I'm going to the cinema tonight • I'm going to go to the cinema tonight 13 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses We use the present simple tense in two cases First, we use it for a timetabled event in the future, like public transport or the start of a class: • My train leaves at six.. .English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses Using the Past Continuous (or past progessive tense) The past continuous tense in English is used quite often, especially when telling stories (Click here to learn about how to MAKE this tense) 1 A continuous action in the past which is interrupted by another action or a time: I was taking a bath when the telephone rang At three o'clock, I was working 2 Background information,... go tonight? (=what's your opinion?) We use 'be going to' + infinitive for: 1 Future plans made before the moment of speaking: A: 'We've run out of milk.' B: 'I know, I'm going to buy some.' 2 Prediction based on present evidence: Look at those boys playing football! They're going to break the window Other points about the future: We use the present continuous tense for definite future arrangements Often,... stative verbs 11 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses Using the Past Perfect Click here to learn how to MAKE the past perfect tense We use the past perfect tense fairly often in English 1: A completed action before something else in the past • When we arrived, the film had started (= first the film started, then later we arrived) 2: To explain or give a reason for something in the past • • I'd eaten dinner so I wasn't... hand? I will give up smoking! 5 In the same way as the future continuous, but with state verbs: I'll be at the station when you arrive 'Shall' is used mainly in the forms 'shall I ?' and 'shall we?' in British English These forms are used when you want to get someone's opinion, especially for offers and suggestions: • • Shall I open the window? (=do you want me to open the window) Where shall we go... would have visited you 12 English 3 Unit 2 – Tenses How to Use the Simple Future (Will) and 'Be Going To' We use the simple future for: 1 A decision at the moment of speaking: A: 'I'm cold' B: 'I'll close the window' 2 Prediction based on opinion: I think the Conservatives will win the next election 3 A future fact: The sun will rise at 7am 4 Promises / requests / refusal / willingness: I'll help you... the past • • I'd eaten dinner so I wasn't hungry It had snowed in the night, so the bus didn't arrive 3: Stative verbs only: something that started in the past and continued up to another action in the past • When he graduated, he had been in London for six years (= he arrived in London six years before he graduated and lived there continuously until he graduated, or even longer) 4: As part of the... class: • My train leaves at six tonight • His class starts at 9am tomorrow Second, we use it after certain words, when the sentence has a future meaning These words are: before / after / as soon as / until / when: • I'll call you when I get home • She's going to study after she finishes dinner • Please drink some water as soon as you complete the race 14