The English Tenses Intermediate and up

The Present There are 4 possibilities: Present Simple Present Continuous Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous

Present Simple (1) When to use: Adjuncts: Routines and habits Permanent situations or facts States Adjuncts: always - sometimes (n)ever - seldom usually - often on Mondays - in weekends every day/week/month/year

Present Simple (2) Form: Examples: I, you, we, they work / dress / carry He, she, it works / dresses / carries In questions and negative sentences + do(n’t)/ does(n’t) Examples: Water boils at 100 degrees. It often rains in Holland. I go to school by bike every day. He doesn’t work in weekends.

Present Continuous (1) When to use: Adjuncts: Actions in progress now Temporary actions around now Change and development Adjuncts: now - today at the moment - this weekend Look, …. - this year

Present Continuous (2) Form: Examples: I am working He, she, it is leaving We, you, they are lying Examples: Look, he is wearing a new sweater. She is always talking during class!!! I am visiting my aunt tomorrow. I am studying for my English test today.

Present Perfect (1) When to use: Adjuncts: Actions and states that began in the past and continue up to now Actions completed at an unspecified time in the past Adjuncts: Just, (n)ever, already, yet, recently, lately since …, for …

Present Perfect (2) Form Examples I, you, we, they have walked / gone (3rd row) He, she, it has loved / sent (3rd row) Examples He has lived in Sleeuwijk since 2001. How long have you known her? They have never watched a James Bond movie. I can’t come, I have broken my leg.

Present Perfect Continuous When to use: Actions in progress over a period of time up to now Form: I have been drinking/ he has been working Examples: I have been working for this company for 20 years. He has been studying for hours.

The Past There are 4 possibilities Past Simple Past Continuous Past Perfect Past Perfect Continuous

Past Simple (1) When to use: Adjuncts: Actions completed at a specific time in the past Adjuncts: yesterday - two days ago during the war - this morning last week/month/year - in 1998 when I was young

Past Simple (2) Form: Examples: I worked We went (2nd row) With questions and negative sentences + did(n’t) Examples: He worked for the government 10 years ago. They didn’t teach English in the 19th century. John lost his legs during the war. When did you go to France?

Past Continuous (1) When to use: Adjuncts: Actions in progress in the past Actions in progress when something else happened Adjuncts: While … When ….

Past Continuous (2) Form: Examples: I, he, she, it was walking We, you, they were listening Examples: While I was reading, my mother came home. When I was driving home, a car bumped into me.

Past Perfect (1) When to use: Adjuncts: The earlier of two past actions. Adjuncts: before after Most adjuncts of the Present Perfect can be used as well

Past Perfect (2) Form: Examples: I had worked We had seen (3rd row) When I entered the house, the thief had already gone. I had locked the front door before I left. After he had told me the story, I went to the police office to check.

Past Perfect Continuous When to use: Actions in progress over a period of time in the past Form: I had been lying Examples I had been working for that company for 20 years before I was fired. I had been studying for hours so I decided I deserved a break.

The Future (1) There are 4 possibilities: Present Simple Present Continuous Shall / will Be + going to + infinitive

Present Simple (Future) When to use: timetables Examples: The train for Amsterdam leaves at 10 o’clock. School starts at 8.30. Be there.

Present Continuous (Future) When to use Arrangements such as appointments, meetings or events in the near future. They suggest the future is as sure as the present Examples I am leaving tomorrow, my bag is packed. He has been working hard because he is spending a year in Australia after his exams.

Shall / will When to use: Examples: Spontaneous decisions Predictions based on opinions Shall must be used in questions with I / we, in other sentences will can be used in all cases. Examples: I hear the door bell. I will answer it! I think he will pass the test, he studied hard. Shall I help you with your homework?

Be + going to + ww When to use: Examples: Predictions based on evidence that we can see, hear or feel. Plans, intentions and ambitions Examples: Look at the clouds. It is going to rain. I am going to leave tomorrow. My dad is going to work at the office next week.