Álvaro Ballesteros Sánchez Ivan Zancada Amarís 1º Bach. C

Past Simple To talk about a completed action at a particular time in the past. The train left at 8.30 pm. To talk about repeated actions in the past. He went to the beach at weekends in the summer.

Past continuous To talk about an action in progress around a point in the time past. What were you doing at 9 on Saturday evening? To talk about a situation or action in progress which was interrupted by another event. When I was thinking about the problem I had the most amazing idea. To emphasize that two situations or events were happening simultaneously. While I was trying to phone her, she was trying to phone me.

Present Perfect Simple To talk about past events or situations in a time period that extends from the past up to the present. I have been in Russia. When did you go? I went last summer. To talk about an event in the past that has a result in the present. Cancel the skiing trip, I’ve broken my leg. To talk about the duration of an event or situation which started in the past and extends up to the present. How long have you worked here? I’ve been here for 2 months.

Present Perfect Continuous To talk about past events which continue up to the present. I’ve been watching this film on TV but I’m going to turn it off if something doesn’t happen soon. To talk about repeated past events in a time period that extends up to the present. The car has been breaking down a lot recently.

To talk about something in the recent past that has a result in the present. It has been raining. (The rain has stopped but the street are wet). To talk about the duration of an event or situation which started in the past and extends up to the present. Has she been writing her novel for a long time?

Past Perfect Simple Refers to actions or events before a particular time in the past. Before I was 18, I hadn’t been outside my home town. It can refer to specific times in the past. We already felt like old friends even though we had only met that morning.

Past Perfect Continuous Refers to actions or events at a particular time in the past. She had been helping at him on and off for a few months. Refers to actions or events up to just before a particular time in the past. He had been drinking. I could smell it on his breath. It can refer to specific time in the past. At breakfast I wondered why I as so tired, then I remembered that at 2 am I’d been listening my neighbour arguing again.