VERB TENSES

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE

Something happening at the moment of speaking.
I cant answer the door. Im washing the dishes.
Im looking across the road now and all I can see is a
chemists shop.
Why is he smiling like that?

Something happening around the moment of

speaking.
Im on a diet. Im having my coffee without sugar these
days.
They are travelling through Italy at the moment.
Shes having a bad time right now.

Changing situation, states developing into other

states.
The climate in this area is getting drier and drier. Its
growing dark.
Hes been in hospital for three weeks but is improving
steadily.
Theyre building a new by-pass. Itll be good for the town but
its taking ages to finish.

To show annoyance on the part of the speaker,

especially when referring to habits that upset him/her.
In this case, the use of frequency adverbs is compulsory.
Shes always yawning in class.
Im always losing my car keys.
Im constantly telling the children not to go in there.
Shes forever doing homework.

A series of momentary, short, continuous acts.

The gardener is pulling out weeds. Im jumping.

Future Time Reference: to refer to a previous

arrangement or plan. The use of adverbials is
compulsory.
Madonna is performing on June, 3rd. at 10pm.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

Something that happens all the time or that

is true and general.

The Earth goes round the sun.

If you heat water, it becomes steam.
The Nile crosses the Sahara desert.
2 plus 2 makes 4.
In PROVERBS, which have universal validity.
The hand that rocks the cradle governs the world.

Habitual, regular actions.

Millie seldom tells the truth.
Sam sometimes does the cooking.

Repeated and permanent actions or situations.

George works for the BBC.
Children love eating sweets.

To make suggestions.
Why dont we hold a new meeting ?

With performative verbs: declare, forgive, curse,

bless, promise, swear, agree, apologize, deny.
I name you Christine Louise.
I wont forget this time, I promise.
I swear I saw tears in his eyes.
I agree dangerous drivers should be put in prison
rather than fined.

To report a series of actions that have little

duration (For example, a game reported on the
radio or on TV)
Smith runs forward with the ball. Scott hurries
towards him (football match commentary)

In demonstrations made by a teacher, a cooking

expert, a conjuror and also in stage directions.
I pour some milk in the bowl and mix it with the
flour
A door opens and a beggar goes on to the stage. (stage
directions)
You put the washer on first, then the metal ring and
then you tighten the screw. (a plumber is showing a
friend how to mend a tap which is leaking)

Past time reference:

Historic or Dramatic Present:

I was quietly looking at the shop windows of Harrods when, all

of a sudden, a young girl standing next to me turns and slaps
me on the face !
Prime Minister Says Traffic Must Be Curved.
Tidal Wave Hits Papua New Guinea.
Jane Austen allows us to see within the minds not only of her
heroines but of many other characters as well.
It is, however, perhaps in the 55th Sonnet that Shakespeare gives
to this idea its fullest expression.

Instead of the Present Perfect (only with a limited number of

verbs: hear, bring, send, tell, write, etc. )

I hear you are getting married.

What brings you here.
Mother sends me to give you this.

Future Time Reference.

a. An action regarded as part of a timetable. It is a

very categorical statement.
Do hurry up Pat ! The train leaves in 10 minutes !
b. Future of the Calendar:
My birthday falls on a Thursday this year.
c. In Clauses of time, condition:
He will write the report as soon as he reads the book.
Well leave when we are ready.

With stative verbs

Im an architect.

In exclamatory sentences with here and there:

Here comes the bride!
There goes Malcom as if nothing had happened!

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

Facts in the past.
I met her yesterday.
San Martin died on August 17th.
Did you watch that film yesterday?
He went at the end of November.
My grandfather died about four weeks
ago.
When I was a lad, I lived on a farm.
She came through for a coffee after shed
finished cooking.

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States in the past.

My baby was plump and healthy when he was born.
She looked a bit upset.

Ability in the past.

I walked steadily when I was one. (i.e., I could walk
steadily when I was one)

Habits in the past.

Marcia usually gave parties during the summer.
My family always had turkey for Christmas.
He visited the opera regularly and mostly hung out in
local cafs.
We did a lot of acting at school.

Permanent actions or situations in the past.

When my father was alive, he worked for a car factory.
He liked playing the violin.

Future or present time reference.

I wish I had a brother. (I dont have one.)
If it was not raining now, I would walk. (I want that
now.)
If only you told me the truth now.
Its time the kids went to bed.
Id rather you shouted less.

Future in the past.

He told me to stay until his father arrived.

PAST PROGRESSIVE TENSE

Events in progress at a point in the past.
I was working last night.

Fourteen hours later, we were entering Kingston Harbour.

An activity or state in progress at the time when another

activity occurred.
My greatgrandparents were living in Paris when the war broke
out.
The sun was just setting when we reached the shore.
Two builders were working on our house when it was being
built, and a ghost passed them on the stairs, and they refused
to come back and finish the building. It terrified them.

Two simultaneous actions in the past

While George was working hard, his sister was
listening to some music.

A series of repeated events in the past.

She was knocking at the door for an hour.

To describe repeated unplanned (or undesired) events.

People were always warning me that my success wouldnt

last.
She was constantly complaining about everything.
Sarah was biting her nails all the time.
I wasnt constantly collapsing in floods of tears, but I was in
quite a bad way.

Temporary repeated actions in the past.

He was visiting his children much more often those days.

That summer he was living in the country because his flat
was being enlarged.

Future Arrangement in the past.

She left at 5 because she was seeing the doctor at
5.15.