notes

Tenses

Present

Present Perfect

1. Something happened, occured or was finished in the past and there is some result or consequence that affects us, impacts us right now in the current moment.
   • I’ve cleaned the kitchen and now it looks great
   • (in US past simple is mostly used instead)
2. just, already and yet (yet only in questions and negative sentenses)
   • just - action happened a very short time ago
     • Is your friend here? No, he’s just left.
   • already - something was done before it was planned / expected.
     • Do you want to see this movie tonight? Oh, I’ve already seen that.
   • yet (only in negative sentense and questions)
     • Have you seen that movie? No, I haven’t seen it yet.
   • (in US past simple is used more)
3. have ever - asking about things that people have done / not done in their life until the present time
   • Have you ever been in Paris? No, I have never been there
   • Have you ever been in a car crash?
4. how long have - to show that something happened in past and continues to present moment
   • for
     • How long how you been married? We have been married for 10 years.
   • since
     • I’ve waited since April for my package to arrive.
   • don’t use present perfect with ago
     • I met him 10 years ago.

Present Perfect Continious

Action which started in the past and continue at the present moment.

Past

Past Simple

1. Completed action in the past.

Past Perfect

Action has finished before another action in the past

Examples: * When we arrived at the cinema, the film had already started. * I hadn’t seen a live elephant before our trip to Africa. * By the time she arrived at the station, the train had already left. * I hadn’t packed my bags when the taxi arrived. * Had you read the book before you saw the film? * She’d never been to London, so she was looking forward to the trip. * We went to India last year. It was the first time I’d ever traveled by plane.

Past Continuous

1. An action cotinued in the past in the time of speaking.
   • When I arrived from work, he was watching TV.
   • I tried to call her, but she was busy washing her hair.
2. Questoins
   • Was he running late?
   • Was she visiting you?
   • What were you doing at 2pm?
3. Often used with past simple.

Past Perfect Continious

1. An action started in the past and continued happening until another moment in the past.
2. Usually used together with past simple.