Well, now it’s a little more complicated - the use of tenses.
If the structure can be easily learned and understood, then the use of tenses needs to be taught, practiced and ultimately “felt”, begin to think the way those who speak English as their native language think.
In general, the principle is this:
Simple tenses are used for constant, regular actions or when actions follow one another.
Perfect tenses indicate the result of an action, completion, outcome.
Continuous tenses are used for non-permanent, temporary, changing actions, in order to emphasize that the action is still ongoing, ongoing.
It will also be useful to know some signs and words that help determine “on the spot” what time it is:
For the present time:
PresentSimple– time is used for constantly occurring actions (Every day I brush my teeth), undeniable truths (The Earth revolves around the sun).
Key words: every day/month/week, as a rule, usually (every day/month/week, as a rule, usually).
I clean my flat every Friday.
Present Continuous – is used when we are talking about an action that occurs at the moment of conversation, or is temporary and changing. Most often this tense is used in comparison with the Present Simple. In contrast to the Present Simple, the continuous tense denotes intermittent actions. There are a number of verbs that are not used in the present participle form. Then Simple comes to the rescue for a long time. Also, the present continuous is used to denote future actions, instead of the future tense.
Key words: now (now).
Compare:
I live in Paris. (permanent action)
I am staying now at my grandfather’s, but that’s until I find a new flat. (emphasizes the temporary nature of the action)
Present Perfect – is used if we want to emphasize that the action took place before the moment of conversation, but we feel the result in the present. Most often used in dialogues.
Key words: already, just (already, just).
Read this book, please! It's fascinating!
I have read it already.
PresentPerfectContinuous emphasizes both the duration and completeness of the action.
Compare:
I can't do this exercise! Help me, please!
No, I won't help. Try to do it yourself.
But I can't! I have been trying to do it for three hours and I failed!
The action began in the past, lasted, the result, the outcome of the action is felt in the present. IN in this case you can also say: I was trying to do it for three hours. But in such a sentence, the emphasis is on how long I did this, but the result is not visible. Since the dialogue above shows the result - the exercise is not done, and it is this result that is being discussed, then simply a long time is not enough.
For past tense:
PastSimple- this is a statement of a fact from the past (from history), used in a story about some events (for example, how I spent the weekend), when listing facts (when several actions follow one after another).
This action is often confused with the Present Perfect, but in the Present Perfect the result is felt in the present, there is a connection with the present, it is often used in conversation, in dialogue, and the Past Simple is simply a story about the past, used in stories or monologues.
Key words: yesterday, last year, last week, two days ago ( yesterday, last year, last week, two days ago).
Compare:
1.- Help me, please! I have lost my wallet! (Present Perfect, dialogue, the result is felt in the present)
2. I lost my wallet, and then I found it. (Past Simple, just a story about events, not tied to communication)
3. - You know, I lost my wallet! – Have you found it? – Yes, I have! (Past Simple and Present Perfect)
PastPerfect– unlike the Present Perfect, the Past Perfect requires an indication of at least some time in the past. Because the Present Perfect has ended by the moment in the present. And the Past Perfect must end at some point in the past. That is why it is also called antecedent.
The key feature is: indication of time, preposition by before time, or subordinate clause of time.
For example:
Yesterday by 5 o'clock, I had already washed the dishes.
Yesterday by 5 o'clock I had washed up already.
When you called me, I had already washed all the dishes. (action completed at a certain point in the past)
When you called me, I had already washed up.
PastContinuous- the same as the Past Perfect - an indication of the time, or the period of time during which the action lasted, is necessary.
The key feature is: a subordinate clause of time, an indication of time or period.
I broke my leg when I was climbing a mountain.
When you called me, I was doing my homework.
One action, as it were, is performed inside another, and the longer one is put in the Past Continuous, and the one that is performed inside it, short-term, is in the Past Simple.
PastPerfectContinuous- this is the same as PresentPerfectContinueous, only in relation to events in the past.
Let's remember the example we gave for the Present Perfect Continuous.
The teacher asked me why I hadn't done my home assignment. I answered that I had been trying to do the exercise for three hours, but failed.
There are several tenses in this example. “The teacher asked” - simple past, “why didn’t I do my homework” - past perfect, pre-past, since he is asking about an action that happened before the moment in the past, before the teacher asked him. And the result is felt at a certain moment in the past, that is, at the moment when the teacher asked him.
In the second sentence, “I answered” performs the same role - it indicates that the action takes place in the past. The second part of the sentence (that I had been trying to do...) indicates an action that was completed before he responded. That is, you need Perfect. And since the action lasted, and an indication of this was given: “three hours,” then duration (Continuous) is also added.
Here's another example:
On Sunday I didn’t work in the garden, because it was muddy – it had been raining all Sunday night.
Future
Future Simple. Its use is very limited, since the verb will (shall), which is also needed to form this tense, is still very popular modal verb. And here it’s just like in life: if you try to sit on two chairs, then, as a rule, you don’t have time, neither here nor there. So it is in the situation with the future. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish where will denotes only the future tense, where it acts as a modal verb.
Will comes to the aid of the Present Continuous, which is often used to indicate future actions.
The Present Continuous is used to indicate a planned action in the future.
Let's go on a picnic this Sunday.
Oh, I am sorry, I can’t! I am playing football with my friends on Sunday. (planned action)
By the way, the structure “I am going to do” can also be used to mean a planned action:
I am going to play football with my friends on Sunday. – also denotes a planned action in the future.
The Future Simple is used when you decided to do something at the moment of conversation, just now. That is, for unplanned actions.
Do you know that Peter is in the hospital now?
No, I don't! What a drink! I'll go and see him there. (I didn’t know that Peter was in the hospital, the decision to visit him came during the conversation)
We will describe the remaining meanings of will, shall in the section “Modal Verbs”.
Future Continuous
1. Used in the same way as Present, Past Continuous.
Compare:
Sveta attends dancing lessons on Mondays from 5 till 7. (Present Simple)
It is 6 o'clock, Monday. Sveta is dancing now. (Present Continuous)
Yesterday at 6 (or Yesterday from 5 till 7) Sveta was dancing. (Past Continuous).
Tmorrow at 6 (or Tomorrow from 5 till 7) Sveta will be dancing. (Future Continuous) – Sveta will be in the process of dancing.
2. Used in the same meaning as the Present Continuous in the meaning of a future planned action.
Oh, I am sorry, I can’t! I am playing football with my friends on Sunday. = I am going to play football with my friends on Sunday. = I will be playing football with my friends on Sunday.
Future Perfect
I don’t know the rule, but I’ll have learned it by the beginning of the lesson. – I don’t know the rule, but by the beginning of the lesson I will already know it.
Language. To avoid difficulties and mistakes, let's look at words that relate to time and have different connotations in a given sentence.
for, since, ago
- For – during, in continuation. Used with a period of time (both Past Simple and Present Perfect):
I haven’t been in Kiev for ages - I haven’t been to Kyiv for ages
She lived there for 5 years - she lived there for 5 years
She has lived there for a very long time - she lived there for a very long time
- Since - since then. Use before referring to time:
She has been cleaning since 2 o’clock - she has been cleaning since 2 o’clock
- Ago - ago. Indicates a period of time from the present to some date or event in the past.
It was long ago, when I last saw him - I haven’t seen him for a long time
yet, already
- Yet – yet, still, for now. Used in questions and negative sentences (in the British version - together with the Present Perfect):
I haven’t done it yet - I haven’t finished yet
Have you done it yet? -Are you finished yet?
- Already - already. Used in affirmative sentences (can appear anywhere):
I’ve done it already / I’ve already done it. He's already there.
I'm already finished
by, until, so far
- By - at, at, near, near. Refers to an action that occurred at a certain point in time before another specific moment, but we do not know exactly when:
By the time he arrived, all the seats were occupied - while he arrived, all the seats were occupied
Until/till – until, until then.
He worked until 5 o’clock - he worked until 5
- by, past – can describe time that passes by:
The time goes past/by so quickly - time passes by so quickly
A concert went by so fast - the concert went by so quickly
during, throughout
- During – during, in continuation, during. Describes a moment in a certain period of time, or an entire period of time:
I asked him not to call me during my classes - I asked him not to call me during class
It’s very difficult to reach him during the day - during the day it’s very difficult for him to reach him
- Throughout – in our days, in our time. Means “from beginning to end”:
She was very happy throughout her marriage - she was very happy in her marriage
after, subsequently, later
- After - after. After requires an addition after itself:
I’ll do my English homework after lunch - I will do my English homework after lunch
- Afterwards - subsequently, later. Acts as a time adverbial in a sentence:
I'm busy now. I’ll see you afterwards - I’m busy right now. See you later
- Later/later on – later, then, sometime in the future:
We’ll join you later - we’ll join you later
on time, in time
- On time - on time, without delay, at the appointed time:
They finished the project on time - they finished the project on time
- In time - in advance, in advance:
He was in time to look through his report before the meeting - he came just in time to look through his report before the meeting
at last, finally, in the end, at the end
- At last - finally. Used when the event we have been waiting for finally happens:
At last they are buying a home, they have always dreamed about - finally they are buying the house they have always dreamed of
- Finally - ultimately, in the end. Describes an action that occurs after a long wait. Finally is placed before the verb:
We finally reached the top of the mountain - he finally got to the top
With finally we can draw a conclusion; it conveys the final thought in a sequential chain of events. In this case, the word finally is placed at the beginning of the sentence:
Finally , I’d like to introduce our new manager - finally, I want to introduce our new manager
nowadays, these days
Nowadays - nowadays; Now; Nowadays. These days - in our days, in our time.
Used to describe the present tense:
Nowadays many young people go in for sport
You don"t run across many fine men like him these days - these days you don’t often meet such a good man like him
once, one day, at once
- Once - once; once, once; once upon a time, once upon a time; once, one day. Refers to events that took place in the past but are no longer happening in the present:
I was very much in love with her once - I was once very much in love with her
He once told me where to go - once he told me where to go
In English, once can also mean as soon as:
I"ll do once I’m ready - I’ll do it as soon as I’m ready
- One day - once, once upon a time; one day; some day. Can refer to both the past and the future:
One day he was driving along the road, when suddenly he felt... - one day he was driving along the road, when suddenly he felt....
Our wishes will come true one day - one day our wishes will come true
- At once - immediately, immediately, immediately (immediately):
He blew me in the face at once - he immediately blew me off
- All at once - suddenly, suddenly, unexpectedly (suddenly):
You can"t become a president all at once - you cannot immediately become president
in, within
In within – have meaning until the end of a certain period of time (before the end of a period of time):
I was dressed within the ten minutes - I got dressed in 10 minutes
I came back from Kiev in ten days - I returned from Kyiv in 10 days
In English, in/within can also convey future meaning:
I’ll be ready in fourteen minutes - I’ll be ready in 14 minutes
I’ll finish the project within a year - I’ll finish the project in a year
They are divided into 4 groups: simple (Simple/Indefinite), continuous (Continuous/Progressive), perfect (Perfect) and perfect continuous (Perfect Continuous) tenses. What will help us choose the right option?
Marker words time in English language help to correctly determine the tense form, therefore it is recommended to learn them by heart. With an asterisk* Ambiguous time indicators that may occur in different cases are marked.
Table of satellite words for all tenses of the English language
Used to describe actions in the present that occur regularly, with repetition, and not just at the moment of speech. Used to describe a routine, schedule, habits, etc.
Usually- usually
I usually wake up at 7 o’clock. I usually wake up at 7 o'clock.
Always- Always
Alice always gets good marks at school. Alice always gets good grades At school.
Often- often
Terry often drinks tea in the morning. Terry often drinks tea in the morning.
Every day / morning / week
– every day/every morning/every week
Every week Rob goes to the gym. Rob goes to the gym every week.
Sometimes / from time to time / occasionally
- Sometimes
Sometimes I visit my Granny in the suberbs of Moscow. Sometimes I visit my grandmother in the suburbs of Moscow.
At the weekend / on weekends / on Saturdays / on Friday
– On weekends / Saturdays / Fridays
We have a party on Fridays. On Fridays we have a party.
Seldom/rarely- rarely
We rarely go to the swimming pool. We rarely go to the pool.
Never* / hardly ever– never / almost never
Ann never watches horror films. Ann never watches horror films.
2. Companion words Past Simple
Used to describe actions that happened in the past.
Yesterday- yesterday
Yesterday we were at home. Yesterday we were at home.
A week / a year ago– a week/year ago
Alex moved to the USA a week ago. Alex moved to the USA a week ago.
Last month/year– last month/year
Last month Fred sold his car. Last month Fred sold his car.
When*- When
I was in the kitchen, when you came. I was in the kitchen when you came.
3. Future Simple satellite words
Used to describe actions that will occur in the uncertain future.
Tomorrow- Tomorrow
Tomorrow Jared will go to London. Jared is leaving for London tomorrow.
Next month/year– next month/year
Jack will finish school next year. Jack will graduate from school next year.
In…days/years– in … days/years
Ronald will arrive in 2 days. Ronald will arrive in 2 days.
4. Companion words Present Continuous
Used to describe actions occurring at the moment, at the time of speech.
Now- Now
Mary is playing the guitar now. Now Mary plays the guitar.
At the moment- At the moment
The refrigerator isn’t working at the moment. The refrigerator is not working at the moment.
Still*- still
John is still washing the dishes. John is still washing the dishes.
5. Companion words Past Continuous
Used to describe actions that occurred at some point or period in the past.
From…till…*- From to …
Helen was watching a movie at the cinema yesterday from 5 till 7. Helen yesterday watched a movie at the cinema from 5 to 7.
- all day
He was working hard all day long. He worked hard all day.
6. Future Continuous satellite words
Used to describe actions that will occur at a specific moment or period in the future.
from…till…*- From to …
Tony will be working in the office tomorrow from 9 to 11 o’clock. Tony will work in the office tomorrow from 9 to 11 o'clock.
All day long* / for the wholesale day*
- all day
He will be writing an article all night long. He will write the article all night.
7. Companion words Present Perfect
Used to describe actions that have completed at the time of speech or the present as a whole.
Just- just now
Harry has just made a cake. Harry has just made a cake.
Already- already
I have already done my homework. I've already done my homework.
Yet- still
Liza hasn’t chosen the flowers yet. Lisa still hasn't chosen flowers.
Since- With
I haven’t played football since finishing the university. I haven't played football since graduating from university.
Recently- recently
Sally has recently been at the theater. Sally was recently at the theater.
Never* / ever*– never / ever
I have never been to London. I've never been to London.
8. Companion words Past Perfect
Used to describe an action that was completed at some point in the past.
Before* / after*- before after
I had brushed my teeth before I went to bed. I brushed my teeth before going to bed.
By*- To
Ann had spoken with her boss at 12 o’clock yesterday. Yesterday at 12 o'clock Ann spoke to her boss.
9. Future Perfect satellite words
Used to describe actions that will last until a specific point or period in the future.
By*- To
I will have been finished my project by the end of the month. I will finish my project by the end of the month.
Before*- before
Chris will have found a job before Christmas. Chris will find a job before Christmas.
10. Word-markers of Perfect Continuous tenses
As the name suggests, the band's Perfect Continuous times are a mixture of Perfect and Continuous. Therefore, their function is a long-term action that led to a result in the past / present / future.
for*- during
I had been reading for 5 hours. I've been reading for 5 hours already.
I have been reading for 5 hours. I've been reading for 5 hours already.
I will have been reading for 5 hours. I'll be reading for 5 hours already.
WARNING: marker words are not a panacea! As we see, some of them occur in several times at once. Often this can be explained like this: take the phrase “from ... till …” and see that it is a sign of the duration of an action, and duration can be in the past, present and future tenses. However, the presence of a companion word is very good sign correct type and tense form.
The English language is rich in tenses. It is easy to get confused in their diversity, because it is impossible to remember all the cases and nuances of using each of the tense forms. Words come to the rescue, but not simple ones, but special ones - indicators of time.
Present Continuous
Present Continuous or Present Continuous refers to a group of present tenses in English, which describes a long-term action that continues for some time. It is formed using two verbs. First - auxiliary to be, which varies according to persons and numbers. The second is a main verb with an invariable ending - ing, which carries the main meaning:
Liza is smiling now. She has a good temper - Lisa is smiling now. She's in a good mood.
The sun is shining brightly in the sky - The sun is shining brightly in the sky.
Marker words
In the flow of speech, it is not always possible to quickly navigate and use the desired tense form, because there are so many rules and subtle differences in the use of this or that tense. But there are no hopeless situations. Language asks riddles and itself comes to the rescue, offering its own clues - marker words.
Each tense form has its own satellite words. Various adverbs of time, prepositions are auxiliary signals that emphasize the features of time and thereby indicate that this or that time is before us. The Present Continuous tense is not an exception. He has his own staff of assistants.
Most Present Continuous signal words are aimed at emphasizing the duration of an action and indicate that the event being described is happening at the moment.
Present Continuous Indicator Words
|
Marker words Present Continuous |
Examples |
|
Now (Now), right now (right now) |
Tom is translating a sentence from Russian into English now - Tom is translating a sentence from Russian into English now. |
|
At this moment (at the moment, at the moment, at this moment) |
At this moment two close friends are waiting for the train at the railway station - At the moment, two close friends are waiting for the train at the station. |
|
Still (still, still, still) |
My mother is still protecting and looking after me - My mother still protects me and looks after me. |
|
At present (currently, today) |
The weather is changing rapidly at present - The weather is changing rapidly at the present time. |
|
Today (Today) |
Today our dreams are coming true - Today our dreams come true. |
|
Tonight (tonight) |
It is a pity, but we are working tonight - It’s a pity, but we are working tonight. |
|
Currently (now, now, currently, now) |
A famous writer is currently creating a new novel abroad - A famous writer is currently creating a new novel abroad. |
Words such as today (today), tomorrow (tomorrow), this/next year (this/next year), tonight (in the evening) can also be markers of Present Continuous time and thereby draw attention to another function of time - an indication of the near future.
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