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PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE
It is used:
1. to express habitual, repeated, regular actions / activities and daily routines (it may be accompanied by adverbs or adverbial phrases of frequency: every day / week / month / year etc., always, usually, often, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never, ever, once a month, twice weekly, always in summer, on Saturdays, etc.) iterative present:
He takes the train to work every morning.
I catch the 8 oclock train every day.
He attends the board meeting every Monday.
We go to school every morning.
I never drink coffee.
I usually go to school by bus.
British people drink a lot of tea.
What do you do on weekdays? Well, I get up at seven, have breakfast, walk to the station, and catch the train to work. I arrive home from work at about six oclock.
What do you do at weekends? Well, I dont work at weekends, so I usually go shopping on Saturday. In summer I sometimes go fishing and in winter I often play football. I never go swimming. I hate it.
This paper appears twice weekly.
We always go to the seaside in summer.
I usually watch TV in the evening.
I never drink coffee in the evening.
2. to express general truths, statements of general validity, laws of nature these are in fact timeless:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Water boils at 100 degrees centigrade.
Wood floats on water.
Ice melts in the sun.
The Earth moves round the sun.
Three and three make six.
3. to express a permanent state, activity or characteristic, a constant and unchanging feature, a situation or state of affairs that is regarded as permanent, a statement of fact:
He works in a bank.
Where do you work?
He lives in Bucharest. / He lives in a village.
Do you sing? A little.
A teacher teaches.
A pilot flies.
A doctor works hard.
Cats dont like water.
Dogs make better pets than cats.
A refrigerator keeps the food cool.
I am not from Singapore; I am Japanese.
I dont like gangster films.
4. with state verbs (verbs that describe sentiments, thoughts, states rather than activities) to express states even when these states may change or be temporary / momentary:
That coat belongs to me.
Mary looks like her mother.
Adrian needs you help.
This building is very old.
I dont know his name.
I dont know where Mr Brown lives; I think he lives in the next street.
It is windy today.
You seem hungry.
I have a headache.
She thinks we are wrong.
Guess what I have in my pocket.
He wants to speak to you.
I dont know him.
5. in proverbs, sayings:
Despair gives courage to a coward.
Good words cost nothing but are worth much.
6. to introduce quotations:
Shakespeare says: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments / Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme.
This book says that too much butter and milk is bad for you.
The local newspaper says that the government should do more to create jobs in the area.
It says in the Bible that we should bear one anothers burdens.
7. in narrative, in telling stories (plots of films, stories, etc.) to give immediacy to past events it makes the story more dramatic, more dynamic, more vivid, and more like real life:
Then the prince gets on his horse and quickly rides away.
He enters the room, seizes the burning object, and flings it out of the window. The next moment
No, he says, I dont think I can help you.
So then the second man asks the first one why he has a banana in his ear and the first one says
One day the little boy goes to the woods. There he finds a buried treasure.
I rush to the station, and find Ive missed the train! (real event, colloquial usage)
Note that this historic / dramatic / narrative present is not, however, used for narrating historical events in history books, although it used when historical events are presented in note form (cf. 8).
8. in summaries (of a story, of historical events, etc.)
At the end of the play both families realise that their hatred has caused the deaths of the lovers.
When Hamlet meets his fathers ghost, he learns the truth about his uncle Claudius.
May 1945: the war in Europe comes to an end.
9. in stage directions:
(Petkoff goes beside Sergius; looks curiously over his shoulder as he signs; and says with childlike envy):
Hamlet comes in, he sits down, takes up a book, starts reading. He talks to himself.
10. in step-by-step instructions or directions and demonstrations (instead of the imperative):
You sprinkle some cheese on the pizza and then you bake it. (Instead of: Sprinkle some cheese)
You mix the soup with some cream at the end.
First, I take the potatoes and slice them. Then I slice the tomatoes, fry the onion and parsley in a little
fat until the onions are translucent
I now mix the butter with the cocoa.
First you roll out the pastry
You take the first turning on the left.
11. in sports commentaries (It is most often used for dramatic sports commentaries when radio and television commentators describe a short action that is completed as the commentator is speaking to announce quick actions that are finished before the sentences that describe them. The present tense continuous is used for longer activities.):
Peterson overtakes Williams and wins the race.
And Miller takes the lead in the first lap.
Gardiner passes the ball to Jones.
The goal-keeper passes to Maradona, but Hagi intercepts. Hagi to Lacatus and he shoots and its a goal! The Romanians are leading by three goals to nil in the second half.
The goal-keeper misses the ball and one more goal is scored.
Nastase serves!
Nastase is serving in the game we are watching now. (the service is a continuing activity)
12. in exclamatory sentences beginning with here or there:
Here they come!
Here comes our teacher!
There goes the train!
13. in announcements (especially radio or TV):
a) This park opens half an hour after sunrise and closes an hour before sunset.
b) The Open University continues the talks on the civil war in Bosnia.
14. in newspaper headlines (telegram style):
Riots Break Out in City Centre
President Receives Huge Welcome
Monkeys Escape from London Zoo
Ship Sinks in Midnight Collision
15. in reviews:
Mike Dalton plays the part of Macbeth.
16. in making declarations or ceremonial utterances (verbs describing opinions and feelings tend to be state verbs see 4) when we describe what we are saying as offering, accepting, begging etc.:
I hope youll come to my party.
I bet you dont know the answer!
I regret that I made a mistake.
We accept your kind offer.
I beg you to be more careful.
I beg your pardon. I apologise.
I pronounce you man and wife.
I declare this session open.
17. in certain contexts, especially in interrogative sentences, to render a modal hint, an indirect act of speech (reproach, etc.):
18. with other time references:
1) with future reference:
A. a) to express a future action which is part of an official programmme / schedule already fixed, of a timetable (planes, trains, etc.; official itineraries already established) (Verbs commonly used in this way are those associated with announcements about timetables, schedules, organized events, etc., for example verbs of motion: come, go, leave, depart, stop, arrive etc., or verbs expressing planned activity: begin, start, end, finish, close, open.)[1] it is accompanied by adverbials indicating future time:
The plane from Brussels arrives at 8.30.
The train leaves at 3.30 this afternoon.
The championship starts next Saturday.
Classes dont begin until Monday morning.
Our holiday begins on December 22nd.
The examination begins at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning.
The Prime Minister starts his official visit to China tomorrow.
We leave Bucharest at 8 and we arrive in Predeal at 10 oclock.
You arrive at the hotel at about 6.00 and have your evening meal at 7.30.
b) in calendar references:
Tomorrow is Friday.
The day after tomorrow is June1st.
Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.
Tomorrow is Bellas birthday.
Ill give her the message when she comes back.
Tom will come when he has time.
When we get there, well have dinner.
Well get home before it gets dark.
We shall go as soon as you are ready.
Dont get off the tram till it stops.
Lets go to caf when the concert is over.
b) in conditional clauses instead of the future tense (after: if, unless, etc.):
Will you tell me if you see her?
He will come if he has the time.
We wont stay in at the weekend unless it rains.
2) referring to past time see 7, 8 (the historic / narrative present)
3) with verbs such as to hear, tell, learn, forget, write with the value of present perfect:
I forget his name.
I hear that he left for Paris.
He tells me that you have won the competition.
Values: 1 = iterative present / 2,3, 5, 6, 13 a) = neutral present / 4,10, 11, 12, 16 = actual present / 7, 8, 9 = historic / dramatic / narrative present
Time expressions usually used with the present tense simple: always, often, usually, sometimes, etc.; every day / month / year; in the morning / afternoon / evening, at night, at the weekend, on Mondays, etc.
It is used:
1. to express an action / activity taking place / in progress at the moment of speaking:
He is giving the baby a bath at the moment.
The sun is shining in the sky mow.
Look, the children are sleeping.
Wheres David? Hes doing his homework.
What are you thinking of, George?
Excuse me, youre sitting on my jacket.
Listen, its thundering.
The pupil is just writing the exercise.
The dog is sleeping in our bed!
2. to express temporary actions; that is actions taking place over a more extended period of time including the time of speaking; the activity may or may not be in progress at the actual moment of speaking (it is usually accompanied by adverbials such as: these days, this week, today, this month, etc.):
Im looking for a new job these days. (He is not looking for a job at the moment of speaking.)
And whats Linda doing these days? Shes doing a course in engineering. (Linda may not be studying engineering at this minute.)
The decorators painting the childrens bedrooms this week, so theyre sleeping in the living room. (The decorator may not be painting at this moment and the children may not be sleeping.)
I am reading a novel by John Fowles this week.
Do you think I look any thinner? Im slimming.
We also include here the case when we express a temporary action more clearly seen as an exception to the rule, or a habit (or set of repeated events) which is temporary, i.e. lasts for a limited period in the present. In this case the opposition between the present tense simple and the present tense continuous is obvious:
I usually go to school by bus, but today Im walking to school.
I dont usually eat sweet things, but Im eating some birthday cake today because its Alans birthday.
Gomez is scoring a lot of goals this season.
Were eating in the kitchen during this clod weather.
3. to express changing or developing situations (the tendency of things to change, a situation that is in the process of changing, a transition from one state to another especially with verbs describing change and development, such as to get, to grow, etc.):
More and more species are becoming extinct.
Venice is falling into the sea.
The number of cars on the road is increasing rapidly each year.
Prices are rising nowadays.
Im seeing better.
Things are getting worse.
More and more people are giving up smoking.
Our parents are getting older and older.
4. with adverbs such as always, constantly, continually, for ever, all the time, etc. for actions which happen very often / frequently, usually to express annoyance, irritation, sarcasm or anger:
a) Im always meeting Sara when I go shopping. (action which happens very often)
b) Youre constantly interrupting me when Im talking. (expressing annoyance / irritation)
He is always borrowing money from his friends but never gives it back
Ann is always doing her homework. (sarcasm / annoyance)
My neighbour is always starting his car when I want to have a rest.
Youre always biting your nails. Stop it!
Accidents are always happening on this terrible road.
Politicians arent honest; theyre always telling lies.
Sometimes it may indicate lack of deliberate action or of control:
I am always losing things!
5. for habitual, repeated actions, presented in progress in certain circumstances:
I always take my umbrella when its raining.
I never read while Im eating.
6. in descriptions: while the simple present is used for the events that happen one after the other, the present continuous is used for background situations, to describe thing that are already happening when the story starts or at a certain moment of the story:
The Prince enters the cave and there he sees a witch. The witch is boiling something and is talking to a huge black cat that is looking at itself in a mirror.
The girl enters the ballroom. Everybody is looking at her. She is wearing
The window is open; the wind is blowing
7. with future reference (we must mention the future time): to express actions that we have already arranged to do in the near future (personal arrangements for the near future), especially when the time and place have been decided:
Theyre moving into their new house next week. (The time has been decided.)
What are you doing tomorrow? Im meeting Sarah tomorrow night.
Alex is getting married next week.
Are you going to the party on Saturday?
Were going to the cinema tonight.
The present tense continuous with future reference is very often used to express social and travel arrangements, especially with verbs of motion such as to come, to arrive, to go, to leave etc.:
Were driving up to Scotland next week.
Hes flying back on Saturday.
Tonight she is leaving for Paris.
We are leaving to the mountains tomorrow.
Our friends are arriving tomorrow.
He is going to London on Friday.
Time expressions used with the present tense continuous: now, at the moment, at present, these days, still, nowadays, today, tonight, etc.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
PRESENT SIMPLE
PRESENT CONTINOUS
1. Use the present simple to talk about things in general or things which happen repeatedly:
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Excuse me, do you speak English?
Tom plays Tennis every Saturday.
Most people learn to swim when they are children.
2. Use the present simple foe a permanent situation:
My parents live in London. They have been there for 20 years.
That machine doesnt work. It hasnt work for years.
They spend a lot of money on improving their house.
3. Use the present simple for future reference a) when we talk about fixed timetables, official programmes (e.g. for public transport, cinemas, etc.) and b) for calendar references:
a) What time does the film begin?
The train leaves Plymouth at 10.30 and arrives in London at 13.45.
The Olympic Games begin in two weeks time.
b) Tomorrow is Wednesday.
1. Use the present continuous to talk about something which is happening at or around the time of speaking:
The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off, please?
Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?
Wheres Tom? Hes playing tennis.
Sylvia is in Britain for three months. Shes learning English.
2. Use the present continuous for a temporary situation:
Im living with some friends until I can find a flat.
That machine isnt working. It broke down this morning.
Theyre spending a lot of money on improving their house these days.
3. Use the present continuous with future reference when you are talking about what you have already arranged to do in the near future; it implies an element of personal planning, intention, agreement on the part of the subject (personal arrangements):
I am meeting him at six-thirty tomorrow evening.
What are you doing tomorrow evening? Im going to the theatre.
Are you playing football tomorrow? Yes, but Tom isnt playing. Hes going on a date.
A: Ann is coming tomorrow.
B: Oh, is she? What time is she arriving?
A: At 10.15.
B: Are you meeting her at the station?
A: I cant. Im seeing my dentist tomorrow morning.
It is also possible to use the BE GOING TO future in some of these sentences (e.g. What are you going to do tomorrow evening?), but with a slight difference: BE GOING TO expresses intention on the part of the subject, while the present continuous suggests that some arrangements have also been made (it is not merely an intention). Besides, the present continuous is more natural (for these reasons as well).
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
The present perfect simple is used:
1. to express recent events, without a definite time given; activities completed in the immediate past (it is generally accompanied by: just, recently, lately, of late, latterly, etc):
The train has just left.
We havent seen Jonathan lately.
Have you heard J.V. play recently?
It has just struck twelve.
Weve missed the turning.
Ive just seen a ghost!
2. to express an action which happened at an unstated time in the past; the exact time is not mentioned because it is either unknown or unimportant; the emphasis is placed on the action:
The Taylors have bought a sailing boat. (The exact time is unknown or unimportant. What is important is the fact that they now own a sailing boat.)
Has Peter had lunch?
Many pupils have learnt in this school.
3. to express an action which has recently finished and whose result is visible in the present (we are not interested in the time when the action happened, but in the result it has in the present this visible result is what links the past action to the present moment) = RESULTATIVE PERFECT:
She has just washed her hair. (You can see that its wet.)
Ive twisted my ankle (thats why Im limping).
Look what youve done!
Oh, youve had a haircut!
I see theyve knocked down the old cinema in the centre of the town.
Ive recovered from my illness. (Im well again now.)
4. to express an action or a state which started in the past and continues up to the present and possibly into the future too (especially with state verbs such as: be, have, like, know, etc.) = CONTINUATIVE PERFECT. In this case we often use for and since:
a) FOR expresses the length of the period of time (for a long time, for ten minutes, for two days, etc.):
Rachel has had the dog for three years. (She got the dog three years ago and she still has it.)
He has been here for half an hour.
Weve lived in this house for many years.
Weve known each other for years / for a long time.
Ive lived here for the past ten years.
b) SINCE expresses the beginning of the time period (since yesterday, since 1981, since May, since you came, etc.):
He has studied English since the beginning of the school year.
Weve lived here since 1987.
Hes lived there since he was a child.
c) HOW LONG (in questions) refers to a period of time extending into the present:
How long has he been unconscious? (He is still unconscious.)
How long have you had this problem?
5. when the reference is to a time period which is not over at the moment of speaking (today, this morning / evening / week / month / year, these days, etc.)
She has taken fifteen pictures today. (The time period today is not over yet. She may take more pictures.)
This week I have written only one letter.
Have you seen him this morning? (Its still morning.)
Ive read two books this week.
Theyve been on holiday twice this year.
6. to refer to things that people have done and experiences they have had to express what has happened, once or more than once, within the speakers or writers experience = PERFECT OF EXPERIENCE (Its connection with the present is that the experience is part of that person in the present.) It may be accompanied by adverbs of indefinite time or of frequency (ever, never, often, seldom, always, several times, sometimes, before, etc.):
He has often performed in public.
Hes taught English in five different countries.
Have you been round the National Gallery?
Ive been to Spain but I havent been to Italy.
We have never visited New York.
Have you ever been to the North Pole?
Have you ever eaten raw fish before?
! with ordinals and superlatives:
This is the first time Ive been to London. = Ive never been to London before.
She is the most honest person Ive ever met. = Ive never met such an honest person (before).
7. to express a habitual action in a period of time up to the present:
Ive gone swimming every morning for the last month.
8. in news reporting (in newspapers and broadcasts): we use the present perfect to announce / introduce a piece of news and the past tense (simple or continuous, as required) to give more details about it. The use of the present perfect makes the event seem more immediate and of direct relevance to the present:
The police have finally arrested Peter Duncan. He was trying to leave the country when they caught him.
The Prime Minister has announced that taxes are to increase from the beginning of next year.
A terrible accident has happened: (yesterday at 3.15) a car ran into a group of children and killed three of them.
9. in a) conditional clauses (after if) and b) in time clauses (after: after, when = after, as soon as, till / until, by the time, the moment) to express a future action prior to another future action (the one in the main clause) which is expressed by the future tense (in this case it replaces the future perfect):
a) Little Paul will come here at once if Grannie has made a cake.
Mary will not be allowed to go for a walk in the park unless she has done her homework.
Ill go swimming with you on Monday if Ive recovered from this cold.
b) Ill give you back your ring when Ive found it.
Do you think I can borrow that book after youve finished reading it?
Ill ring you up as soon as mother has arrived.
Wait till Ive finished my coffee.
Pay attention to the use of the present perfect with the adverbs yet and already:
Yet is used in questions and negative sentences. It indicates that the question is supposed to find out whether the action is finished or not (it expects a yes or no answer):
Tom usually gets up at 7 a.m. It is 7 a.m. Mother goes into Toms bedroom and asks: Have you got up yet? He hasnt got up yet.
Already shows surprise that the action is over:
Tom usually gets up at 7 a.m. It is 6.30 a.m. Mother sees that the light is on in Toms bedroom. She opens the door and asks him: Have you got up already? He has already got up.
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect continuous is used:
1. to emphasise the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present (it is still in progress at the moment of speaking) and may go on in the future as well; it may be accompanied by time expressions with for and all (all morning / day / night):
Sam has been talking on the phone for half an hour. (He began talking on the phone half an hour ago and he is still talking.)
a) an action or a state which lasts up to the present moment:
Ive been waiting for you for an hour!
It has been raining for two hours.
Have you had a good evening? Well, Ive been watching this film on television but its rubbish so I think Ill turn it off now.
b) an incomplete activity:
Ive been cleaning the house but still I havent finished.
Mother has been watering the flowers for half an hour. (She is still doing the job; there are a few more flowers left to be watered.)
c) to emphasise the duration, the continuity of the action (into the present):
Ive been writing letters all morning.
Mary has been watering the flowers for half an hour.
Sam has been talking on the phone for over twenty minutes now.
2. to express an action which started in the past and lasted for some time. The action may have (recently) finished or may still be going on. Anyway, it is relevant to the current situation the result of the action is visible in the present[2]:
The ground is wet. Its been raining.
Ive been talking to Tom about your problem and he thinks
Her feet hurt. She has been walking all morning. (The result of the action of walking is visible in the present her feet hurt.)
You look tired. What have you been doing? Ive been playing football.
Ive been running. That is why I look hot.
Why are you crying? Ive been cutting onions for the last ten minutes.
Youre out of breath. Have you been running?
Why are your clothes dirty? What have you been doing?
3. to express actions repeated over a period of time up to the present:
Theyve been going out a lot recently.
Ive been taking French lessons this year.
Ive been jogging every morning for the last month.
She has been playing tennis since she was eight.
How long have you been smoking?
4. to express anger, irritation, reproach, wonder, etc. (especially for a repeated action):
In a meeting of the board, one of the members says: Somebody has been giving away our plans. (The speaker is irritated.)
Ive been knocking for ten minutes! Why dont you answer the door?
She has been asking me that silly question for almost a month.
NOTES:
v Both the present perfect simple and continuous can be accompanied by structures expressing:
a) the length of the period of time for (for ten minutes, for five years, for ages, etc.)
Weve known each other for many years.
Ive been waiting for you for two hours.
! Do not use for in expressions with all (all morning, all day, all week, all my life, etc.):
Ive lived here all my life.
b) the beginning of the period since (since December, since I was a child, etc.)
SINCE can be used as:
a preposition (followed by a noun or a numeral):
I have been a teacher since 1980.
a conjunction (followed by a sentence):
Shes been working here since she left school.
an adverb (used by itself; sometimes accompanied by the adverb ever for more emphasis):
I havent spoken to her (ever) since.
c) a period of time extending into the present how long:
How long have you known him?
How long have you been working here?
v Pay attention to the tenses used after since:
since + past tense = a past completed action:
He hasnt said Hello to anyone since he became president.
They have never had any arguments since they got married.
since + present perfect => the two actions are simultaneous:
He hasnt said Hello to anyone since he has been president.
They have never had any arguments since they have been married.
v Note the structures: How long is it since. ? and It is / It has been (a long time / long / two years, etc.) since . Make sure you use a verb in the affirmative form, past tense after since in these constructions:
How long is it since you had a holiday?
Its two years since I had a holiday.
Its ages since Tome visited us.
Note the equivalence between these two structures: ITS (+PERIOD) SINCE + PAST TENSE AFFIRMATIVE = PRESENT PERFECT NEGATIVE + FOR (+PERIOD) :
Its two years since I had a holiday. = I havent had a holiday for two years.
Its ages since Tome visited us. = Tom hasnt visited us for ages.
Its a long time since I (last) saw her. = I havent seen her for a long time.
Its long / Its (been) a long time since they were so happy. = They havent been so happy for a long time.
PAST TENSE SIMPLE
It is used:
1. to refer to actions or events completed at a definite time in the past:
a) when the time is stated:
They went camping by the lake last month.
Lucy phoned me at six oclock / a few hours ago / as soon as I got home / just now / yesterday / last week / that day / the other day.
I never learnt to swim as a child.
If the time is not stated, the place or other circumstances are given so that the time may be implied from the context:
Lucy phoned me from school.
b) when the time is asked about:
When did you read Hamlet? I read it last year.
c) when the action clearly took place at a definite time in the past even if this time is not mentioned; it is known or implied from the context:
The train was five minutes late.
I knew what he meant.
d) when the time becomes definite as the result of a question and answer in the present perfect:
Have you found that letter?
Yes, I have.
When did you find it?
I found it a moment ago / when I tidied up my drawer.
Have you seen this film?
Yes, I have. I saw it last Wednesday.
Where has Tim been?
He has been to the cinema.
What film did he see?
e) when we refer to people who are no longer alive or when we refer to someone whose career finished to express an action which happened in the past and cannot be repeated:
Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays.
Mike won more than twenty medals when he was an athlete.
I once spoke to Frank Sinatra.
f) to express an action which began and finished in the past, a past situation of some duration:
Mr Clark taught Maths for thirty years. (He is no longer a teacher; he has retired.)
He worked in a bank all his life. (This expresses a constant and unchanging feature of his past life. Either he is now dead or he has retired.)
He smoked for most of his life.
She worked there for twenty years.
2. to express actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past (narrative use):
First she paid the driver, then she got out of the taxi.
I made sure the current was switched off, and then removed the cover plate.
I met Philip yesterday and we talked for a few minutes.
3. to express past habits or states which are now finished (iterative past). In such cases we can also use the expression used to:
Kitchens were / used to be very different a hundred years ago.
When I was in England, I drank tea with breakfast.
When Mr Barton taught at our school, he rode / used to ride his bike to classes.
We went to the theatre every Friday evening when we were little.
We went out for a meal every evening on holiday.
He got up at 7 oclock every morning to go to work.
We can also used would to express repeated actions or routines in the past, but we do not use would with state verbs:
We used to / would eat out on Sundays.
When Mr Barton taught at our school, he rode / used to / would ride his bike to classes.
BUT: They used to live in London. (NOT: They would live in London.)
I used to have a pet
dog. (NOT: I would have a pet dog.)
4. with state verbs (which cannot be used in the progressive form), to talk about a situation that existed at a certain time in the past:
In 1950, there were fewer than 50 million cars in use around the world.
At the time, I had a poorly paid job in the local shop.
5. to express a future timetable, schedule, organized event seen from a moment in the past (this is the past equivalent of the present simple with future value):
He set his alarm for seven oclock: the examination began at 9 the following morning.
6. to introduce somebodys words in Direct Speech:
Where are the children? mother asked.
7. in Reported Speech, when the introductory verb in the main clause (to say, tell, ask, answer, etc.) is in a past tense:
a) to replace a present tense simple from Direct Speech:
We live in a big house, the girl said. The girl said (that) they lived in a big house.
b) to express a future action, in a time clause, which is simultaneous with another one expressed by the future-in-the-past (it actually replaces a present tense simple from Direct Speech):
He promised me that he would tell me the truth when he knew it. (Ill tell you the truth when I know it, I promise.)
He told me he would show me the photos when he came back.
The past tense form may also have another value, that of subjunctive (present subjunctive), in the following contexts:
1. in conditional clauses, to express a present conditional, after if, if only, suppose / supposing, etc.:
My friend would help me if she were here.
2. in subordinate clause after: wish (an unrealised or unrealisable desire in the present), as if / as though (a condition not likely to be fulfilled, or a state of things contrary to reality in the present), if only (present wish or condition), would rather (when the subjects are different), its (high / about) time, suppose:
I wish I knew that fellows name.
He acts as if he owned the place.
Its (high) time we left.
Wed rather (that) our neighbours didnt make so much noise in the afternoon.
Suppose we went to a show.
Time expressions used with the past simple: yesterday, then, when, How long ago?, last night / week / month / year / Tuesday, three days / weeks / months / years ago, in 1997, etc.
PAST TENSE CONTINUOUS
It is used:
1. to express an action which was in progress at a certain moment in the past ( we do not mention when the action started or finished):
At seven oclock yesterday evening they were having dinner.
I was studying for my exam at this time last week.
At 8 oclock yesterday my brother was sleeping.
In May of last year she was studying hard for her final exams.
At 6 oclock this morning, I was walking along the beach.
I asked them to be quiet. I was trying to hear what the man was saying.
2. to express an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it; we use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action the background) and the past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action the foreground action):
He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend.
I was working in the garden when the storm broke.
While Mary was crossing the road yesterday, she saw a flying saucer in the sky.
As I was jogging, a man stopped me and asked me the time.
When I came in they were watching TV.
I was reading a book when the phone rang.
She was studying law when the war started.
3. to draw attention to continuous activity during a specified period in the past (with adverbials such as all night, all morning, all day yesterday, etc., or from six to eight, between three and four, etc.) :
I was working all day last Saturday.
Yesterday morning I was jogging through the park.
I was watching television all evening.
Were you working all weekend?
From six to eight yesterday evening we were playing tennis.
I was giving a lesson between two oclock and three.
Compare:
He was reading a book last night. a past but unfinished action
He read a book last night. = He finished it.
4. to express two or more simultaneous past actions; the two or more actions which were in progress at the same time in the past are expressed by the past continuous:
She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving.
While I was driving along this morning, I was thinking about what youd said.
While mother was cooking, father was reading a newspaper and the children were watching TV.
5. to express an activity / action of limited duration over a longer (unspecified) period of past time:
I thought she looked thinner. Apparently, she was slimming.
6. to express a past temporary action (with state verbs) or a series of actions limited in duration to a period which must be mentioned:
a) He was living with a friend when I met him.
b) We had moved the dining table into the kitchen we were eating there during the cold weather.
7. to describe the atmosphere, setting, etc. (the background) in the introduction to a story before we describe the main events:
One beautiful autumn afternoon, Ben was strolling down a quiet country lane. The birds were singing and the leaves were rustling in the breeze.
The wind was blowing and the rain was beating down. John Snell was standing at the bus stop shivering. He was trying to imagine being at home sitting by a warm fire. Finally he saw the headlights of the bus approaching from the distance.
8. to express a frequently repeated action in the past which annoyed the speaker (it is accompanied by the adverbs always, forever, continually, all the time):
The two pupils were always laughing during my classes.
He was always coming late to the English class.
Charles was always ringing me up late at night.
9. to express a future arrangement seen from a past moment ( a sort of near-future-in-the-past a past equivalent of the present continuous with future value):
Daniel was busy packing for he was leaving the next day.
I left home at six: I was meeting Paul at six-thirty.
Our neighbours didnt came to our place that evening because they were taking the night train to London.
10. in Reported Speech, to replace a present tense continuous from Direct Speech, when the reporting verb in the main clause is in the past:
My doll is sleeping now, little Kate explained. Little Kate explained that her doll was sleeping then.
Im staying at the Lido Hotel, he told us. He told us he was staying at the Lido Hotel.
In conditional clauses, the past tense continuous form may be used with the value of present conditional continuous:
What would you say if the boys were sleeping now?
Time expressions used with the past continuous: all morning / evening / day / night, the conjunctions while, when, as, etc.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
PAST TENSE SIMPLE
The past simple describes the complete event in the past:
I read a book about astrology last night. (I read the whole book from beginning to end last night.)
It rained all night. (It rained from the beginning to the end of the night. The rain is viewed as one single, complete event.)
While I made dinner, the children watched television. (Two complete events that happened at the same time.)
I had a bath at 8 oclock. (This describes the complete event, which started at 8 oclock.)
PAST TENSE CONTINUOUS
The past continuous does not describe the complete event; it describes the event in progress, at some time between its beginning and its end. We draw attention to continuous activity during a specified period in the past:
I was reading a book about astrology last night. (The reading of the book was in progress last night. The past continuous does not describe the complete event so we assume that the book was not finished last night.)
It was raining all night. (The rain was in progress throughout the night. The use of the past continuous emphasises the continuity and duration of the event.)
While I was making the dinner, the children were watching television. (Two activities in progress at the same time.)
I was having a bath at 8 oclock. (The bath started before 8 oclock and was still in progress at 8 oclock.)
NOTE: In many such sentences, however, there may be very little difference between the past simple and the past progressive:
We watched television all evening.
We were watching television all evening.
The phrase all evening itself expresses the idea of duration, and the progressive form simply reinforces the idea. This is yet another example where the choice of one form rather than the other represents little more than a difference in attitude or emphasis on the part of the speaker.
Note that the past simple denotes a momentary, instantaneous action, or a sequence of events regarded as complete or momentary, happening immediately one after the other in the past:
What did you do when you saw the tiger? I ran away.
When our visitor arrived, my wife made tea. (Tea-making took place after and probably as a result of- our visitors arrival.
He cooked the dinner when I arrived.
The past continuous denotes an action in progress at some in the past interrupted by a shorter past action:
What were you doing when the phone rang?
When our visitor arrived, my wife was making tea. (Tea-making was in progress when our visitor arrived.)
He was cooking the dinner when I arrived.
Note that the past simple has a more dynamic character; it is used in narratives to express events.
The past simple expresses a permanent, constant, unchanging feature of the past, a permanent activity / state / situation in the past (see Past Tense Simple 1.f):
He lived in Scotland all his life.
He worked in a bank for almost forty years, until he retired.
Note that the past continuous has a more static character; it is particularly used in descriptions, to render the background of a story in the past simple.
The past continuous expresses a past temporary action or a series of actions limited in duration to a period which must be mentioned (see Past Tense Continuous 6):
He was living with some friends in a small flat when I met him.
We had moved the dining table into the kitchen we were eating there during the cold weather.
State verbs (verbs that describes thoughts, feelings, states) cannot normally be put into the continuous form and are therefore used only in the past simple:
I didnt know he was the manager.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
PAST SIMPLE
The past simple is used for actions which happened in the past and are not related to the present.
1. Use the past tense to express an action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, already known or implied:
Simon Cook painted his first picture in 1980. (The exact time is stated.)
I went to Spain a couple of years ago and I visited Italy a few times as a child. (specific time)
The past simple implies that the action finished some time before we speak about it.
Did you have a good holiday? (Your holiday finished some time before the question.)
PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect is used for actions which happened in the past and are related to the present.
1. Use the present perfect to express an action which happened at an unstated time in the past. The exact time is either unknown or unimportant, and therefore it is not mentioned or implied:
Simon Cook has painted a lot of pictures. (The exact time is not mentioned or implied.)
Ive been to Spain and Italy. (indefinite time)
The present perfect is used to express actions completed in the immediate past, recent events, without a definite time given:
Have you had a good holiday? (You have just returned.)
NOTE: Make the difference in the use of certain adverbials which are typical for one of the tenses:
He arrived just now.
I saw Joe the other day.
Use the past tense when talking about a finished time in the past (yesterday, last month, two years ago, in 1979, when I was a child, earlier this month, then, next, after that, etc.) and to ask when something happened:
Tom lost his key yesterday.
When were you born?
What time did they arrive?
Remember that the past tense always tells us something about the past it expresses actions that clearly took place and finished at some time in the past and are not related to the present any longer:
He lost his key. (Even if the time is not stated, we know that he lost it at some time in the past. We dont know whether he has it now or not.)
John injured his arm. (It doesnt hurt him any longer.)
Use the past tense to express actions or happenings which clearly took place at a certain time in the past (and are not connected to the present), such as historical events, discoveries etc. (even when we dont mention the exact time):
The Chinese invented printing.
2. Use the past tense simple to express actions which began and finished in the past. Pay attention to the use of time expressions which refer to finished periods of time:
Mr Clark taught Mathematics for thirty years. (He is no longer a teacher. He has probably retired. )
He has just arrived.
I havent seen Joe these days.
Remember that the present perfect always tells us something about the present. It expresses actions whose results are visible in the present:
He has lost his key. (this sentence implies that he hasnt got it now, so he probably cant open the door)
(e.g. Open the door, please. Ive lost my key!)
John has injured his arm. (It still hurts him.)
2. Use the present perfect to express an action which started in the past and continues up to the present. Pay attention to the use of time expressions which refer to unfinished periods of time:
Mrs Nelson has taught French for twenty years. (She started teaching French twenty years ago and she is still teaching French today.)
He was in the army for fifteen years. (But he is no longer in the army. The time period of fifteen years finished in the past.)
Ian lived in Scotland for ten years, then he moved to London. (So, he no longer lives in Scotland.)
Were you busy this morning? (It is no longer morning. This morning is now a finished, past period.)
Ann didnt come to school today. (Today represents a finished, completed period. She cannot come to school anymore because the classes are over. Its probably late in the evening.)
The sun didnt rise today. (Today here refers to a finished period of time. The sun can only rise at a certain moment in the morning.)
3. Use the past tense simple to express an action which happened in the past and cannot be repeated because the conditions which made it possible no longer exist in the present:
a) someones career finished, an exhibition closed, etc.:
Mike won more than twenty medals when he was an athlete. (He is no longer an athlete. Ha cannot win another medal.)
Did you buy this book? (It was to be found last month / some time ago. Its no longer on the market now.)
Did you see the exhibition? (Its closed now.)
Did you see this film? (It was on last week.)
b) actions which involve people who are no longer alive:
I once spoke to Frank Sinatra. (He is no longer alive so I wont be able to speak to him again.)
c) past events whose authors are dead:
Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.
Charles Dickens wrote many famous novels.
He has been in the army for fifteen years. (And he is still in the army now.)
Ian has lived in Scotland for six years. (He still lives there.)
Have you been busy this morning? (It is still morning now.)
I havent seen Ann today. (Today represents an unfinished period of time. I still have the time to see her today.)
(It has stopped raining and the sun has come out. Weve got plenty of sunshine now.)
3. Use the present perfect to express an action which happened in the past and may be repeated:
Ben is an athlete. He has won more than ten medals. (He is still an athlete, so he may win some more medals.)
Have you bought this book? (Its still on the market. You can still find it.)
Have you seen the exhibition? (Its still open.)
Have you seen this film? (Its still on at the X cinema.)
Ive spoken to Celine Dion. (She is still alive, so I may speak to her again.)
John Ashbery has written many poems. (He is still alive.)
4. We use the present perfect to introduce new information or to announce a recent happening and the past tense if we continue to talk about it, to bring more details:
A: Ow! Ive burnt myself!
B: How did you do that?
A: I touched a hot dish.
C: Look! Somebody has spilt milk on the carpet.
D: Well, it wasnt me. I didnt do it.
C: I wonder who it was then.
E: Have you seen the film?
F: Yes, I have.
E: When did you see it?
F: I saw it last week.
G: Have you read his new book?
H: Yes, I have.
G: Did you like it?
H: Oh, yes, I enjoyed it a lot.
The police have finally arrested Peter Duncan. He was trying to leave the country when they caught him.
A terrible accident has happened: (yesterday at 8.30 p.m.) a car ran into a group of children and killed three of them.
5. There are certain adverbials which combine with either the past tense or the present perfect but with a difference in meaning:
now = then, at that point in the story
now = at this moment
once = on a certain occasion, at one time, a long time ago
He once lived in Scotland, but he moved to London almost ten years ago.
already, still, yet, before = as early as then
It was only 12 oclock, but I was already hungry.
for a long time in the past
He was a teacher for a long time, but now he doesnt teach anymore.
ever, never, always they refer to a period of time which is completely past
Did you ever meet his sister? (while you spent your holiday in that town)
She always loved him. (As long as she lived.)
Nobody ever helped David Copperfield when he worked in London.
Did you ever see a more beautiful landscape?
once = one time (contrasting with twice, three times, etc.)
Ive been to Spain once and to Italy three times so far.
already, still, yet, before = as early / late as now
Look, Adrian has already finished his homework.
for a long time up to now
I have lived in this town for a long time.
always, ever, never they refer to a period of time extending up to the present (= at any / no time up to the present)
I have never seen such a beautiful girl before.
This is the first time I have ever been abroad.
PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
It is used:
1. for a past action which happened before another past action or before a stated time in the past:
She had finished work when she met her friends for coffee. (She finished work first and then she met her friends.)
When I got to the station, the train had left.(The train left before I got to the station.)
When I had read the letter, I started to cry. (I finished reading the letter before I started to cry.)
After we had passed our exams, we went out to celebrate.
2. for an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past:
He was happy. He had signed an important contract. (The action finished in the past and its result was visible in the past, too.)
Note that the past perfect can be used as the past equivalent of:
1. the present perfect:
a) the present perfect looks back from the present and the past perfect looks back from the past compare:
Ann and Michael have just got married. It was June 1991. Ann and Michael had just got married.
Jeremys 21 now and hes been in a Jeremy was 21 and he had been in a wheelchair since
wheelchair since he was 10. he was 10.[3]
b) the present perfect expresses an action which finished in the past and whose results are visible in the present, and the past perfect expresses an action which finished in the past and whose result was visible in the past:
He has fixed the old armchair. It looks brand new. (The action has fixed happened in the past. The result looks brand new is still visible in the present.)
He had fixed the old armchair. It looked brand new. (The action had fixed happened in the past. The result looked brand new was also visible in the past.)
c) in reported speech: to replace a verb in the present perfect from direct speech when the reporting verb is in the past:
Ive had a lovely time. He said he had had a lovely time.
2. the past simple:
a) we use it when we want to narrate events looking back from a point in the past compare:
Jane MacDonald is now 28. She started working for the company when she was eighteen. She quickly climbed the career ladder and is now the youngest managing director the company has ever appointed.
Jane MacDonald was then 28. She had started working for the company when she was eighteen. She had quickly climbed the career ladder and was now the youngest managing director the company had ever appointed.
NOTES:
q The verb in the when clause remains in the past simple when the main verb is in the past perfect: She had started working for the company when she was eighteen.
q For reasons of style, the narration is not likely to continue for very long in the past perfect. The story usually returns quite quickly to the main time reference point, which is in the past simple.
q If we narrate the events in the order in which they occurred, there is no need for the past perfect: Jane MacDonald started working for the company when she was eighteen. She quickly climbed the career ladder and became the youngest ever managing director at the age of 28.
b) in reported speech: a statement or question I the past simple (in direct speech) is put into the past perfect in reported speech when the reporting verb is in the past:
I tried to phone you earlier. She said she had tried to phone me earlier. 4
In conditional clauses (after if) or in clauses after wish, if only the past perfect for may be used with the value of past conditional / subjunctive:
If I had known you were at home, I would have called you.
I wish I had never met him. If only they had stayed at home
The past perfect is used with the following time expressions: before, after, already, just, for since, till / until, when, by, by the time, never, etc.
NOTE: We can use the past perfect or the past simple with before and after without any difference in meaning:
They went out after it had stopped / stopped raining.
After we had passed / passed our exams we went out to celebrate.
PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
It is used:
1. to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started and finished in the past before another past action or before a stated time in the past (usually with since or for):
They had been looking for a house for six months before they found one they liked.
2. for an action which lasted for some time in the past and whose result / effect / consequence was visible in the past:
Last Friday Ron had to fly to New York. His flight was delayed. He was annoyed. He had been waiting at the airport for three hours.
Note that the past perfect continuous is the past equivalent of the present perfect continuous:
a) the present perfect continuous describes an activity of some duration looking back from the present and the past perfect continuous describes an activity of some duration looking back from the past compare:
The dog from next door has been barking for two hours.
It was 1 oclock and the dog from next door had been barking for two hours.
b) the present perfect continuous describes an activity of some duration which started in the past and whose effects are visible in the present, and the past continuous describes an activity which lasted for some time in the past and whose result was visible in the past compare:
Im very tired. Ive been working all day.
Why are you so wet? What have you been doing?
I was very tired. I had been working all day.
Why were you so wet? What had you been doing?
c) in reported speech, to replace a verb in the present perfect continuous from direct speech when the reporting verb is in the past:
Its been raining here for days, she said. She said it had been raining there for days.
The past perfect continuous is used with the following time expressions: for, since, how long, before, until, etc.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
PAST SIMPLE
The past simple is used for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past:
When Jim came home, he and his wife watched a film on TV. (Jim came home and then they watched a film together.)
PAST CONTINUOUS
The past continuous is used for a past action which was in progress when another action interrupted it:
When Jim came home, his wife was watching a film on TV. (She was still watching the film when Jim came home.)
PAST PERFECT
The past perfect is used for a past action which happened before another past action or a specific time in the past:
When Jim came home, his wife had already watched the film on TV. (She watched the film first. Jim came home afterwards.)
When Jim came home, his wife had already prepared the dinner and was waiting for him, so they had dinner together.
We can use the past simple, past continuous or past perfect without any difference in meaning with verbs such as to think, hope, mean, expect, etc. for things we hoped or wished to do, but didnt:
I expected / was expecting / had expected him to call me, but he didnt.
FUTURE TENSE SIMPLE
It is used:
1. to make a statement of fact or a prediction about the future:
Mary will be here tomorrow.
Tonights programme will be very interesting.
2. in predictions about the future to express hopes, expectations, thoughts about the future usually with the verbs to think, assume, doubt, reckon, suppose, hope, expect, believe, etc., the expressions to be sure, be afraid, etc., and adverbs such as probably, perhaps, possibly, certainly, definitely etc.:
Im afraid we wont be on time for the meeting.
I hope you will keep in touch with me.
Perhaps Ill move house.
I expect theyll be here soon.
Do you think shell bring her boyfriend with her?
3. for on-the-spot decisions;
Ill take this leg of lamb.
Im hungry. Ill cook something to eat.
There isnt any milk left. Oh, isnt there? Ill get some in town then when I go out.
4. for promises (usually with the verbs to promise, swear, guarantee, etc.), threats, warnings, requests, and offers:
I dont understand this exercise. Will you help me? Of course! Ill explain it to you. (request offer)
I promise Ill be on time.
Ill do it for you, I promise.
Ill look after the children for you. (offer)
Yes, Ill come with you. (agreement)
Stop that or Ill call the police. (threat)
Ill definitely tell him the truth this time. (determination)
5. for actions / events / situations which will definitely happen in the future and which we cannot control:
a) to present weather forecasts:
The temperature will reach 40o C tomorrow.
Rain will continue throughout the day.
Summer will be here soon.
b) to make formal announcements of future plans:
The new President will move into the White House tomorrow.
c) other future events that we cannot control and will inevitably happen:
Their baby will be born in the summer.
OTHER VALUES OF SHALL AND WILL
We use:
will you? to give an order or make a request:
Will you stop talking, please? (=Please stop talking.)
Will you help me with my luggage, please?
Will you open the window, please?
wont to express unwillingness or an emphatic refusal, even when the subject is not a person:
Ive told him not to do that, but he wont listen. (=He refuses to listen.)
The washing machine wont work.
We use wouldnt to refer to the past:
I asked him to help me, but he wouldnt. (=He was unwilling to help me.)
shall I / we?
a) to make an offer:
Shall I do the washing-up for you? (=Do you want me to do the washing-up for you?)
Shall I help you with that?
Shall I come with you?
b) to make a suggestion:
Shall we go out for dinner tonight? (=Why dont we go out for dinner tonight?)
c) to ask for suggestions, advice, instructions:
Where shall I put the vase? On the table.
What shall we do tonight? We could go out.
What shall we do tomorrow?
What shall I wear?
NOTES ON THE USE OF SHALL:
In spoken English, shall is most often used in the question form with I or we to make offers or suggestions or to ask for suggestions, advice, instructions (see a, b, c, above).
Shall is occasionally used to express strong determination about oneself or someone else (see Modal shall):
I shall go anyway. I dont care what you think.
I shant let him bully me.
You shall have whatever you want.
Shall in the first person, will in the second and third may also express volition:
I shall say what I like. (determination)
You will wait here till I come back. (obedience is taken for granted)
You will understand that this is strictly confidential. (a confident assumption on the part of the speaker less domineering attitude)
The idea of futurity is often combined with that of the will of the speaker or writer. In this case shall is used in the second and third persons, will in the first person:
I will (Ill) do what I can.
We wont detain you any longer.
Anyone found guilty of robbery shall be shot at once.
He refuses to go? I tell you he shall go.
Shall can be used in the same way as will in the first person, but will is more common. In spoken English, the contraction ll is the most common. Shall is used more frequently in formal written English than in informal written or spoken English:
We shall make every effort to answer your enquiry as soon as possible.
I shall be at the airport to meet you in person.
BE GOING TO
It is used:
1. for plans, intentions, ambitions we have for the future:
Im going to become a famous violinist one day. (ambition)
Now that theyve won the lottery, they are going to buy a big house. (intention / plan)
Now that shes passed her exams shes going to train to be a solicitor.
2. for actions intended to be performed in the near future, things we are sure about or we have already decided to do in the near future:
Im going to join a gym on Saturday.
Im going to visit Bob tomorrow.
They are going to operate on his leg. (It has been decided.)
They are going to get married in three months. (They have already decided to do it.)
BUT: Theyre getting married next month. (They have decided and arranged to do it.)
3. to make predictions (about the near future) based on present evidence:
Look at the clouds! Its going to rain.
Those dark clouds mean its going to rain soon.
The suns going down. Its going to be dark in half an hour.
Its so hot Im going to faint.
to express what appears likely or inevitable:
Its going to be difficult to persuade him to change his mind.
NOTE:
We normally use be going to to talk about something we intend to do and will to give details or make comments:
A: Im going to have a party next week. Ill invite all my friends.
B: Thatll be great.
We normally use the present continuous rather than be going to with verbs which express movement, especially the verbs to go and come:
Sam is going to the market in a few minutes.
Sheila is coming to my house for tea this afternoon.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
FUTURE SIMPLE
We use the future simple:
to make predictions based on what we think, believe or imagine, to express beliefs, hopes, thoughts, assumptions, doubts about the future:
In the year 2020 people will drive electric cars.
Itll be a difficult year for the new Prime Minister.
Im sure youll enjoy yourself here.
to make a statement of future fact or of the speakers beliefs:
The number of students will fall over the next five years.
to express on-the-spot-decisions; the intention is unpremeditated; the decision is made at the time of speaking or writing:
I like this one better than the other one. Ill take it.
You know its Emilys birthday on Friday, dont you? Actually Id forgotten. Thanks for reminding me. Ill buy her a present this afternoon.
to express willingness:
Ill help you as much as I can. (expression of willingness; a promise)
BE GOING TO
We use be going to:
to make a prediction based on what we can see or what we know some form of evidence that exists in the present:
Look at her! Shes going to cut the sunflowers.
Oh look! That car is going to crash.
That child eats too much. Hes going to be really overweight one day.
to make a statement of future fact but emphasising that the speaker is thinking of present trends; it makes the speaker seem more involved and is thus more informal:
The number of students is going to fall over the next five years.
to express actions we have already decided to do in the future; the intention is premeditated; the decision was made before the time of speaking or writing and plans have probably already been made:
Do you like this blouse that Ive just bought? Yes. Why? Im going to give it to my daughter as a gift.
You know its Emilys birthday on Friday, dont you? Yes, Im going to buy her a present this afternoon.
to express intention but not willingness:
Im going to help you as much as I can. (expression of intent)
When we use will, the emphasis is more on the future than on its link with the present.
Will is more formal and is therefore used more extensively in written English.
Be going to always indicates a link with the present:
a) present intention / plans / preparations
b) present evidence of a future event
Be going to is less formal and is used extensively in spoken English.
Note also the difference in the following examples:
He will sell his house. (rare)
Hell sell it if you ask him. (normal) (the future event depends on external circumstances here, condition)
Hes going to sell his house. (normal) (a simple affirmative statement, with no external circumstances)
He is going to sell it if you ask him. (rare)
The future simple and be going to are used with the following time expressions: tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, tonight, soon, next week / month / year, in a week / month / year, in two / three days / weeks, etc.
PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS with future meaning
It is used to express actions we have decided and arranged to do in the near future. It is quite informal and is used to describe personal arrangements (such as social activities or travel arrangements), not official plans. As it refers to personal arrangements (implying therefore an element of personal planning, intention, agreement on the part of the subject), the subject of the verb should be a person and not a thing (see Present Tense Continuous 7, and Present Tense Simple vs. Present Tense Continuous 3):
Im meeting Charlotte for lunch tomorrow.
Shes meeting her aunt this weekend.
Im flying to Lisbon tomorrow morning.
The future time reference must be stated or be clear from the context.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
BE GOING TO
Be going to places more emphasis on the intention we are talking merely about intentions for the future:
Im going to visit my aunt in hospital tomorrow.
They are going to get married in three months. (They have decided to do it.)
PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS
The present continuous places more emphasis on the arrangement we have not merely decided to do something in the (near) future but we have also made arrangements:
Im visiting my aunt in hospital tomorrow.
Theyre getting married next month. (They have decided and arranged to do it.)
We do not generally use the present continuous with activities that do not involve the making of an arrangement or plan:
We can say: Im going to write a letter to my parents tonight. (the intention is important)
But we do not say: *Im writing a letter to my parents tonight. (no arrangement is required)
We tend to avoid using verbs of motion (to go, to come) in the be going to future and prefer instead to use the present continuous with these verbs:
Were going to the theatre tonight.
We use be going to to make a prediction based on present evidence:
Look at that helicopter coming down. Its going to land in a minute.
We do not necessarily need to state the future reference when we use the be going to future; we know it refers to the future. If no future time reference is stated or made clear from the context we must use be going to to refer to the future:
Hes going to have a swim. (in the future)
We do not use the present continuous to make a prediction based on present evidence:
*Look at that helicopter coming down. Its landing in a minute.
We can only use the present tense continuous as future with a future time reference or where the future time reference is clear from the context:
Im meeting my friend for lunch tomorrow.
Ive made plans for this weekend: Im going to the mountains.
If no future time reference is stated or made clear from the context where a present continuous is used, it is understood as referring to the present:
Hes having a swim. (=now, if there is no time reference)
Verbs not normally used in the continuous aspect can be used with the be going to future:
Im going to need some help next week.
This does not happen very often, however, as these verbs do not describe events that we normally predict or intend.
Verbs not normally used in the continuous aspect are not used in the present continuous as future:
We
cannot say: *Im needing some help next week.
PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE with future meaning
We can use the present simple to refer to future events:
a) when the event is part of a fixed timetable, programme, etc., e.g. a travel timetable, a holiday itinerary, other organized events, an official trip made by a member of the government. The event or the timing is fixed by some official body, organisation or timetable. (Verbs commonly used in this way are those associated with announcements about timetables, schedules, organized events, etc., for example verbs of motion: to come, go, leave, depart, stop, arrive etc., or verbs expressing planned activity: to begin, start, end, finish, close, open.)[4] it is accompanied by adverbials indicating future time (see Present Tense Simple 18):
The flight leaves at 6 oclock in the morning.
You spend the first night of the trip in a hotel in London.
b) in calendar references:
Tomorrow is Friday.
The day after tomorrow is June1st.
Christmas is on a Tuesday next year.
Tomorrow is Bellas birthday.
We use the present simple and not future forms:
a) in time clauses (after: when, while, before, after, until / till, as, whenever, once, as soon as, as long as, by the time, etc.):
Call me as soon as you get back. (NOT: *Call me as
soon as you will get back.)
Well phone you when we get there.
Please wait until I get back.
b) in conditional clauses (after: if, unless, in case, on condition that, suppose / supposing):
I will go the Andrews party if I have the time.
c) after: everything, anything, whatever, it is important, etc.:
Everything that you say will be recorded.
You will do whatever I ask you to.
BUT: We use future forms:
a) with when when it is used as a question word, and not as a time word introducing a time clause:
When will they get married?
Im not sure when they will visit us. (Note that here when does not introduce a time clause, but a clause which functions as the object of Im not sure / I dont know etc. Im not sure about something, I dont know it / this, i.e. when they will visit us = the time / date of their visit and within the clause that it introduces it functions as a time word, just like in a direct question: When will they visit us?.)
b) with if (when if = whether) when it does not introduce a conditional clause but an object clause, after expressions which show ignorance, uncertainty, etc. such as I dont know, I wonder, I doubt, etc.:
I dont know if / whether hell move house.
I doubt if / whether shell pass her exams.
BUT: If you call her, give her my regards. (Note that we cannot use whether in conditional clauses.)
It is used:
1. to describe a) an action / activity which will be in progress at stated future time or b) an activity that will cover the whole of a future time period:
a) This time next week, well be cruising round the islands.
This time tomorrow well be sitting on the plane.
This time next year shell be running her own business.
b) Ill be working in the office all evening.
2. to express an action which will definitely happen in the future as the result of a routine (as part of the normal course of events) or arrangement:
Dont call Julie. Ill be seeing her later, so Ill pass the message on.
Oh dear, I havent given Derek that book back. Thats all right. Ill be seeing him at the music club tonight so Ill give it to him for you.
Ill be playing tennis on Sunday. (I play tennis every Sunday its part of my routine.)
3. when we ask politely about someones plans / arrangements to see if our wishes fit in with their plans (usually to see if they can do something for us or because we want to offer to do something for them so the question is the prelude to a request or a suggestion):
Will you be going shopping to the supermarket today? Yes, why? Can you buy me some milk?
Will you be using the photocopier for long? No, why? I need to make some photocopies.
4. to indicate that we view a series of actions as a temporary arrangement:
Wed better move the dining table into the kitchen. Well be eating there during the winter.
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
FUTURE TENSE SIMPLE
The future simple expresses intention, belief hope, assumption and willingness:
Ill come and visit you tomorrow. (intention / promise)
FUTURE TENSE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous indicates a future activity or event which will definitely happen because it is part of the normal course of events (the result of a routine or arrangement), but it does not express deliberate intention:
You dont need to call Julie now. Ill be seeing her tomorrow at work anyway, so I can pass the message on.
Note that in a context where we use both the future simple and the future continuous, the future continuous describes the action which will happen anyway in the future, independent of the subjects will, because it is in the normal course of events to occur (for instance seeing you colleagues at work, although your wish to see them is not the reason why you go to work), not because it is the express intention of the subject, while the future simple expresses intention. The future continuous is used to refer to an arrangement when this arrangement is relevant to the main future vent in the sentence which is expressed by the future simple:
Ill be revising for my exams this weekend so I think Ill stay in on Saturday night. (The intention expressed here is to stay in on Saturday. The arrangement / plan to revise is relevant to this decision.)
Have you ever been sailing? No, but well be spending the summer on the coast so Ill try it then. (Here, the speaker refers to the arrangement to spend summer on the coast in connection to the main idea of the sentence to try sailing.)
The future simple is used in questions to express a request, to make an offer or an invitation:
Will you come to the meeting tonight? (request / invitation)
the future continuous is used in questions when we ask about someones plans / arrangements to see if our wishes / plans / intentions fit in with their plans usually to see if they can do
Will come to my birthday party on Saturday? (invitation)
Will you help with my homework, please? (request)
something for us or because we want to offer to do something for them. We notice again that the plans / arrangements we enquire about in the future continuous are relevant in as much as we want to formulate a request or an offer for the future that is connected to those plans:
Will you be using your bike tomorrow? No, I wont. Well, I wonder if I could borrow it for the afternoon.'
MAKE THE DIFFERENCE
PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS
The present continuous is used to refer to personal plans / arrangements for the (near) future:
Were spending the summer on the coast. (speaking about your personal arrangement for the first time)
The present continuous expresses a pre-arranged plan and the future time adverbial used with it indicates the time the action will begin:
Im having a lesson at two oclock tomorrow.(the lesson will begin at that time)
FUTURE TENSE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous ca also be used to refer to arrangements. However, it is not generally used when we first tell someone about a plan (the present tense continuous is used). It is often used to refer to an arrangement when this arrangement / plan is relevant to the main future event in the sentence:
Have you ever been sailing? No, but well be spending the summer on the coast so I might try it then. (referring to the arrangement to spend summer on the coast in connection with the main idea of the sentence to try sailing)
The future continuous expresses an action which will be in progress at a certain time in the future indicated by the adverbial:
I shall be having a lesson at two oclock tomorrow. (the lesson may already be in progress at that time)
FUTURE PERFECT SIMPLE
It is used to express an action which will be finished before a stated future time or before another future action:
She will have delivered all the newspapers by 8 oclock.
She will have finished this book by tomorrow.
He will have finished his homework by the time his parents get home.
I shall have finished my work by five oclock.
The snow will have disappeared before the end of April.
The future perfect is used with the following time expressions: before, by, by then, by the time, until / till.
FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS
It is used to emphasise the duration of an action up to a certain time in the future:
By the end of next month, she will have been teaching for twenty years.
Shell have been working here for ten years soon.
They might be tired when you see them because they will have been working hard.
Next Monday I shall have been staying in England for three years.
The future perfect continuous is most frequently used with: byfor.
NOTE: Until / Till are only used in negative sentences:
a)
She will have
finished the report by tomorrow. (NOT: until/till tomorrow.)
b) She wont have completed the report until/till 5 oclock.
NOTE: After the time expressions by the time, until, before, we use the present simple (NOT the future) because they introduce time clauses. The future perfect simple and continuous (the main clause) may come either before or after the time clause:
I wont have finished cleaning the house until you come back.
By the time they reach New York, they will have been travelling for four hours.
WILL AS A MODAL VERB
We can use will followed by the bare infinitive (present, continuous or perfect) the same forms as the future simple, future continuous or future perfect to make a prediction about the present or past, that is to say what we believe / assume may be happening or have happened (to express probability):
a) Theres somebody on the phone for you. Thatll be my mother.
b) Dont call her now, shell be sleeping.
c) Its seven oclock. Dad will have left the office by now.
You will have heard that I am going to America.
The invitations will have been sent by now.
OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING THE FUTURE
BE TO + Infinitive (formal English) is used for:
a) formal plans, official arrangements:
The President is to visit Poland next Monday.
The British Ambassador is to meet the President at the White House on Friday.
The factory is to close for three days for repairs.
She is to become the youngest Member of Parliament in our history.
b) instructions and prohibitions:
Youre to be there by eight oclock.
Youre not to cross the road without me.
BE DUE TO + Infinitive is used for arrangements that are to take place at a fixed time, often used with timetables and official itineraries:
Their flight is due to arrive at 6.15.
Clares due to have her operation in three weeks time.
BE ABOUT TO + Infinitive / BE ON THE POINT OF + -ing form are used to refer to the immediate future:
Look! The bus is about to leave.
Dont start talking to them now: theyre about to leave.
The company is on the point of closing down.
It is understood that the Chancellor is on the point of announcing his resignation.
BE SURE TO / BE CERTAIN TO / BE BOUND TO + Infinitive are used to express certainty about the future:
This plan is sure to / is bound to succeed.
Certain verbs (to plan, intend, arrange, decide, mean, propose, hope) + Infinitive are used to refer to plans or intentions about the future:
We intend to buy a bigger flat.
They plan / intend / are proposing / hope / have agreed / have promised to build a new shopping centre in town.
THE FUTURE IN THE PAST
We use the following patterns to talk about things we intended to do or plans we had for the future but which we did not accomplish:
was going to / was to / was about to / was due to + infinitive:
Mr Simon was going to resign, but the manager offered him a better salary. (so he didnt resign)
I was going to tell you myself (but I see you already know)
was on the point of + -ing form:
They were on the point of leaving the house when the phone rang. (so they didnt leave)
The past simple and continuous may be used as past equivalents of the present simple and continuous with future meaning.
In Reported Speech, when the reporting verb is in the past, will and shall become would and should:
OK, then, Ill go there tomorrow. => He promised me he would go there the following day.
[1] There are also some verbs that are not used in this way, viz., those verbs not normally used in a progressive form verbs referring to activities of the mind or senses (know, understand, realise, etc.), and those referring to a state or condition (contain, resemble, equal, etc.). We do not make statements such as:
*I know the answer tomorrow.
*He resembles his father in a few years time.
[2] Note that, usually, the result of an action expressed by the present perfect continuous is rather the effect that the action has upon its author (examples 3-8). It is not necessarily the result which was expected of the action (as may be the case in the first two examples), its purpose fulfilled (as it is the case with results of actions expressed by the present perfect simple), but rather a consequence, a side effect.
[3] Note that we use was in the since clause in both sentences.
4 The verb may also remain in the past simple: She said she tried to phone me earlier.
[4] There are also some verbs that are not used in this way, viz., those verbs not normally used in a progressive form verbs referring to activities of the mind or senses (know, understand, realise, etc.), and those referring to a state or condition (contain, resemble, equal, etc.). We do not make statements such as:
*I know the answer tomorrow.
*He resembles his father in a few years time.
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