B2 Present and Past tenses

PRESENT AND PAST TENSES

Beatriz P. Rubio López

Present continuous

Past continuous

Past Perfect

Present Perfect

Past simple

Present simple

PRESENT

PAST

PAST PERFECT

SIMPLE:

• It is commonly used when we want to talk about actions that happened before another action or actions in the past. In other words, "el pasado más pasado que el pasado".

It was a Thursday afternoon... we had made a pact.

CONTINUOUS:

• When we want to emphasise the process and duration of the action.

All the stuff that I had been doing.

PAST SIMPLE

• Describe finished actions or situations in the past.

I slept for 70 year.

• Say one thing that happened after another.

When the teacher came in, we took out our books.

PAST CONTINUOUS

• Activities in progress at a moment in the past.

I was sharpening my knives for all of your.

• Describe scenes in a story or description.

They were all wearing long coats because the cold wind was blowing hard.

• Talk about activities in progress when another, shorter activity happened or interrupted it. It tells us that an action was in progress, but not the activity was finished.

I was listening to the music when my father suddenly ran into the room.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

• To say how long something has lasted until the present (FOR and SINCE).

Mark's lived here for 3 months.

• When an activity has been repeated many times up until now and it is likely to continue to happen.

I have watched this movie a dozen times.

• An action that happened at an unspecific time moment in the past. What is significant is the experience, not when it happened.

I have been to Egypt.

• An action that started in the past and continues in the present.

I have never given up in my entire life.

• Actions that finished very recently and/or are connected to now and achievements.

They've just called.

• This is the X time...

This is the third time it has rained today.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

• When we use the present perfect simple yet we aim to emphasise the process and duration of the action.

People from the palace have been asking about me.

PRESENT SIMPLE

• Habits and routines

25 drivers start every season in F1, and each year, two of us die.

• Things that are true now

I am in love with you.

• General truths (scientific facts)

Water boils at 100 degrees celsius

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

• Actions that are happening in the moment we are speaking.

Your case, it's vexing you.

• Present continuous with "always, constantly, forever, continually..." for habits that irritate us.

You are always talking.

PRESENT AND PAST HABITS

Past habits and states

Present habits

• Present simple: to refer to habits in the present. It is usually accompanied by adverbs of frequency. Ben usually plays golf at the weekend.
• Present continuous: We use 'always', or 'constantly' to imply that the habit is annoying. Andy is always shouting.
• Will: to refer to habits in the present, actions that are expected and frequently repeated. She'll tell you all about her life even if you're not interested.

• Would and used to: things we did regularly in the past but we do not do now. I used to play basketball.
• Would CANNOT be used with states (describe a static condition, situation, or state of being) and in negative for past habits. He would have a bike.

• Past continuous: We use 'always', or 'constantly' to imply that the habit is annoying. Andy was always shouting.

FUTURE IN THE PAST: I was going to tell you the truth, but it was too late. I was about to tell you the truth, but it was too late.