C2 U1 G1 - Review of Present & Perfect Tenses, Simple & Continuous

Close-Up C2 Unit 1

Grammar 1 - Review of Present & Present Perfect Tenses; Simple & Continuous Tenses

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Learning Objectives

• Review of Present and Present Perfect Tenses
• Simple and Continuous Tenses

Warm Up

Reveal answers

Click to highlight the verbs in each sentence.

Your brain controls all of your actions.

He's checking the results at the moment.

He's been running the lab for six months.

The experiment has finished.

Match the sentences with what tenses have been used and what they express.

Tense

This sentence talks about:

Your brain controls all of your actions.

The experiment has finished.

He's checking the results at the moment.

He's been running the lab for six months.

Present Continuous

Drag &Drop

Present Simple

An event that has started in the past and is still in progress.

An event that happened at an unspecified time in the past.

Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect Simple

An action that is in progress at the time of speaking.

A scientific fact.

Exercise A - Review of Present & Present Perfect Tenses

Read the sentences and match 1–4 with a–d. Focus on the words in bold in each sentence as well as any time expressions or adverbs of frequency.

1. Neuroscientists have made exciting new discoveries about how the brain works.

2. I know what you're thinking, it shows on your face.

3. I've been trying to work out this puzzle for ages and I've just solved it.

4. He's unhappy at work because his colleagues are always bullying him.

Present Continuous for a situation happening now, Present Simple with a stative verb.

Drag &Drop

Present Perfect Simple for an unspecified time in the past, Present Simple for a scientific fact.

Present Simple with the verb to be, Present Continuous to express an annoying habit.

Present Perfect Continuous to emphasise how long actions have been in progress, Present Perfect Simple for an event that has just finished.

Exercise B - Simple & Continuous Tenses

5 questions

Can you name the tenses used in these pairs of sentences? The same verb can have different meanings when it is used in simple tenses and continuous tenses. What is the difference in meaning between each pair?

1. I've been getting to know her. I've gotten to know her.

1. I've been getting to know her. I've gotten to know her.

2. The dog smelt terrible. The dog was smelling the flowers.

2. The dog smelt terrible. The dog was smelling the flowers.

3. The patient had forgotten to take her pills. The patient had been forgetting to take her pills.

3. The patient had forgotten to take her pills. The patient had been forgetting to take her pills.

4. They imagine themselves somewhere calm. They are imagining themselves somewhere calm.

4. They imagine themselves somewhere calm. They are imagining themselves somewhere calm.

5. I understood the problem. I was working on a solution.

5. I understood the problem. I was working on a solution.

Exercise C - Simple & Continuous Tenses

Which verb form is used for the following, Continuous or Simple?

Continuous

Simple

to focus on the duration of an action

to express that an action or idea is permanent

Drag &Drop

to focus on completion of an action

with a stative verb that cannot be used to express an action

to express that an action may still be happening

ListeN

Present Simple

ListeN

Note: Some common time expressions that are often used with the Present Simple are every day/week/month/summer, every other day, once a week, twice a month, at the weekend, in January, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night, on Tuesdays, on Friday mornings, etc. We get together with the family every summer.Remember We often use adverbs of frequency with the Present Simple. They tell us how often something happens. They come before the main verb, but after the verb be. I sometimes meet my friends at weekends. My grandfather rarely talks about his youth. Jane is never grateful for anything. Some common adverbs of frequency are: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, hardly ever/seldom and never.

We use the Present Simple for

• facts or general truths. They say that opposites attract.
• routines or habits (often with adverbs of frequency). This student always sits at the back of the class.
• permanent states.Their childhood home remains empty.
• timetabled events in the future. The meeting takes place tomorrow.
• narratives (including stories, jokes, commentaries, etc.). In this scene, Al Pacino gets out of the car and walks into the hotel.
• news headlines. Local woman wins lottery.
• after the last time to show annoyance or regret about a past action. I told her that in confidence. That's the last time I trust a friend with a secret!

Present Continuous

Note: Some time expressions that are often used with the Present Continuous are: at the moment, now, for the time being, this morning/afternoon/evening/week/month/year, today, etc. I'm living at home for the time being.Remember Stative verbs are not usually used in continuous tenses because they describe states and not actions. To talk about the present, we use these verbs in the Present Simple tense. Charlene adores reality television shows. The coffee brewing in the kitchen smells wonderful.

We use the Present Continuous for

• actions that are in progress at the time of speaking. My son is texting his friend at the moment.
• actions that are in progress around the time of speaking. The bullies aren't bothering her for the time being.
• situations that are temporary. We are staying with relatives for a few days.
• an annoying habit (often with always, continually, constantly and forever). The brothers are always arguing.
• describing what is happening in a picture. A couple are walking hand in hand down the street.
• plans and arrangements for the future. She's meeting her auntie next weekend.
• situations that are changing or developing in the present. People are becoming more and more dependent on social media.

Present Perfect Simple

We use the Present Perfect Simple for

• something that started in the past and has continued until now. They have lived in the same house since they got married.
• something that happened in the past but we don't know exactly when. Helen has met her friend's family.
• something that happened in the past and has a result that affects the present. We are thrilled because we have become grandparents!

• an action that has just finished. She has just phoned her mother.

• experiences and achievements. She has organised several school reunions.
• an action that happened several times or repeatedly in the past. She has visited her cousin several times this month.

• Superlatives and expressions the first/second time.This is the third time I've asked if you're coming.

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Present Perfect Simple are already, ever, for, for a long time, for ages, just, never, once, recently, since last Monday/June, so far, twice, until now, yet, etc. She has never lost contact with her best friend. Remember We use have been when someone has gone somewhere and has now returned. We use have gone when someone has gone somewhere and is still there. Jim has been to school and now he's on the bus home. Jim has gone to school and will be home at four o'clock.

Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous for

• actions that started in the past and are still in progress or have happened repeatedly until now.They have been getting a lot of friend requests recently.
• actions that happened repeatedly in the past and have finished recently but that have results affecting the present. I've been updating the family tree so it includes the younger generation.
• emphasising how long actions have been in progress for. Her teachers have been following her progress for years.
• a recent or unfinished action. She has been chatting with her friends online.

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Present Perfect Continuous are all day/night/week, for years/a long time/ages, lately, recently, since. We can use How long …? with the Present Perfect Continuous in questions and for (very) long in questions and negative sentences.Sheila has been checking social media all afternoon. How long have they been staying with their aunt?

Past Simple

We use the Past Simple for

• actions that started and finished in the past. The boys became friends at primary school, back in 1970.
• past routines and habits (often with adverbs of frequency). In the 70s, children usually walked to school.

• past states. The school stood at the end of their street.
• actions that happened one after the other in the past, for example in a narrative. We met outside the cinema and discussed which film to watch.

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Past Simple are yesterday, last week/month/summer, a week/month/year ago, twice a week, once a month, at the weekend, in April, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night, on Sundays, on Tuesday mornings, etc. We attended a school reunion last month.

Past Continuous

We use the Past Continuous for

• actions that were in progress at a specific time in the past. Pete was chatting with his friends until late last night.
• two or more actions that were in progress at the same time in the past. As she was checking her email, she was deleting all the spam.
• giving background information in a story. People were holding street parties to celebrate a national holiday.
• an action that was in progress in the past and was interrupted by another action. We were enjoying the performance when someone's mobile phone rang.
• temporary situations in the past. Ken's son wasn't talking to him at the time.
• actions in the past that were annoying (usually with always/forever/continually, etc.) The eldest son had a short fuse and was always taking his anger out on his siblings.

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Past Continuous are while, as, all day/week/month/year, at six o'clock yesterday, last Monday/week/month, this morning, etc. The family were planning their holiday all week.

Past Perfect Simple

We use the Past Perfect Simple for

• an action or situation that finished before another past action or situation. Jen had asked permission before she borrowed her mum's book. She had never realised she was an extrovert until she took the test. By the time she received her friend's invitation, she had already made other plans.

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Past Perfect Simple are before, after, when, already, for, for a long time/ages, just, never, once, since 1999/last night, yet, etc. We hadn't met our whole extended family for years.

Past Perfect Continuous

Note: Some time expressions often used with the Past Perfect Continuous are all day/night/week, for years/a long time/ages, since etc. We can use How long …? with the Past Perfect Continuous in questions and for (very) long in questions and negative sentences. They hadn't been talking for very long when they found out they had a mutual friend.

We use the Past Perfect Continuous for

• actions that started in the past and were still in progress when another past action started or when something happened. Ian had been searching for years when he finally found his long lost brother.
• actions that were in progress in the past and had an effect on a later action. Dave was frustrated because he had been searching for his passport all morning.

6 questions

Exercise D

Choose the correct option to complete the sentence. Think about which function of each tense is being used in each item, whether verbs are stative, and look out for time expressions and adverbs of frequency that are used with these tenses.

10 questions

Exercise E

Choose the correct words to complete the sentence. Read the whole sentence to look for any clues before circling the correct answer. Pay particular attention to time expressions, adverbs of frequency and the tenses of other verbs in the sentences. Re-read the sentence once you have finished to check your answer.

Exercise F

6 questions

Complete the sentences with the verbs in brackets. In each sentence use one Continuous and one Simple form. You will need to consider all of the present, present perfect, past and past perfect tenses. Read the whole sentence to look for any clues. Pay particular attention to time expressions, adverbs of frequency and the tenses of other verbs in the sentence. Re-read the sentence once you have finished.

1. Recently, scientists ___ (make) several important discoveries about how the brain works but they still ___ (need) to do more research.

Type the correct verb forms below.

2. She always ___ (know) when her brother ___ (lie) because he would turn bright red.

Type the correct verb forms below. Use one Continuous and one Simple form.

3. I ___ (fall) asleep when a thought ___ (occur) to me.

Type the correct verb forms below. use one Continuous and one Simple form.

4. The criminal ___ (not understand) that someone ___ (follow) her for months before she was arrested.

Type the correct verb forms below. use one Continuous and one Simple form.

5. The researcher's office is quiet because he ___ (not like) a lot of distractions when he ___ (think).

Type the correct verb forms below. use one Continuous and one Simple form.

6. The writer ___ (sell) her first novel a decade ago and currently she ___ (work) on her fifth.

Type the correct verb forms below. use one Continuous and one Simple form.

Well Done

Close-Up C2 Unit 1

Grammar 1 - Review of Present & Present Perfect Tenses; Simple & Continuous Tenses