Present Perfect Continuous

Present Simple

♦ for permanent states, repeated actions and daily routines.

He works in a bank. He takes the train to work every morning.

♦ for general truths and laws of nature.

The sun sets in the west.

♦ for timetables (planes, trains, etc.) and programmes.

The plane from Brussels arrives at 8:30.

♦ for sports commentaries, reviews and narration.

Peterson overtakes Williams and wins the race. Mike Dalton plays the part of Macbeth. Then the prince gets on his horse and quickly rides away.

♦ to give instructions or directions (instead of the imperative).

You sprinkle some cheese on the pizza and then you bake it. (Instead of: Sprinkle some cheese on the pizza...)

With: usually, often, always, etc., every day! week/month/year, in the morning I afternoon I evening, at night, at the weekend, on Mondays…

Present Continuous

♦ for actions taking place now, at the moment of speaking.

He is giving the baby a bath at the moment.

♦ for temporary actions; that is actions that are going on around now, but not at the actual moment of speaking.

I’ m looking for a new job these days. (He is not looking for a job at the moment of speaking.)

♦ with adverbs such as: always, constantly, continually, etc. for actions which happen very often, usually to express annoyance/irritation/anger.

I'm always meeting Sara when I go shopping. You're constantly interrupting me when I'm talking.

♦ for actions that we have already arranged to do in the near future, especially when the time and place have been decided.

They're moving into their new house next week.

♦ for changing or developing situations.

More and more species are becoming extinct.

With: now, at the moment, these days, still, today, tonight, …

Present Perfect

♦ for an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with state verbs such as be, have, like, know, etc. In this case, we often use for and since.

Rachel has had the dog for three years.

♦ for an action which has recently finished and whose result is visible in the present.

She has just washed her hair.

♦ for 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.

♦ for an action which has happened within a specific time period which is not over at the moment of speaking. We often use words and expressions such as today, this morning/evening/week/month, etc.

She has taken fifteen pictures today. BUT: She took twenty pictures yesterday. (The time period - yesterday - is over.)

We use the PP to announce a piece of news and the past simple or past continuous to give more details about it.

The police have finally arrested Peter Duncan. He was trying to leave the country when they caught him.

With: for, since, already, yet, always, just, ever, never, so far, today, this week/month, etc., how long, lately, recently, still (in negations), etc.

Present Perfect Continuous

♦ to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with time expressions such as for, since, all morning I day I year, etc.

Sam has been talking on the phone for half an hour.

♦ for an action which started in the past and lasted for some time. The action may have finished or may still be going on. The result of the action is visible in the present.

Her feet hurt. She has been walking all morning.

♦ to express anger, irritation or annoyance.

Somebody has been giving away our plans.

With the verbs live, work, teach and feel (= have a particular emotion) we can use the PP/PPC with no difference in meaning.

We have lived/have been living here for twenty years.

With: for, since, how long, lately, recently.

We use the PP to put emphasis on number and the PPC to put emphasis on duration.

I've typed four reports so far. I've been typing reports all morning.

Past forms______________________________________________

Past Simple

♦ for an action which happened at a definite time in the past. The time is stated, already known or implied

They went camping by the lake last month. (When did they go camping? Last month. The time is stated.)

♦ for actions which happened immediately one after the other in the past.

First she paid the driver, then she got out of the taxi.

♦ for past habits or states which are now finished. In such cases we can also use the expression used to.

Kitchens were/used to be very different a hundred years ago.

The PS is used with the following time expressions: yesterday, then, when, How long ago...?, last night/week/month/year/Tuesday, etc., three days/weeks, etc. ago, in 1997, etc.

Past Continuous

♦ for an action which was in progress at a stated time in the past. We do not mention when the action started or finished.

At seven o'clock yesterday evening they were having dinner. (We do not know when i they started or finished their dinner.)

♦ for an action which was in progress when another action interrupted it. We use the past continuous for the action in progress (longer action) and the past simple for the action which interrupted it (shorter action).

He was walking down the street when he ran into an old friend.

♦ for two or more simulta­neous past actions.

She was talking on her mobile phone while she was driving to work.

♦ to describe the atmosphere setting, etc. 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.

With: while, when, as, all morning I evening I day I night, etc.

Past Perfect

♦ for an 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.)

♦ 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.)

The past perfect is the past equivalent of the present perfect.

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.). 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.)

With: before, after, already, just, for, since, till! until, when, by, by the time, never, etc.

We can use the PP/PS with before or after without any difference in meaning.

They went out after it had stopped I stopped raining.

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