This document discusses the uses of different verb tenses in English, including the present simple, present continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses. The present simple is used to describe schedules, habits, general truths, and permanent situations. The present continuous expresses future arrangements, current activities, and temporary situations. The present perfect simple indicates repeated or unfinished past actions. The present perfect continuous emphasizes long actions with clear results or actions that began in the past and continue to the present. It also distinguishes between stative and active verbs and some common uses of stative verbs in continuous tenses.

1. USES OF TENSES
PRESENT SIMPLE
SCHEDULE/
TIMETABLE
THE TRAIN LEAVES AT 9 PM
HABITS AND
ROUTINES
I USUALLY GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING
TELLING STORIES
DESCRIBINGEVENTS
PETER GOEST TO SEE HIS SISTER WHEN SUDDENLY A BURGLAR
JUMPS OUT OF THE WINDOW.
GENERAL TRUTH/
FACT
THE EARTH IS NOT FLAT
PERMANENT
SITUATION
WE LIVE IN MADRID
WITH STATIVEVERBS I BELIEVE IN WHAT SHE TOLD ME
PRESENT CONTINUOUS ( CompoundTense)
FUTURE
ARRANGEMENTS
I AM SEEING MARIA THIS AFTERNOON
THINGS HAPPENING
“NOW”
WE ARE CALLINGHOME BUT THEY DON’TPICKUP THE PHONE
TEMPORARY
SITUATION
I AM LEARNINGTO DRIVETHIS MONTH
ANNOYINGHABITS SHE’S ALWAYSTALKINGABOUT THE SAME
CURRENT CHANGING
SITUATIONS
GLOBAL WARMING IS DESTROYINGTHE WORLD.
PRESENT PERFECTSIMPLE ( Compound Tense)
REPEATED PASTACTION I’VEBEEN TO LONDON MANY TIMES
SUPERLATIVES/ THIS IS
THE FIRSTTIME…
THIS IS THE WORST DAY I’VEEVER HAD
UNFINISHEDTIME PERIODS
(SOFAR,TODAY)
I HAVENT’STUDIED TODAY.
COMPLETED ACTION STILL
RELEVANT
WE’VE JUST MISSED THE TRAIN
I HAVEINVITEDJAMIE TO THE PARTY
COMPLETED ACTION IN
THE PASTWITH FOR /
SINCEWHICH CONTINUES
UP TO THE PRESENT
(STATIVEVERBS)
I HAVE KNOWN JILLFOR 10 YEARS
TO ANNOUNCEAN EVENT BILL HAS STARTED A NEW PROJECTTHIS WEEK
PRESENT PERFECTCONTINUOUS ( CompoundTense)
FORM: SUBJECT + HAVE +BEEN + ING
LONG ACTION WITH
OBVIOUSRESULTS
I’VEBEEN RUNNINGFOR 2 HOURS. I AMEXHAUSTED!
ACTION THAT BEGAN IN
THE PASTAND
CONTINUESUP TO
PRESENT
WE HAVEBEEN STUDYING SINCE 10 AMTHIS MORNING.

2.  STATIVEVERBS: VERBSTHAT DESCRIBEA STATE RATHER THAN AN ACTION
WE TEND TO USE THEM WITH NON-CONTINUOUSTENSES.
 ACTIVEVERBS: VERBS THAT DESCRIBE AN ACTION.WE CAN USE THEM WITH CONTINUOUSFORMS ( -ING)
 SOMETIMES WE USE SOME STATIVEVERBS WITH CONTINUOUSFORMS (-ING) BUT THE MEANING IS
DIFFERENT:
- I THINKshe’sverynice ( = believe)
- I AMTHINKINGabout buyinganewmobile phone ( = are considering)
- SHE HAS manyfriends ( = own,possession)
-She ISHAVINGa great time ( = experiencing)