Simple and Continuous Tenses

1. REPUBLICA BOLIVARIANA DE VENEZUELA
MINISTERIO DEL PODER POPULAR PARA LA EDUCACIÓ SUPERIOR UNIVERSIDAD YACAMBÚ
VICERRECTORADO DE ESTUDIOS A DISTANCIA
FACULTAD CIENCIAS JURÍDICAS Y POLÍTICAS
Simple and Continuous Tenses
Adrián Alfonso Morales Álvarez
C.I. V-13.737.412

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
The simple present or present simple is one of the verb forms associated with the present tense in
modern English. It is commonly referred to as a tense, although it also encodes certain information
about aspect in addition to present time. The simple present tense in English is used to describe an
action that is regular, true or normal. We use the present tense:
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
2. For facts.
3. For habits.
4. For things that are always / generally true.
Examples:
I take the train to the office.
Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.

3. PAST SIMPLE
The simple past expresses an action in the past taking place once, never, several times. It can also be
used for actions taking place one after another or in the middle of another action.
Use of Simple Past
1. Action in the past taking place once, never or several times
2. Actions in the past taking place one after the other.
3. Action in the past taking place in the middle of another action.
4. If sentences type II (If I talked, …)
Examples:
He visited his parents every weekend.
If I had a lot of money, I would share it with you.

4. FUTURE SIMPLE
The future simple indicates that an action is in the future relative to the speaker or writer. There are no
inflected forms for the future in English (nothing like those -ed or -s endings in the other tenses). Instead,
the future tense employs the helping verbs will or shall with the base form of the verb.
Use of Future Simple
1. A decision at the moment of speaking.
2. Prediction based on opinion.
3. A future fact.
4. Promises / requests / refusal / willingness.
5. In the same way as the future continuous, but with state verbs.
Examples:
I will give up smoking!
I'll be at the station when you arrive.

5. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE indicates continuing action, something going on now. This tense is
formed with the helping "to be" verb, in the present tense, plus the present participle of the verb (with an
-ing ending).
Use of Present Continuous:
1. To describe something which is happening at the exact moment of speech
2. To describe an action that is taking place now but not at the exact moment of speech
3. To describe an event planned in the future.
4. With always but meaning often (used to emphasize the frequency of an action in a humorous or
hyperbolic way).
5. To describe an action that is taking place now and is subject to interruption.
Examples:
She is always playing with that doll!
He is working in Dubai.

6. PAST CONTINUOUS
The past continuous is formed from the past tense of be with the -ing form of the verb.
Use of Past Continuous:
1. For something which continued before and after another action
2. For something that happened before and after a particular time
3. To show that something continued for some time
4. For something that was happening again and again
5. With verbs which show change or growth
Examples:
The children were growing up quickly.
Her English was improving.

7. FUTURE CONTINUOUS
The future continuous (will be + ‘ing’ form) and the future perfect (will have + past participle) tenses are
used to talk about events in the future.
Use of Futre Continuous:
1. Interrupted Action in the Future.
2. Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future
3. Parallel Actions in the Future
4. Atmosphere in the Future
Examples:
While I am finishing my homework, she is going to make dinner.
I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.