The document summarizes the uses of the past simple, present perfect, and present perfect continuous tenses in English. The past simple is used for completed actions in the past, habits or states in the past, and with specific time phrases like "last week." The present perfect is used for unfinished actions that have a present connection or result. It can be used with phrases like "already" or "never." The present perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of an action that began in the past and continues in the present. It is often used with phrases like "for" or "since" to indicate the length of time the action has been occurring.

1. Past Simple - Present Perfect
Present Perfect Continuous

2. We use the Past Simple: We use the Present Perfect:
•For habits or states, whether continuous or •For actions or states in the past which have a
repeated connection with the present
L ong ago, they buil most houses out of wood T hey have bought a new house (=they can now go
and live in it.
•When the results of an action or state are
obvious now:
Y ou’ve spilt the coffee all over my trousers
•For repeated actions in the past, with words
like often, rarely, seldom.
H e’s often been to F rance
•With periods of time that have finished. •With periods of time that have not finished yet
I read the newspaper this morning (= it is now We’ve built 20 new schools this year (= it’s still
afternoon or evening) this year)
H e has done a lot in his short life (=he’s alive and
young)
•For finished actions with time words like a year •For actions with expressions like already,
ago, last Sunday, last week , yesterday before, ever, never, often, recently, still, yet,
W atson and C rick identified tj structure of D N A
e etc.
in 1953 W e still haven’t discovered life on other planets.

3. The choice between the Past simple or Present
Perfect depends on whether the action links the past
with the present.
She often took the bus (=but doesn’t any more)
She has often taken the bus (= and so she might do it
again)

4. We use the Present perfect Continuous :
•To talk about actions which started in the past and which continue up to the moment
of speaking.
•We use it especially when we are interested in the duration of the action.
I ’ve been waitng for a whole hour!

5. Present Perfect: Present Perfect Continuous
I ’v e d o n e my homework I ’v e b e e n d o in g my
homework
Present of have + past participle Present of have + been + -ing

6. Present Perfect: Present Perfect Continuous
•Emphasises the idea of completion • Indicates that the action has
lasted for a period of time and is
incomplete
• We often use it with for and since
T he potatoes h a v e b e e n b o il in g
for an hour.
A nd the carrots h a v e b e e n
b o il in g since three o’clock