This document provides information on the uses of different tenses in English, including the present simple, present continuous, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous tenses. It explains that the present simple is used for schedules, habits, general truths, feelings and emotions. The present continuous expresses future arrangements, current actions, and temporary situations. The present perfect simple is used for repeated past actions, life experiences, unfinished time periods, and completed actions relevant to the present. The present perfect continuous expresses long actions with obvious results and actions that began in the past and continue to the present.

1. USES OF THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSES
PRESENT SIMPLE
SCHEDULE/
TIMETABLE
THE TRAIN LEAVES AT 9 PM
HABITS AND
ROUTINES
I USUALLY GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING
TELLING STORIES
DESCRIBING EVENTS
PETER GOEST TO SEE HIS SISTER WHEN SUDDENLY A BURGLAR JUMPS OUT
OF THE WINDOW.
GENERAL TRUTH THE EARTH REVOLVES AROUND THE SUN
FACTS AND
PERMANENT
SITUATION
WE LIVE IN MADRID
FEELINGS AND
EMOTIONS
I HATE PEAS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS ( Compound Tense)
FUTURE
ARRANGEMENTS
I AM SEEING MARIA THIS AFTERNOON
THINGS HAPPENING
“NOW”
WE ARE CALLING HOME BUT THEY DON’T PICK UP THE PHONE
TEMPORARY
SITUATION
I AM LEARNING TO DRIVE THIS MONTH
TO EXPRESS ANGER
OR IRRITATION ( With
adverbs like always)
SHE’S ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME
CURRENT CHANGING
SITUATIONS
GLOBAL WARMING IS DESTROYING THE WORLD.
• STATE VERBS: VERBS THAT DESCRIBE A STATE RATHER THAN AN ACTION: Feelings, opinions and beliefs,
possession, senses.
Some Examples are : hate, like; believe, forget; have got, belong; feel, see, etc.
** Take a look at your Self-Study Grammar notes in your Student’s book ( page 131).
• WE USE THEM WITH NON-CONTINUOUS TENSES.
• ACTIVE VERBS: VERBS THAT DESCRIBE AN ACTION. WE CAN USE THEM WITH CONTINUOUS FORMS ( -ING)
• SOMETIMES WE USE SOME STATIVE VERBS WITH CONTINUOUS FORMS (-ING) BUT THE MEANING IS
DIFFERENT:
- I THINK she’s very nice ( = believe). Present simple meaning
- I AM THINKING about buying a new mobile phone ( = are considering). Present continuous meaning.
- SHE HAS many friends ( = own, possession). Present simple meaning
She IS HAVING a great time ( = experiencing) or She IS HAVING a party ( she is organizing). Present
continuous meaning.

2. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE ( Compound Tense)
REPEATED PAST ACTION I’VE BEEN TO LONDON MANY TIMES
SUPERLATIVES / THIS IS
THE FIRST TIME…
THIS IS THE WORST DAY I’VE EVER HAD
UNFINISHED TIME PERIODS
(SO FAR, TODAY)
I HAVENT’ STUDIED TODAY.
COMPLETED ACTION STILL
RELEVANT
WE’VE JUST MISSED THE TRAIN
I HAVE INVITED JAMIE TO THE PARTY
COMPLETED ACTION IN
THE PAST WITH FOR /
SINCE WHICH CONTINUES
UP TO THE PRESENT
(STATIVE VERBS)
I HAVE KNOWN JILL FOR 10 YEARS
TO ANNOUNCE AN EVENT BILL HAS STARTED A NEW PROJECT THIS WEEK
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS ( Compound Tense)
FORM: SUBJECT + HAVE +BEEN + ING
LONG ACTION WITH OBVIOUS
RESULTS
I’VE BEEN RUNNING FOR 2 HOURS. I AM EXHAUSTED!
ACTION THAT BEGAN IN THE
PAST AND CONTINUES UP TO
PRESENT
WE HAVE BEEN STUDYING SINCE 10 AM THIS MORNING.