This document provides information on how to use different tenses in English, including the present simple, present continuous, present perfect, and present perfect continuous. It defines each tense using formulas, examples, and descriptions of when to use each one. Key uses are outlined such as expressing habits, facts, scheduled events, instructions, narratives, and more. Formulas show constructions for positive and negative forms.

1. Present Tenses.
By; Abril Teran, Oliverio Llobet, Trinidad Porretti
and Marcos Okecki.

2. FormulaStructure;
Present Simple
Positive; Negative;
IYouWeT
hey
+verb in
infinitive
IYouWeT
hey
+don’t +
verb in
infinitive
HeSheIt +verb in
infinitive
+”S”
HeSheIt +doesn’t
+verb in
infinitive
Keywords; often, always,
never, every (day, month,
year), usually, sometimes,
seldom, generally, normally,
on (mondays, tuesday,
wednesday…), irst....then…
Ex: I generally look for my
brother from school
Questions: WH+do (I, You, We,
They)/does (He, She, It)+Subject+Verb in
infinitive

3. 1. We use the present simple to express an action that is repeated or usual. It
can be a habit, routine, a scheduled event or a hobby.
Ex: I play hockey every Tuesday.
2. We use the present simple to express facts. It is also used to make
generalizations about people or things.
Ex: The sun rises in the east.
3. We use the present simple to express scheduled events in the near future.
Ex: The plane leaves tonight.
4. We use present simple to express a sequence of actions in the present
Ex: First I get up, then I have breakfast.
5. We use the present simple to express instructions
Ex: Open the box and take out the medicine.
Uses

4. 6. We use the present simple for headlines (newspapers)
Ex: Macri visits France
7. We use the present simple for narratives
Ex: At the beginning of the story a big spaceship comes to Earth.
8. We use the present simple for summaries.
Ex: 1945-England attacks Germany.

5. Present Continuous
Keywords;now, at
present, at
this/the moment,
any longer, still,
even now, any more,
no longer, always
Ex: At the present
I am doing a
cooking course
FormulaStructure;
Positive; Negative;
HeSheIt +is +verb + ING HeSheIt +isn’t + verb
in infinitive +
ING
I +am +verb + ING I +am not +
verb in
infinitive +
ING
YouWe
They
+are +verb + ING YouWe
They
+aren’t +
verb in
infinitive +
ING
Questions: WH+are (you, we,
they)/is (He, She, It)/am
(I)+Subject+Verb ING

6. Present Continuous
Uses;
1. We use the present continuous to express actions.
Ex: I am reading a book at the moment.
2. We use the present continuous to express processes/trends.
Ex: The number of accidents is growing.
3. We use the present continuous to express temporary actions.
Ex: My mother is working in Italy this month.
4. We use the present continuous to express annoyance.
Ex: I am forever picking up your clothes.
5. We use the present continuous for narratives (to describe
background scenes of the environment)
Ex: Peter enters and meets Jane. She is preparing dinner.
6. We use the present continuous to express plans fixed in the
near future.
Ex: She is going to Rome on Saturday.

7. Present Perfect Keywords;already,
yet, ever, never,
just, for, since,
so far, up to
now, not yet,
lately and
recently
Ex: I have just
eaten a
hamburger.
FormulaStructure;
Positive; Negative;
HeShe
It
+has +verb in
past
participle
HeSheIt +hasn’t
(has not)
+verb in
past
participle
IYouWe
They
+have +verb in
past
participle
IYouWe
They
+haven’t
(have not)
+verb in
past
participle
Questions: WH+Has(she,
he, it)/Have (I, you, we,
they)+ Subject+Verb in past
participle

8. 1. We use the present perfect to express an action in an
unspecific moment of the past with has results in the present.
Ex: I have cleaned my room (it is clean now).
2. We use the present perfect to express experiences.
Ex: I have been to Tokyo.
3. We use the present perfect to express a state beginning in the
past and still continuing.
Ex: I have known Catherine since 2009.
4. We use the present perfect to express actions that finished
recently.
Ex: I have just seen Lucy.
Present PerfectUses;

9. Present Perfect Continuous
Keywords;for, since, all day.
Ex: She has been in this school for 2 years
Positive; Negative;
HeSheIt has +been +verb+
ING
HeSheIt +hasn’t been +verb+
ING
IYouwe
they
have +been +verb+
ING
IYouwe
they
+haven’t been +verb+
ING
Questions: WH+has
(he, she,it)/have(I, you,
we, they)+ subject+
been+ verb in ING

10. Present Perfect ContinuousUses;
1. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in
the past and continued to the present (has a duration).
Ex: I have been living in London for two years.
2. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to express temporary habits or
situations.
Ex: I have been reading a lot recently.
3. We use the Present Perfect Continuous to express finished actions with a
duration.
Ex: I'm so tired, I have been studying.