Match the rules with the examples
Present Tenses
- Present Simple
main verb ( for he/she/it: main verb + s)
We use the present simple
1.1. For daily routines: Sam leaves for work at 7 a.m.
1.2. For habits and repeated actions: Joe goes to the gym thrice a week.
1.3. For permanent states: Henry works for his uncle's company.
1.4. For facts, laws of nature and general truths: The sun rises in the east.
1.5. For timetables and programmes (future meaning): The course starts in September.
1.6. For reviews/sports commentaries/narrative: Johnson passes to Miles, Miles shoots... It's a goal!
1.7. For exclamatory sentences: Here comes the boss!
Time expressions used with the Present Simple: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, every day/week/month/year/Monday, in the morning/afternoon/evening, once/twice/thrice a day/week/month/year, etc.
- Present Continuous
am/is/are + -ing form
We use the Future Continuous
2.1. For actions happening at the moment of speaking: Sue is talking on the phone now.
2.2. For actions happening around the time of speaking or temporary situations: I'm staying with my grandma at the moment.
2.3. For fixed arrangements in the near future: I'm meeting Mary at 6 p.m. on Monday.
2.4. For developing or changing situations: The prices are going up.
2.5. For frequently repeated actions to express annoyance or criticism: He's always losing his keys.
Time expressions used with the present continuous: now, at the moment, at present, this week, these days, still, etc.
Stative verbs do not usually have a continuous form: like, love, hate, want, know, understand, think, believe, have (possess), etc.
- Present Perfect
have/has + past participle
We use the present perfect
3.1. For recently completed actions focusing on the result in the present: I have washed my car. It's clean now.
3.2. For actions that happened at an unstated time in the past. It is not important when exactly the action happened: I've seen John recently.
3.3. For actions or states that began in the past and are not finished yet: Lily has worked in this cafe for 10 years.
3.4. For actions that happened at an unfinished period of time: I have drunk three cups of coffee this morning (it is still morning).
3.5. For personal experiences: That's the fastest train I have ever travelled by.
Time expressions used with the present perfect: already, before, yet, just, ever, never, for, since, this week, this year, today, etc.
- Present Perfect Continuous:
have/has been + -ing form
We use the Present Perfect Continuous:
4.1. For an action that started in the past and continues up to the present if we are interested in the duration of the action: I've been working on this project since Monday.
4.2. For an action that has recently stopped and is connected with the present: It has been snowing all night. Everything's covered in snow.
4.3. For actions repeated over a period of time: Linda has been working overtime a lot recently.
4.4. To show that we are angry or annoyed, or to express criticism: Someone has been looking through my documents!
A. We use the Present Simple for general truths and facts.
B. We use the Present Continuous for actions which are happening at the moment of speaking.
C. We use the Present Perfect for experiences.
D. We use the Present Continuous for temporary states.
E. We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an activity which began in the past and is still continuing.
F. We use the Present Simple for timetables.
G. We use the Present Perfect for past actions which have obvious results in the present.
- This bookshop opens at 10 a.m.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - Joan has been writing her essay for more than two hours already.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - Hey! What are you looking at?
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - Your package hasn't arrived yet.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - I've never travelled abroad by train.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G] - I'm living in my parents' house now. They need my help with the renovation of the first floor.
[A|B|C|D|E|F|G]