Present simple and continuous tenses

The present simple has the following uses.

* regular or routine events

We usually start the week with a team meeting. She visits Japan once a month.

* permanent or long-term situations J work at head office

in London. The company designs computer games.

The present simple is used with: usually, normally, regularly, often, frequently, sometimes, rarely, always, never, every day /week / month /year, once a week I twice a month

The present continuous has the following uses.

* something happening now / at the moment Just a moment -I'm trying to find your file. Nick's talking to a customer right now.

* temporary situations

We 're not developing any new products this month

Eva's working at home today - she's not in the office.

· fixture fixed arrangements We're flying to Texas on Monday 19th. Mike's meeting the directors tomorrow.

The present continuous is used with: now, at the moment, currently, this week

The continuous is not usually used with the following verbs.

* giving opinions

like, dislike, prefer, think, believe, know, mean

* describing senses see, hear, feel, seem

* describing ownership and needs have, need, own, want

Present perfect

The present perfect has the following uses.

* recent events Sales figures have improved recently We haven't seen a big rise in demand. Has your manager just started?

* events that affect the present situation (but we don't say when they happened) Prices have gone up so they're very high now.

unfinished events starting in the past and

continuing up to the present (using for and since)

I've been in sales since 1992. The company has been the market leader for three years now.

· answering How long? about an unfinished event How long have you workedfor Exxon?

Past simple

The past simple is used with: in 2005, from 2002 to 2004, last week I month I year, yesterday, ago, in the past

The past simple has the following uses.

* events that happened at a definite time in the past I joined the company in 2003.

The new secretary didn't come in yesterday.

* finished actions or events

When you were a student, did you work in the holidays?

Yes, I worked for a telecoms company in the holidays.

* finished time periods (with for)

Aisha worked in the finance departmentfor two years, from 2003 till 2005.

recently, in recent months / years, in the last month /year, just, how, since, for (except with finished periods of time)

Future forms

will + infinitive has the following uses.

* predictions we feel certain about
I'll definitely finish this project tomorrow.
We won't have time to look at your report this week.

* intention, when we make the decision now to do something

I'll let you know what I decide.

* intention after the verbs think, hope and expect

Do you think you'll stay with the company very long?

We hоре you'll be able to join the research team next year.

going to + infinitive has the following uses.

* predictions we feel certain about

Are the staff going to accept the changes?

It isn't going to he an easy meeting.

It's going to be difficult to please everybody.

* intentions, when the decision to do

something was made before

Гт going to visit the Greek office next month.

We aren't going to stay very long.

Are you going to stay in Athens?

Date: 2015-12-17; view: 1103