Review of tenses and structures

• Present simple
  • Conversation
• Present progressive
  • Conversation
• Past simple
  • Conversation
• Past progressive
  • Conversation
• Used to / would
  • Conversation
• Present perfect
  • Conversation
• Future with will
  • Conversation
• Future with going to
  • Conversation
• First conditional
  • Conversation

Present simple

We use the present simple for habits, routines, and facts.

I work in an office.

She always eats breakfast at 8.

Water boils at 100 degrees.

In the third person singular, we add -s or -es. For questions and negative sentences, we use do/does.

Common time expressions:

always

usually

sometimes

never

every day

on Mondays

Conversation

Anna: What do you do for a living?

Tom: I work at a hospital ['hɑspɪtəl]. I'm a nurse [nɜrs]. I usually work from 7 AM to 3 PM, but sometimes I work night shifts [ʃɪfts]. What about you?

A: I teach Spanish at a high school. I love my job. My students are great.

T: Do you speak any other languages?

A: Yes, I also speak French. My mother is from Paris.

T: That's amazing. I don't speak any languages other than English, unfortunately.

Present progressive

We use the present progressive for actions happening right now or for confirmed future plans.

We form it with be + verb-ing.

I am reading a book right now.

She is working today.

They are flying to London tomorrow.

Common time expressions:

right now

at the moment

today

this week

tomorrow (for plans)

Conversation

Laura: Hi Mark! What are you doing?

Mark: I'm cooking dinner. I'm making pasta.

L: Nice! I'm just walking home from work. What are you doing this weekend?

M: I'm visiting my parents on Saturday. They're expecting [ɪk'spɛktɪŋ] me for lunch. And on Sunday I'm not doing anything. What about you?

L: I'm meeting Sarah for coffee on Saturday morning, and then I'm studying for my exam all afternoon.

Past simple

We use the past simple for completed actions at a specific time in the past.

I went to the gym yesterday.

She called me last Monday.

We moved to this house in 2015.

For questions and negative sentences, we use did. Regular verbs add -ed. Irregular verbs have special past forms that must be memorized.

Common time expressions:

yesterday

last Monday / last week / last year

two days ago

in 2015

Conversation

David: How was your weekend?

Emma: It was great! On Saturday I went to a concert. A friend invited me. The band was incredible [ɪn'krɛdɪbəl].

D: What did you do on Sunday?

E: I slept until noon! Then I met my sister for lunch. We ate at a new Italian restaurant near the river. What about you?

D: I didn't do much. I stayed home and watched a movie. I also cooked a big meal for the week.

Past progressive

We use the past progressive for descriptions in the past, interrupted actions, and simultaneous actions.

We form it with was/were + verb-ing.

It was raining and the wind was blowing. => description

I was eating when the phone rang. => interrupted action

I was reading while she was cooking. => simultaneous

Conversation

Mike: What happened last night? I heard there was a power cut [paʊər kʌt].

Julia: Yes! I was watching TV when suddenly everything went dark. My brother was taking a shower, and my mom was cooking dinner.

M: What did you do?

J: We just waited. The lights came back after about twenty minutes. But my mom's dinner was ruined [ru:ɪnd] because the oven ['ʌvən] turned off.

Used to / would

We use used to for past habits or states. We use would for repeated past actions only (not for states).

I used to live in Madrid. => past state

She used to smoke. => past habit

We would play soccer every Saturday when we were kids. => repeated past action

Would cannot be used for past states: I used to have a dog. Not: I would have a dog.

Conversation

Peter: What was your life like when you were a child?

Sara: I used to live in a small village. I used to walk to school every day. After school, my friends and I would go to the river and play there for hours. My grandmother would always make us lemonade when we got home.

P: That sounds lovely. I used to live in the city. I didn't have a garden, so we would play in the street. I used to love video games. I would play for hours every evening.

Present perfect

We use the present perfect for life experiences (no specific time), for recent actions with present results, and for duration with for and since.

We form it with have/has + past participle.

I have visited Paris three times. => life experience

She has lost her keys. => recent action, present result

We have lived here for five years. => duration

Key words:

ever (in questions)

never (in negatives)

already

yet (in questions and negatives)

just - a very short time ago

for (+ period of time)

since (+ point in time)

Have you ever been to Japan?

I have never eaten sushi.

She has already finished.

I haven't done it yet.

He has just arrived.

I have known her for ten years.

I have known her since 2014.

Conversation

Carlos: Have you ever traveled outside of Europe?

Nina: Yes, I have been to the United States twice. I went to New York in 2018 and to San Francisco last year. Have you?

C: I've never left Europe, actually. But I've always wanted to visit Japan.

N: You should go! Have you already planned your summer holidays?

C: Not yet. I haven't decided where to go. I've just started looking at flights.

N: I've been a member of a travel group for three years. They organize great trips. You should join.

Future with will

We use will for predictions, spontaneous decisions, and promises.

It will rain tomorrow. => prediction

I'll help you with that. => spontaneous decision

I will always love you. => promise

The negative is will not or won't.

Conversation

Raúl: I think it will be very hot this summer.

Megan: I agree [ə'gri:]. I'll probably spend a lot of time at the beach.

R: That sounds nice. Oh, I forgot to buy milk. I'll go to the shop after this.

M: Don't worry, I'll get it for you. I'm going out anyway.

R: Thank you! I promise I'll pay you back.

Future with going to

We use going to for plans already decided and for predictions based on evidence.

I'm going to visit my parents this weekend. => plan

Look at those clouds! It's going to rain. => evidence

Conversation

Pablo: What are your plans for next year?

Lisa: I'm going to start a new course in September. I'm going to study graphic design ['græfɪk dɪ'zaɪn]. What about you?

P: I'm going to change jobs. I've been thinking about it for a while. I'm going to send my CV [si: vi:] to a few companies next month.

L: That's exciting. I'm sure you're going to find something great.

First conditional

If + present simple, will + infinitive. We use it for situations that are possible or probable in the future.

If it rains, I will stay home.

If you study hard, you will pass the exam.

If she doesn't call, I'll send her a message.

Conversation

Rosa: If you finish work early, will you come to the cinema with me?

Leo: Maybe. If the movie starts after 7, I'll be able to come. What are we seeing?

R: A new thriller ['θrɪlər]. If you don't like it, we can leave early.

L: OK. If I can't make it, I'll call you. But I think I'll be there.