Present Simple and Present Continuous

Formulation
Present Simple:

I
play
You

He/She play(s) tennis

We

You play

They

Negative form: Subject+ (Auxiliar) Do/Does+not+verb

I
Do not (Don't)
You

He/She/It Does not (Doesn't) play tennis

We

You Do not (Don't)

They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) Do/ Does+ Subject+verb

 I
Do
You

Does He/She/It play tennis?

We

Do You

They

I do I do not (don't)
You You

Yes He/she/it does No He/she/itdoes not (doesn't)

We We
You do You do not (don't)
They They

Usage
Present Simple: is used to indicate facts and habits, that are always true. General facts.

I live in England. Were do you live?

Facts: I like chocolate ice-cream. Which do you like?
(Hechos) It rains a lot in this country. What about yours?

I usually shop on saturdays. When do you usually shop?

Habits: He drives fast. How about you?Do you drive fast?
(Hábitos) She always drinks coffe in the morning) What do you drink in the morning?

A timetable or a programme (official arrangement). (Un horario o un programa oficial)

a) The train leaves Bs As at 11.30 and arrives to Córdoba at 15.45.

b) The match starts this Sunday at 7.00 pm, so please be there….

Present continuous: is used to say what we have already arrange to do (a personal arrangeme

a) I´m meeing her at 14.00 at the cafeteria. Wish me luck!

b) We´re having a party this Sunday. Could you please come?

For actions that are happening now. Actions in progress, this is not finished. (Hechos o acciones
La accion esta en progreso o sucediendo en ese instante)

a) I am talking to you. Are you listening to me?

b) Well here it is raining now. What about there?

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Contin

Formulation
Present Perfect Continuous:

I
have
You

He/She/It has
been playing tennis
We
You have

They

Negative form: Subject+ (auxiliar) have/has+not+been+verb (ing form)

I
have not (haven´t)
You

He/She/It has not (hasn´t)

been playing tennis
We

You have not (haven´t)

They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) Have/Has+subject+been+verb (ing)

I
Have
You

Has He/She/It been playing tennis?

We

Have You

They
 I
have
You

He/She/It has
Yes
We

You have

They

Usage

P. Perfect Continuous is used in actions that startet in the past and still in progress. (Acciones qu

a) I've been studying all morning. (The subject began at the morning and is still studying now)

b) I've been doing this excersise since 11.00 am. (The subject started at 11.00 and continues doin

c) She has been driving for five hours. She's exhausted! (The subject has driven for five hours an

To emphasize how long something has been going on. (Emfatizar cuanto tiempo algo ha estado s

a) How long have you been dancing? We have been dancing since this morning.

b) They have been talking for the last hour.

c) Maria has been replacing me since November.

d) Don´t worry, I haven´t been waiting for too long.

With the adverbs recently and lately, the P. Perfect Continuous is used to talk about new develop
(Con los adverbios recientemente o ultimamente se usa para hablar de actos, acciones o trabajos que puden ser tem
a) She has been spending lot of money in clothes lately.
b) Mario and Lucia have been doing excercise recently. (They didn´t use to)

c) Jim has been cooking lately. (He didn´t use to)

d) Hi Sue, what have you been doing lately? Oh, hello Clarie, I´ve been working as a waitress.

To talk about a recent continuous activity, when we can see the result. (Para hablar de una activi
el resultado de la misma)

a) Jenny is tired. She has been running.

b) Caution! It's been raining so the floor is wet.

c) Jill: Why are you so mad? Joseph: Because I´ve been waiting a long time for you!

Present Perfect: is used when the actions that were made in a recent pass but at the moment of s

( Cuando la accion se realizó en un pasado reciente pero al momento de la enunciación ésta ha sid

a) I've studied three chapters until now. b) I've already done half of the exercises.

c) He has driven 500 km so far.

The Present Perfect shows a relation betwen past time and present time. (Muestra una relación

a) She has phoned me four times so far. (She might keep phoning me during the day).

b) He has never played golf before. (Now he is playing golf but he never did it in the past).

c) My sister is a writer. She has written four books. (She could write many more during her life).

d) John has worked there for six years. (John still works there).

To talk about something that happend in the past but it doesn´t specify when this has happend
(Para referirse a algo que sucedió en el pasado pero no especifica cuando ha sucedido)

a) She has bought a new car. (We don´t know when).

b) He has already learned to ride a bike.

c) The new teacher has just begun to work.

For a state wich has gone up to the present. (Un evento o suceso que llega hasta el presente)

a) She has been in the hospital for three weeks (She is still in the hospital)

b) We have lived in London since November. (We still live in London)

Is used with: today, this morning, this afternoon, this week, etc. When this periods are not fini
(Cuando estos períodos de tiempo no han finalizado en el momento de la enunciación)

a) Jane: Let´s go Tim! Tim: wait a moment, I haven´t shaved yet. (He is still unshaved but he wil

b) I have written three prescriptions this morning (It´s still morning).

To give new information. (Para dar información nueva o reciente)

a) Thanks god that ship has returned safely!

b) France has won the football world cup 2018.

Present perfect Continuous Present perfect

clue words clue words
Since For Only
All day Lately Recently Ever/ Never
How long Since
So far
Yet

Past Simple and Past Continuous

Formulation
Past Simple:

You

He/She/It played

We

You

They

Negative form: Subject+ (Auxiliar) Do (past form Did) +not+ verb

I
You
He/She/It did not (didn't) play tennis
We
You
They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) Do (past form Did) +subject+verb

I
You
Did He/She/It play tennis?
 We
You
They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) to be (past form)+subject+verb (ing)

Was I

Were You

Was He/She/It playing tennis?

We
Were You
They

Usage
Past Simple is used: when the action was complete at an specific time in the past. (Cuando la ac

a) I studied three chapters last night.

b) She did all the excersises before lunch.

c) We drove 500 km yesterday. So today we are going to rest.

It talks about actions and events in the past that are now finised. (Acciones o eventos en el pasa

a) Linda: Carol phoned me. Robert: When? Linda: Two days ago.

b)We didn´t play golf yesterday.

c) Julio Cortázar wrote Rayuela betwen 1960 and 1963.

For a state in the past in a period of time which is finished. (Un evento o suceso en un periódo d
meses, semanas o dias)

a) John: Are you ok? Peter: Yes, now I´m fine. But I was in the hospital for three days.

b)They lived in London for two years. Now they live in Buenos Aires.

Is used with: today, this morning, this afternoon, this week, etc. When this periods are finished
en el momento de la enunciación)

a) Jane: You didn´t shave today! Tim: I know, I´ll do it tomorrow.

b) I wrote three prescriptions this morning (The morning has passed).

To give details. (Para dar detalles sobre los hechos)

a) That plane landed at the airport this morning.

b) France won by the score 4- 2.

Past Continuous: is used to describe an action that was in progress at an specific time in the p

a) Holmes: What were you doing yesterday at sic o'clock? Watson: Yesterday at six? I was…dri

b) Mom: Was it raining in the morning? Jimmy: Yes, it was….

To talk about an action that was in progress when another one interrupted it.
(Una acción , en el pasado, que sucedia de manera progresiva cuando otra accion la interrupió)

a) Carol was slepping when the phone rang.

b) We were walking to school when he appeared.

c) I was listening the radio when you called.

To talk about two actions that were in progress at the same time in the past. (Dos acciones en

a) Everytime he was looking at her while she was reading.

b) We bought a lot of present while we were visiting New York.

c) Jill: What was you doing when Paul was speaking? Mary: I was… thinking about my daugh

For activities as background descriptions. (Descripciones detalladas)

a) It was such an awful morning. The rain was still falling and the wind was blowing very hard.

b) Ahhh what a wonderful day was that! The sun was shining and the birds were singing….

Past simple Past Continuous

clue words clue words
at (nine o´clock)
Last… all (day,night)
…ago last (monday)
Yesterday when while

Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Formulation

Past Perfect Continuous:

I
You
He/She/It had been playing tennis.
We
You
They

Negative form: Subject+ (auxiliar) had+not to be (past participle) +verb (ing )

I
You
He/She/It had not (hadn´t) been playing tennis.
We
You
They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) Had+subject+to be (participle)+verb (ing)

I
You
Had He/She/It been playing tennis?
We
You
They

I
You
Yes He/She/It had No
We
You
They

Usage
Past perfect: is used to talk about a situation or activity that was complete before another past
(Acciones o situaciones que han finalizado antes de otras situaciones o actividades pasadas)

a) Sue had already left her room when Tim arrived. There are two events and both happend

b) Rosanna had already finished her exam when Bobby asked for her help.

c) Whe she arrived to the cinema the movie had already begun.

To talk about a situation or activity that was complete before a particular part in the time in the p
(Actividades o situaciones que han finalizado antes de un momento específico o particular en el p
a) At ten o´clock they had already begun their drama class.

b) At eight p.m the shop had already the doors opened.

In the third conditional is used to express imagined situations. (Con el condicional de tercer tip

a) If I had known you were in Brazil I would have called you. (I didn´t know you were there so I

b) If Jenny had known Beth was in the hospital she would had visited her. (But she didn´t so she

c) If they hadn´t worked hard, they propably wouldn´t win that award. (But they did so they won

When is used with wish or if only express dissatisfaction with the past. (Con "desearía" o "si tan

a) I wish I hadn´t spent so much money in that holidays.

b) She wish she had paid more attention when she was at school.

To talk about how many times something happened in a period of a particular past time. (Para
de tiempo durante el pasado)

a) Rob had been three times in Paris when he was 18.

b) She had already written four novels. Now She is working in a new one.

To explain or give a reason for something in the past. (Para dar una explicación del por qué algo

a) They knew London so well because they had been there several times before.

b) Liza scream with pain because she had hurt her naked foot with a piece of glass.

Past perfect Continuous : is used when an action had started and had continued for some time an

1) Before another action.

2) Before a very precise moment.

(Cuando una acción ha empezado y ha continuado sucediendo por un período de tiempo y continu
a) We had been playing cards for two hours when she arrived.

b) She had been sleeping for a long time when the phone rang,

c) It had been snowing for several time that morning.

d) They had been flying to Tokio for a few hours by this time yesterday.

The second or later action is always in Past Simple.

Future Simple
Formulation

Future Simple Negative form: Subject+ will+not ++v

I
You I
He/She/It will ('ll) call. You
We He/She/It
You We
They You
They

Interrogative form: Will+subject+verb

I I
You You
Will He/She/It call? Yes He/She/It
We We
You You
They They
Usage
Furture Simple: will has a neutral meaning.

Is used to talk about facts in the future. (Hechos que sucederán en el futuro)

a) That plane will land at the Florida airport tomorrow morning.

A spontaneus decision. (Decisiones espontáneas o no planeadas)

b) Let´s have a party! Great idea! I will invite Carol and Tony.

Assumption based in thoughts. (Aseveraciones basadas en pensamientos)

c) I think I will begin with the gym next Monday

Promises and threats. (Promesas o amenazas)

a) We will always be friends!

b) I will go to your play, I promise….

c) Keep doing this and you will be fire!

d) You will regret of what you just said.

Requests/orders (Pedidos/órdenes)

a) I love you Lisa, will you please marry me?

b) Will you open that window, please?

Offerings/refuse (Ofertas o rechazos)

a) She said she will help us.

b) I will not (won't) do it anymore.

 Future Simple
clue words
Tomorrow
Next Soon
Later Tonight

Future Continuous
Formulation

Future Continuous Negative form: Subject+ will+not +be

I
You I
He/She/It will ('ll) be calling. You
We He/She/It
You We
They You
They

Interrogative form: Will+subject+be +verb (ing)

I
You
Will He/She/It be calling? Yes
We
You
They

Usage
Furture Continuous for an action over a period of time.
Means that something will be in progress at or around a time in the future. (Acciones que suced

a) Don't come tomorrow. I will be studying all day for the exam.

b) Nex month she will be living in England.

As a result of a routine or the result of a previous arrangement. (Resultado de una acción de rut

a) My lawyer will be meeting you tomorrow at 4.00 o'clock.

b) The play will be starting at 8.00 p.m. Please don´t be late!

With still refers to events that are happening now and are expected to continue in the future.
(Eventos que sucedieron ahora y se espera que continuen o se cree que continuarán sucediendo e

a) Next week he'll still be suffering from this cold.

b) Don´t worry the sun will still be rising tomorrow.

c) In an hour you'll still be doing that work!

Interrogative form. To ask politely about somebody's plan. (Para preguntar de manera educada s

a) Will you be meeting her tomorrow?

b) Will you be using your car this weekend?

Assumption of something that is happening at the moment. (Aseverar sobre algo que segurame

a) She is very quiet today. She´ll be thinking about what is going to happen.

b)Don´t call grandma. She´ll be taking a nap.

Future Continuous
clue words
For
Still While
 Next (Friday…)

Will and Going to

Will

Express future actions decided at the moment of speaking (Immediate decisions) (Decisiones fu

1) I will ('ll) have the salad and the glass of water.

2) She said that she will ('ll) visit you tomorrow.

A prediction based in personal experiences or opinions (Predictions without evidence) (Predic

1) She will ('ll) be fine.

2) I think Argentina will ('ll) win the match

A future fact. (Un hecho futuro que está establecido)

1) Sun will rise tomorrow.

2) Next week will be Christmas!

Going to

Express future plans decided before the moment of speaking (Prior plans) (Planes futuros decid

1) We are going to visit my mother next week.

2) They are going to go to Mexico for their Anniversary.

Predictions based on present evidence. (Predictions with evidence) (Prediciones basadas en la

1) The doctor said that she is going to be fine.

2) I have bad news, the W.R. just said that it´s going to snow the all day.
3) Get out of that rain! You are going to have a cold!

Something that is about to happen. (Algo que está a punto de suceder)

1) Get out of that building! It´s going to fall in any minute!
2) That man is going to be arrested.
t Continuous

Present Continuous:

I am

You are

He/she is play(ing) tennis.

We

You are

They

Negative form: Subject+ (Auxiliar) To Be + not+ verb (ing)

I am not (´m not)

You are not (aren't)

He/She/It is not (isn´t) playing tennis

We

You are not (aren't)

They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) To Be+Subject+verb (ing)

 Am I

Are You

Is He/She/It
playing tennis?
We

Are You

They

I am I am
You are You are

(doesn't) Yes He/she/it is No He/she/it is not

We We
You are You are
They They

rue. General facts.

u drink in the morning?

io o un programa oficial)
o do (a personal arrangement). (arreglo personalpreviamente concertado)

nished. (Hechos o acciones que estan sucediendo en el momento o en el instante en que se habla.

Present simple Present continuous

clue words clue words

Always At the moment

Usually At present
Sometimes Currently
Often Nowadays
Never Now

nt Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect:

I
have
You

He/She/It has
played tennis
We
You have

They

Negative form: Subject+ (auxiliar) have/has+not+ verb (past participle)

I
havenot (haven´t)
You

He/She/It has not (hasn´t)

played tennis
We

You have not (haven´t)

They

Interrogative form: (Aux) Have/Has+subject+verb (past participle)

I
Have
You

Has He/She/It played tennis?

We

Have You

They
 I
havenot (haven´t)
You

He/She/It has not (hasn´t)

No
We

You have not (haven´t)

They

ill in progress. (Acciones que comenzaron en el pasado pero continuan en el presente.)

g and is still studying now)

at 11.00 and continues doing the excercise).

t has driven for five hours and is still driving the car that´s why she complains).

anto tiempo algo ha estado sucediendo.)

his morning.

ed to talk about new developments which may be temporary.

ones o trabajos que puden ser temporarios)
en working as a waitress.

lt. (Para hablar de una actividad reciente pero continua donde se puede observar

ong time for you!

pass but at the moment of speaking they are completed and not going to happen again.

de la enunciación ésta ha sido terminada y no volverá a realizarse otra vez)

half of the exercises.

time. (Muestra una relación entre el pasado y el presente)

e during the day).

ever did it in the past).

many more during her life).

ecify when this has happend. (Rather because it is not know or it is not important).
ando ha sucedido)
llega hasta el presente)

hen this periods are not finished at the time of speaking.

e la enunciación)

e is still unshaved but he will do it).

st Continuous
 Past Continuous:

I was

You were

He/She/It was playing tennis

We

You were

They

not+ verb Negative form: Subject+ (Auxiliar) to be +not+ verb (ing)

I was

You were

He/She/It was
not (n' t) playing tennis
We

You were

They

ct+verb

I I
You You
Yes He/She/It Do No He/She/It Do not (Don't)
We We
 You You
They They

+verb (ing)

I was I was not (wasn't)

You were You were not (weren't)

Yes He/She/It was No He/She/It was not (wasn't)

We We
You were You were not (weren't)
They They

me in the past. (Cuando la acción fue completada o finalizada en un periodo de tiempo específico)

Acciones o eventos en el pasado que hoy han terminado)

nto o suceso en un periódo de tiempo que ya ha terminado. Gralmente se especifica el tiempo en años,
pital for three days.

hen this periods are finished at the time of speaking. (Esos períodos de tiempo han finalizado

at an specific time in the past. (Una acción en progreso duante un período específico de tiempo)

Yesterday at six? I was…drinking tea with Emily.

rrupted it.
o otra accion la interrupió)

the past. (Dos acciones en progreso a la misma vez en el pasado)

… thinking about my daughter.

nd was blowing very hard.

e birds were singing….

as

fect Continuous

Past Perfect:

I
You
He/She/It had (´d) played tennis
We
You
They

) +verb (ing ) Negative form: Subject+ (auxiliar) had+not+ verb (past participle)

I
You
 He/She/It had not (hadn't) played tennis.
We
You
They

Interrogative form: (Auxiliar) Had+subject+verb (past participle)

I
You
Had He/She/It played tennis?
We
You
They

I
You
He/She/It had not (hadn't)
We
You
They

mplete before another past situation or activity.

o actividades pasadas)

wo events and both happend in the past. Sue left her room and Tim arrived to her room.

cular part in the time in the past.

specífico o particular en el pasado)
n el condicional de tercer tipo para expresar situaciones del tipo "si hubiese sabido")

n´t know you were there so I didn´t call you).

d her. (But she didn´t so she did not visit her).

rd. (But they did so they won it).

ast. (Con "desearía" o "si tan solo" expresan insatisfacción con lo sucedido en el pasado)

particular past time. (Para referirse a cuantas veces algo ha sucedido en un período particular

explicación del por qué algo sucedió en el pasado)

mes before.

piece of glass.

d continued for some time and was still in progress either.

período de tiempo y continuó sucediendo 1) Antes de otra acción 2) Antes de un momento específico)
 Pasr Perfect
clue words
by the time
already never
just before
when after

Past Perfect C.
clue words
by
for when

orm: Subject+ will+not ++verb

will not (won´t) call.

I
You
will No He/She/It will not (won´t)
We
You
They
orm: Subject+ will+not +be+verb (ing)

will not (won´t) be calling.

I I
You You
He/She/It will No He/She/It will not (won´t)
We We
You You
They They
 future. (Acciones que sucederán de manera progresiva en el futuro)

esultado de una acción de rutina o un arreglo previo en el futuro)

to continue in the future.

ue continuarán sucediendo en el futuro)

eguntar de manera educada sobre que tiene planeado hacer alguien)

rar sobre algo que seguramente está sucediendo en el momento)

Will and Going to

ate decisions) (Decisiones futuras decididas de manera espontánea)

ns without evidence) (Predicciones basadas en opiniones o experiencias personales. Sin evidencia)

plans) (Planes futuros decididos con anterioridad. Previamente planeados)

) (Prediciones basadas en la evidencia)

que se habla.
po específico)

el tiempo en años,
finalizado

co de tiempo)
do particular

omento específico)
Sin evidencia)