Habits or situations that happen regularly
We use the present simple to talk about actions that we do (o we don’t do) regularly:
I wash my hair every day.
I never go to the library.
I sometimes go to the library.
Permanent situations or things that are usually or often true
I don’t drink coffee.
She’s very tall.
I have two brothers.
Water boils at 100 degrees.
I like soup.
Adverbs of frequency
We often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, etc.) and expressions of frequency (once every three months, twice a week, every other day, etc.).
Adverbs of frequency go in mid position (before the main verb or after be).
She doesn’t often eat hamburgers.
He usually gets up very early.
I am never late.
Expressions of frequency go at the end of the sentence
We go to the cinema once a month.
I buy clothes twice a year.
Future events that are timetabled
We use the present simple to talk about future events that are scheduled or timetabled.
The train leaves at 4.
Shops close at 6.
My yoga class is tomorrow at 10.
Actions in progress
We use the present continuous to talk about things that are happening now or ‘around now’ (a time around this moment, such as these days, weeks or months)
I can’t talk now. I’m brushing my teeth.
I finished the Lord of the Rings and now I’m reading a new book.
Temporary actions
The present continuous is used to talk about temporary actions:
I’m going to work by bus this week because my car is at the garage.
I’m living with my cousins until I find a flat.
With expressions meaning ‘now’ or ‘around now’.
The present continuous often appears next to expressions such as now, these days, this week/month, or at the moment.
He’s studying a lot this week.
I’m not feeling very well these days.
Situations that are changing or developing
The climate is changing very quickly.
More and more people are trying to eat more healthily nowadays.
Your English is improving.
Future arrangements
We use the present continuous to talk or ask about future actions that are already planned or decided.
I‘m meeting John this evening. Do you want to come?
We are leaving tomorrow at 7.
Non-action verbs (or stative verbs) cannot be used in present continuous. They must be used in present simple. The most frequent are the verbs of the senses (hear, see, smell, look, seem, sound), verbs of opinion (believe, consider, like, love, hate, prefer, think, etc.) verbs of possession (have, own, belong, etc.). Other common non-action verbs are: agree, be, depend, need, mean, remember, realise, recognise, seem, want, etc.
Please, give me my money; I need it now.
Look at her; she seems sad.
Some verbs have an action and a non-action meaning; for example, have or think:
I have a car (=possession) / I’m having a siesta (=action)
I think he is great (=opinion) / What are you thinking? (=action)
The verb see also has a dynamic and a stative meaning.
I‘m seeing the doctor tomorrow at 9. (see= ‘have an appointment’)
What do you see in this picture? (see= ‘see with your eyes’)
We use will to talk about something we think that will happen:
I think he’ll win the election.
He will be a good doctor.
We use be going to to talk about something that is very near to happen or that we see is going to happen (there is present evidence)
Don’t drive like a crazy man. We’re going to have an accident!
The doctor said I’m going to have a girl.
We use will for decisions that we take at the moment of speaking (instant decisions).
‘Oh, we don’t have sugar.’ ‘Don’t worry, I’ll buy some.’
We use be going to for decisions that we have already taken at the moment of speaking (intentions or plans).
‘Why are you undressing?’ ‘Because I’m going to go to the swimming pool.’
We often use the present continuous to talk about future events that are already planned or decided. When we use the present continuous for arrangements, we must always include when (at 7, this evening, next month, etc.) in the sentence.
I’m seeing the dentist at 6.
We are getting married next week.
I’m flying to New York tomorrow morning.
We can also use be going to for future arrangements.
I’m going to play tennis with Elisabeth today.
Use the present simple to talk about the future in sentences with when, as soon as, until, before, after.
I’ll retire when I’m 70. (NOT when I’ll be)
I won’t call you until I arrive (NOT will arrive.)
Promises and refusals
I will help you whenever you need me.
I won’t lend him my car.
Future facts
The president will visit the Vatican next November.
Offers
We use I will in statements or shall I in questions.
I’ll carry that bag for you.
Shall I organise the meeting?
Suggestions
We use shall we…?
Shall we eat out today?
Requests
When we ask someone to do something for us.
Will you open the door, please?
We use may or might for possible actions in the future (when ‘we are not sure’). Compare:
I’ll be late for dinner today. (=I am sure.)
I might be late for dinner today. (=It’s possible, but I am not sure.)
I’m going to Denmark next September. (=Sure.)
I might go to Denmark next September. (=Not sure.)
We use may or might for things that will possibly happen in the future, but we are not too sure. It’s like a prediction about something that we think perhaps will happen.
The economy might suffer a global recession next year.
Temperatures may go up next week.
We use may or might not for actions or things that will possibly not happen.
She looks very tired. She might not come with us.
We may not have enough time to finish the report for tomorrow.
We use the present perfect to talk about past actions or events when time is not mentioned, i.e. we don’t say when these events happened.
I‘ve broken my arm.
I’ve passed the exam.
She’s found a job.
Just already, yet
We often the present perfect with just, already and yet. We can use just after the verb have to emphasise that these events are very recent.
Tony has just called.
We use already in positive sentences to talk about actions that we have completed sooner than we expected. Already goes after the verb have.
I‘ve already finished my homework.
We use yet in negative sentences and questions to talk about things that we expect to happen soon. Yet goes at the end of the sentence.
Have you finished your homework yet?
I haven’t finished my homework yet.
Recently
We often use the present perfect with recently to talk about past recent actions.
They‘ve recently bought a new car.
Today, this week, this month, this year
We can use the present perfect with time expressions when the time we mention has not finished.
I‘ve seen John today. (=Today has not finished.)
Has she called you this week?
We use the present perfect to talk about past experiences when we don’t say or we don’t know when something happened.
He has been to the moon. He’s an astronaut.
I haven’t been to India.
Never, ever, before
We often use the words never, ever, or before to talk about experiences.
I‘ve never read this book.
Have you ever seen a John Wayne film.
I haven’t experienced anything like this before.
The best thing I’ve ever done
We can use the present perfect simple with a superlative adjective and ever.
This is the best meal I’ve ever had.
It’s the most amazing place we’ve ever travelled to.
How many times
We can also use the present perfect to say how many times something has happened until now.
I’ve watched this film three times.
We’ve been to Paris twice.
Have gone to or have been to?
We say someone has gone somewhere when this person is still away, and we say someone has been somewhere when this person has already come back from that place.
Tom has gone to Ireland. He’ll be there for a couple of weeks. (=He’s in Ireland now.)
We have been to Ireland three times. We love it. (=We are not in Ireland now.)
We can use the present perfect with for, since and how long to ask or talk about situations that started in the past and have not finished.
We‘ve been married for 25 years.
I‘ve had this watch since I was a kid.
How long have you been friends?
Compare:
We‘ve been married for 20 years. (=We are married now)
We were married for 20 years. Then we divorced. (We are not married now)
For + period of time; since + moment in the past
We use for + period of time (2 hours, 3 days, 20 years, etc.) and we use since + the moment in the past when something started.
I’ve been here for hours.
She’s been my teacher for three years.
I’ve been unemployed since May.
I’ve lived in this town since I was born.
Lately, all morning/day/year/etc.
We can also use the present perfect with lately or with all + period of time (all day, all morning, all my life, etc.) to talk about actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
She’s been with me all day.
I’ve been very busy lately.
Don’t use ago
We can’t use ago with the present perfect.
I‘ve had my watch for 2 years. (NOT I’ve had my watch since 2 years ago.)
When did it happen?
We use the present perfect (NOT past simple) to talk about past experiences and actions when we don’t say or don’t know when they happened.
I’ve lost my keys.
We‘ve been to a very nice restaurant.
We use the past simple (NOT present perfect) when we mention or ask about when something happened, or when the time is known by the speaker and the listener. We often use a past expression (last week, yesterday, when I was a child, etc.)
We arrived yesterday. (NOT We’ve arrived yesterday.)
When did the accident happen?
Giving details in past simple
We use the present perfect to introduce a past event or experience, but if we continue talking and we give details, then we use the past simple. A: I‘ve been to the cinema. B: What did you see? A: I saw a very good film by… A: Oh, you‘ve broken your arm. B: Yes, I have. A: How did it happen?
We use the present perfect simple with past finished actions or experiences when we don’t mention or we don’t know when they happened. And we also use the present perfect simple to ask or talk about situations that started in the past and have not finished.
We form the present perfect continuous with the present perfect simple of be + the -ing form of the main verb.
We use the present perfect continuous with action verbs (dynamic verbs) to talk about situations that started in the past and have not finished or have just finished.
Have you been crying?
Sorry I am so dirty, but I‘ve been painting.
There is often a present result from doing these actions.
You‘ve been crying. (Your eyes are red.)
I am dirty because I‘ve been painting.
We can use the present perfect continuous to talk about continuous or repeated actions or situations from the past till now.
She‘s been calling you for days. (=She has repeated this action for several days.)
I‘ve been studying since you left. (=I have done this action continuously without stopping.)
For, since, how long, lately, all day/week/month/etc.
We can use for, since, how long, lately, all day/week/month/etc. to ask or say how long a situation has been happening.
I haven’t been feeling well lately.
He’s been annoying us all evening.
She’s been studying very hard for weeks.
How long have you been playing golf?
Situations that started in the past and still continue
We can use the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous to talk about situations that started in the past and still continue. But we must use the present perfect simple with non-action verbs (stative verbs), and we normally use the present perfect continuous with dynamic verbs (although the present perfect simple is also possible.)
We‘ve had this car for years.
I haven’t been sleeping well lately.
We use the present perfect continuous (and NOT simple) with dynamic verbs for situations that started in the past and still continue when we want to emphasise how long the situation has lasted.
I have been waiting for hours! (=I want to emphasise that I’ve been waiting for a long time).
I couldn’t do the dishes. I’ve been working all day.
Finished and unfinished situations
We use the present perfect simple for finished actions in the past when we don’t say when. We use the present perfect continuous for actions or situations that maybe have not finished or that maybe have finished (very recently)
Who has eaten my cookies? (=We would say this if there are no cookies left. The action is finished.
Who has been eating my cookies? (=We would say this if there are some cookies left)
I‘ve been watching the series you recommended. I’ll tell you about it when I finish watching it.
I‘ve watched the series you recommended. I watched the last episode yesterday.
Actions with present results
We can use present perfect simple and present perfect continuous for actions with present results. We use the present perfect simple if the present results come from completing the action.
Look how nice my car looks. I‘ve washed it. (=The car looks nice because I have finished washing it.)
Something is different in this house. Have you painted it? (=The house looks different because you have completed the action of painting it.)
We use the present perfect continuous if the present results come from the process of doing the action.
Sorry I’m so sweaty. I‘ve been washing my car. (=I am sweaty because of the physical activity that washing the car involves.)
How come you are so dirty? Have you been painting? (=You are dirty because of the process of painting.)
How long vs how many/much
We use the present perfect continuous to talk about the duration of an action, i.e. about how long we have been doing something. And we use the present perfect simple to talk about how many things or how much of something we have done.
I’ve written twenty e-mails. (I’m talking about how many emails I’ve written.)
I’ve been writing emails for hours. (=I’m talking about how long I have spend writing emails)
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