Present Simple

Use for: Facts things that are generally true

Things you do regularly/habits
Most verbs:
Positive: Subject + verb + (s) I live in Leeds. He lives in Leeds
Negative: Subject + do/does + not + verb I dont live in Leeds. He doesnt live in Leeds.
Question: (QW) +do/does + subject + verb ? Do you live in Leeds?
Where do you live?
Does he live in Leeds?
Where does he live?

Verb be:
Positive: Subject + am/are/is Im a student. Hes a student.
Negative: Subject + am/are/is + not Im not a student. Hes not a student.
Question: (QW) +am/are/is + subject? Are you a student?
Where are you from?
Is he a student?
Where is he from?

Present Simple adverbs and time expressions
Always
Often
Sometimes
Never

Every day
Once a week
Every year












After the verb be: Im always late.
Before other verbs: I always eat breakfast.
Usually at the end: I got to school every day.
Present Continuous

Use to: describe an action thats happening now or around now
Describe a changing situation
To talk about future plans with another person

Positive: Subject + am/are/is + ing verb Im eating dinner. Hes eating dinner.
Negative: Subject + am/are/is + not +ing Im not eating dinner. Hes not eating dinner.
Question: (QW) +am/are/is + subject + ing? Are you eating dinner?
Where are you eating
dinner?
Is he eating dinner?
Where is he eating
dinner?

State and Action Verbs
Here are some verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense.

like dislike love hate

prefer remember forget believe

mean seem understand want

need know belong own
Verb Simple Forms Progressive Forms
feel (to have an opinion) I feel I should go on holiday. ---
feel (to feel sth.)
How do you feel when you are
on holiday?
How are you feeling today?
have (to possess) I have a new computer. ---
have (to eat) I always have a cola for lunch. I am having dinner right now.
see (to understand) Oh, I see. ---
see (to meet someone) I often see Mandy at the disco. I am seeing Peter tonight.
think (to believe) I think you should see a doctor. ---
think (to think about) I have to think about it.
I am thinking about my girlfriend
now.

Time Expressions
Now
Today
Currently
At the moment
These days

Tomorrow
Next week
Tonight
Next year

Use to talk about the present. They usually go at the end of the sentence.
Use to talk about the future. They usually go at the end of the sentence.
Past Simple

Use for: actions completed in the past
Most verbs:
Positive: Subject + verb + (ed) I lived in Leeds. He lived in Leeds
Negative: Subject + did + not + verb I didnt live in Leeds. He didnt live in Leeds.
Question: (QW) +did + subject + verb ? Did you live in Leeds?
Where did you live?
Did he live in Leeds?
Where did he live?

Verb be:
Positive: Subject + was/were I was a student. You were a student.
Negative: Subject + was/were + not I wasnt a student. You werent a student.
Question: (QW) +was/were + subject? Was he a student?
Where was he?
Were you a student?
Where were you?

Past Simple time expressions
ago
last night
yesterday

Present Perfect

Experiences in the past at an unspecific time.
To talk about completed situations in an incomplete period of time.

Will/ might and may for predictions

Use for predictions about the future

Must/mustn;t/ have to/dont have to.
Normally at the end of the sentence.