PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Complete the sentences with the present simple or continuous form of the
verbs in brackets.

a. I sometimes feel tired after lunch

b. We usually late at the weekend. (not get up)

c. you the TV or can I turn it off? (watch)

d. My boss to work every morning. (cycle)

e. Can you call back later? - I can´t hear you. We a party, and
the music is very loud. (have)

f. There’s a man in our neighbour´s garden. What he ? (do)

g. How often your teacher you homework? (give)

h. I chocolate in this month. I need to cut down on sweet things.

(not eat)

i. My mother often exercise. (not do)

j. My girlfriend has stopped eating snacks. She to be healthier. (try)

 PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Subject + Base form of the verb Subject + To be (present) + Verb-ing

I go I am going
He goes

It is used to describe an action that happens It is used to describe actions that happen while
in the present with no temporal reference. we are speaking.

Routines (always, generally, mainly,etc.). Future actions that will happen without a
doubt (e.g. “I’m leaving tomorrow”).
Universal truths that cannotbe doubted (e.g.
“Plants need nutrients in order to grow”). To speak about temporary circumstances (e.g.
“He is working as a waiter” as opposed to “He
Future actions that will happen without a works as a waiter”).
doubt (e.g. “I have a meeting tomorrow”).

To tell what happens in books or movies.

PRESENT PERFECT VS PAST SIMPLE
GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Complete the sentences with the present perfect or past simple form of the
verbs in brackets.

a. When did your son buy his car? (buy)

When he his driving test last month. (pass)

b. How much money you from you sister yesterday?

(borrow)
About 100€ but I already it all. (spend)

c. you a new flat yet? (find)

Yes, and the bank just to give me a mortgage. (agree)

d. you ever any money to a friend? (lend)

Only to my boyfriend when he a new phone. (need)

e. your mother an apointment with the doctor yet?

(make)
Yes, she him yesterday, and she’s seeing him tomorrow. (call)
 PRESENT PERFECT PAST SIMPLE

Subject + Have/Has + Past Participle Subject + Verb-ed / Irregular verbs

I have gone I went
He has gone

It is used to speak about actions that It is used to speak about past actions.
happened in an immediate past or in a
moment that we still considerthe present It can be used to designate something that
(e.g. “It’s been very cold this week”). lasted for a certain period of timeduring the
past (e.g. “Throughout the 60s, my parents
It is used to speak about actions that started worked in that factory”).
in the past and still continue (e.g. “I have
lived here since I was a child”) for/since. We can use it to designate something that
used to happen in the past but doesn’t happen
We use the adverb “just” to speak about anymore (e.g. “Each year, my grandparents
actions that took place immediately before bought me a birthday present”).
we started speaking.
It can be used afterthe conjunction “as” to
It is usually used with adverbs such as express a sequence of actions (e.g. “As he
“already”, “still” or “yet”. opened the door, he saw her lying on the
floor”).
 PRESENT PERFECT VS
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Circle the correct form. Sometimes both forms will be possible.

a. How long have you lived / have you been living abroad?

b. I’ve studied / I’ve been studying Chinese for two years.

c. My parents have had / have been having the same car for ten years.

d. How long has Mark played / has Mark been playing the bass guitar?

e. Alex has worked / has been working in this school since he started teaching.

f. I’ve known / I’ve been knowing her for years

g. We’ve gone / We’ve been going to the same dentist since we were children.

h. You’ve worn / You’ve been wearing the same coat for years!

i. How long have you ridden / have you been ridding horses?

j. I’ve washed / I’ve been washing the car, it looks much cleaner now.
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Subject + Have / Has + Been + Verb-ing

I have been going

It is used to speak about actions that started in the past and still continue (e.g. “I have been
living here since I was a child”)

We use to speak about actions that have continually happened in the past and that still have
some consequences today (e.g. “We have been baking our own bread for years”).

An action that happened in the past and might have ended, but we want to emphasize its length
(e.g. “Your phone has been ringing for almost a minute. Why didn’t you answer it?”).

Very commonly used with “for” and “since”.

PAST TENSES
Select a, b or c

She the gold medal at the last Olympic Games.

A- won B- was winning C- had won

I breakfast when I heard the news.

A- had B- was having C- had had

I wanted to go for a swim, but I a towel.

A- didn’t bring B- wasn’t bringing C- hadn’t brought

Our guest arrived while we the basketball on TV.

A- watched B- were watching C- had watched

We any goals in our last match.

A- didn’t score B- weren’t scoring C- hadn’t scored

As soon as the film started, I realized that I it before.

A- saw B- was seeing C- had seen

I hockey and netball when I was at school.

A- played B- was playing C- had played

It was late and people to get home before it got dark.

A- hurried B- were hurrying C- had hurried

We were exhausted when we eventually got home. We a very busy day

A- had B- were having C- had had

Sorry. I when you called, so I couldn’t answer.

A- drove B- was driving C- had driven

 PAST PERFECT

Subject + Had + Past Participle

I had gone

It is used to describe past actions that are, at the same time, past in relation with
other past actions (e.g. “Robert had met his new boss on his previous visit”).

It is most commonly used with adverbs that express the temporal framework of the
action.

It is used in particular constructions such as the third conditional or reported speech

(equivalent to simple past or present perfect).
FUTURE TENSES

Select the correct answer.

this weekend?

A- Do you go out
B- Will you go out
C- Are you going out

I’m sorry I made you so angry, I it again.

A- won’t do
B- ‘m not going to do
C- ‘m not doing

It’s really hot, the window, please?

A- Are you going to open

B- Will you open
C-Do you open

I don’t think I come tomorrow.

A- ‘m being able to
B- am able to
C-will be able to
Where are you going?
I something for dinner.

A- ‘m going to buy
B- ‘ll buy
C-’m buying

You can insist all you want; I you

A- ‘m not helping
B- don’t help you
C-won’t help you

doing that please? I’m trying to concentrate

A- Are you going to stop

B- Will you stop
C-Do you stop

tonight? There’s a new restaurant that looks promising

A- Shall we eat out

B- Will we eat out
C-Are we going to eat out

I’m sure the baby blue eyes

A- is going to have
B- will have
C-is having
PASSIVE (ALL TENSES)
STEVEN SPIELBERG
Four decades of film history

Steven Spielberg (1)__________ films for over 40 years. The film that made him famous
around the world was Jaws, which (2)___________ in 1975. Jaws (3)_____________ the
story of a holiday resort where swimmers (4)______________ by a huge white shark.
Spielberg had many problems with the mechanical sharks while the film
(5)______________, but he managed to finish it in the end. Jaws was extremely
successful, and it (6)______________ three Academy Awards. Since then, Spielberg
(7)_____________ many films which have since become classics, including Close
Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., and Jurassic Park. He (8)_________________ for an
Oscar seven times and has won the award for Best Director twice: for Schindler’s List and
Saving Private Ryan. Today, Spielberg (9)_________________ to be one of the most
popular directors and producers in film history. Now in his seventies, he’s still making films,
and it seems unlikely that he (10)_____________ any time soon.

1) A. has been making 6) A. was won

B. has been made B. won
C. is made C. was being won

2) A. is released 7) A. has been directed

B. released B. has directed
C. was released C. was directed

3) A. is told 8) A. nominated
B. tells B. has nominated
C. was told C. has been nominated

4) A. are being attacked 9) A. considers

B. are attacking B. is considered
C. attack C. has been considered

5) A. was shot 10) A. will retire

B. shoot B. will be retired
C. was being shot C. is retired
SOLUTIONS
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
don’t / get up
Are / watching
cycles
are having
is / doing
does / give
am not eating
doesn’t / do
is trying

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

passed
did / borrow
have / spent
have / found
has / agreed
have / lent
needed
has / made
called

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

have you lived / have you been living
I’ve been studying
have been having
has Mark played / has Mark been playing
has worked / has been working
I’ve known
We’ve been going
You’ve worn / you’ve been wearing
have you been riding
I’ve washed
Past Tenses
A
B
C
B
A
C
A
B
C
B

Future Tenses
B/C
A
B
C
A
C
B
A
B

Passive (All Tenses)

1. A
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. C
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. B
10. A
NOTES
We use the present simple to refer to future events which are timetabled.

We use the present continuous to talk or ask about future arrangements, i.e. future
actions that are already planned or decided. (I am definitely not going to buy this
house)

We use “will” for promises and refusals.

We use “will” for offers and requests (when we ask someone to do something).

We use “will” to predict future events that we think will happen.

We use “be going to” for plans and intentions (decisions that have been already
made).

We use “shall I” or “shall we” to make offers and suggestions.