Grammar Notes
1 Present: Simple, Progressive, and Perfect
A. Use the present simple for routines, habits, or things that are always true. The present simple often uses the time adverbs every week, usually, regularly, always, generally, often, and frequently.
B. Use the present progressive (am/are/is + ing) for an unfinished action. It often uses the time adverbs now, currently, presently, at the moment, and right now.
C. Use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) for a situation in which things that happened in the past have a result in the present. The present perfect often goes with just, not yet, for, since, ever, never, first time, second time, this week, and so far.
- He takes the subway to work every day. (regular activity)
- I usually go to the gym in the morning.
- He is attending a meeting. (right now)
- I'm watching a movie at the moment. Can I call you back?
- They have scheduled the meeting for nextThursday.
2 Past: Simple,'Progressive, and Perfect
A. Use the past simple for something that was finished in the past, usually with a past time phrase. The most common time adverbs include yesterday, in 2000 (year), the other day, once, and last (Sunday).
B. Use the past progressive (was/were + ing) for an action in progress at a specific moment in the past.
C. Use the past perfect (had + past participle) for something that happened before a certain point in time in the past.
- She attended several conferences in Europe last year.
- She was working late last night when her boss called.
- She had finished the report when the power went out.
3 Future: Will and Other Words with Future Meaning
A. Use will to express intention or to announce a decision.
B. Use be going to for future actions and events that are already planned.
C. Use the present simple instead of the future tense in subordinate clauses that have future meaning.
D. Use modals for hypothetical situations.
- OK, I will accept your offer.
- They are going to attend the conference this year.
- Once we know how much we need, we will order the appropriate amount.
- We would have made a great deal of money if that deal had gone through.
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