Grammar Notes 1. Simple Present / Present Progressive
A. Simple Present
This tense is used to express an action that is repeated or usual, such as a habit, daily event, or regularly scheduled event. It can also be used to state facts and generally accepted ideas.These are often used with adverbs of time that describe habitual actions (each month, every day) or deadlines (by Friday, at noon).
B. Present Progressive
This tense Is used to express something happening at the moment of speaking.
- I complete orders on Mondays.
(habitual: every Monday)
- Our company sends out regular surveys to ensure quality of service.
(generalization)
- We are looking for someone who has at least three years of experience in the field.
(happening now)
Note: The present progressive cannot be used with stative verbs.
- I need a new computer.
NOT I am needing a new computer. |
2. Simple Past / Past Progressive
A. Simple Past
This tense is used to express completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past, or a series of actions in the past.
B. Past Progressive
This tense is used to talk about activities that were in progress at some point in the past, or interrupted actions in progress in the past.
- She worked part-time when she was younger.
(an action that occurred regularly in the past)
- She applied for thejob, went for an interview, and started working on Monday.
(a series of completed actions in the past)
- l was sitting in on a meeting this morning around 10 am.
(an action in progress at a particular time in the past)
- While we were traveling to the airport, we realized we had left some papers in the office.
(a shorter action happens in the middle of a longer action in the past) |
3. Perfect Tenses with Since/For (Duration)
These tenses are used to talk about how long an event, state, or action has endured up to the present or up to a specific time in the past.
A. Present Perfect / Past Perfect + Since + Starting Point
A specific day, date, or point in time is needed to follow the word since.
- We have had problems with the production line since Tuesday.
- Evans Enterprises had been based in the same building since 1890.
B. Present Perfect l Past Perfect + For + Period
A period of time is needed to follow the word for.
- We have had problems with the production line for a few days.
- He had been a manager for seven years before he was promoted. |
4. Future Tense
This tense is used to express an event or action that has not happened yet but is expected to happen in the future.
A. Future Tense + Time Phrase
- Use future progressive + in + period of time to express a specific action in the future.
- Use future perfect + by + specific time/day/date to express something you will have completed or expect to have completed by then.
- Use future perfect + time expression to express something that will have occurred by the time a specific action in the future occurs.
- I will be working as an accountant in two years / in two years'time.
- They will have achieved their goal by July 1st.
- Jason will have started hisjob before i go on vacation.
B. Will + As Soon As + Simple Present
Use will + as soon as + simple present to emphasize that an event or action will happen immediately after another has occurred.
- I will contact you as soon as I hear any news. (immediately after)
C. If + Simple Present + Will
Use if + simple present + will to talk about a possibility in the future.
- If the government reduces the subsidy, many companies will go bankrupt. |
