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Review of all pre-intermediate verb tenses (CEFR A2)– Summary table
Present tenses
Present simple
1 Habits or situations that happen regularly.
- I wash my hair every day.
- I never go to the library.
- She‘s always late.
2 Permanent situations, or things that are always or usually true.
- I don’t drink coffee.
- She‘s very tall.
- I have two brothers.
Present continuous
1 Actions in progress, happening now or ‘around now’.
- I can’t talk now. I‘m brushing my teeth.
- I finished your book and I‘m reading a new one now.
2 Temporary actions.
- My car’s in the garage. I‘m taking the bus this week.
- I‘m not training because I have an injury.
3 Future arrangements.
- I‘m meeting Sally at 7.
- We are leaving early tomorrow.
Present perfect
1 Recent events –we don’t say when. (Common with already, yet, just, recently, today, this week, etc.)
- She‘s had an accident.
- Have you finished yet?
- He‘s changed jobs recently.
- Have you seen Peter today?
2 Past experiences –we don’t say when. (Common with never, ever, before, superlative + ever, number of times until now.)
- We‘ve been to Italy.
- Have you ever eaten insects?
- This is the best food I‘ve ever eaten.
- I‘ve read this book three times.
3 Unfinished situations from past until now. (Common with how long, for, since, all + time, lately.)
- How long have you been here?
- We have been married for 20 years.
- I‘ve liked chocolate all my life.
- I‘ve been very busy lately.
Past tenses
Past simple
1 Actions completed in the past.
- I saw Jimmy yesterday.
- She moved to Chester two years ago.
2 Actions in chronological order in a story.
- When I arrived home, I took off my shoes and turned on the TV.
3 Past habits or situations that were true in the past.
- We often played in the park after school.
- He lived with his grandparents when he was a child.
Past continuous
1 Actions in progress at a certain time in the past.
- What were you doing yesterday at 7?
- When he arrived, I was sleeping.
- They were arguing when I last saw them.
2 At the beginning of a story to describe the scene.
- It was getting dark and I was walking to the pub when suddenly …
Future tenses
Will + infinitive
1 Decisions that we take at the moment of speaking.
- “We don’t have sugar.” “Don’t worry, I‘ll buy some.”
- I‘ll have a burger and chips, please.
2 Predictions about what we think will happen.
- I think he‘ll win the election.
- You will be a good doctor.
3 Offers (I will or Shall I/Shall we…?).
- I‘ll carry that bag for you.
- Shall I help you with those bags?
4 Promises.
- I will always love you.
- Don’t worry. I will pay you back next week.
Be going to + infinitive
1 Intentions or plans.
- Please, pass me the remote. I‘m going to watch TV.
- This summer I‘m going to look for a job.
2 Predictions about what we see is going to happen (present evidence).
- Slow down! We‘re going to have an accident.
- The doctor said I‘m going to have a girl.
Present continuous
See present continuous uses above.
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