Present continuous

We use the present continuous when we talk about something which is happening at the time of speaking. Ex: Please don’t make so much noise. I’m studying. We also use present continuous when we talk about something which is happening around the time of speaking but not necessarily exactly at the time of speaking. Ex: Tom and Ann are talking and drinking in a café. Tom says: I’m reading an interesting book at the moment’. Kate is learning English at the moment.

We often use the present continuous when we talk about a period around the present. For example today, this season, etc. Ex: You’re working hard today. Tom isn’t playing this season. We use the present continuous when we talk about changing situations. Ex: The population of the world is rising very fast.

Present continuous can also have a future meaning. When we are talking about what you have already arranged to do, use the present continuous. Ex: What are you doing tomorrow evening? I’m going to the theatre. It is also possible to use going to (do).

So present continuous is used to describe: 1) temporary situations. Ex: Are you enjoying your stay here? 2) complaints about annoying habits. Ex: You are always making snide remarks about my cooking. There may be the following adverbs in such sentences: constantly, continually, forever. 3) with verbs describing change and development. Ex: The weather is getting worse. More and more people are giving up smoking.

Difference between present simple and present continuous

We use present continuous to talk about temporary situations. We use present simple to talk about permanent situations.

Some state verbs describe a continuing state, so do not usually have a continuous form Typical examples are: believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, fit, have, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, own, prefer, seem, suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish.

GOING TO (do) We use going to when we say what we have already decided to do, what we intend to do in the future. Ex: Have you made the coffee yet? No, but I’m going to make it. We use was/were going to to say what someone intended to do in the past but didn’t do.

We use going to in this way when we say what we think will happen. Usually there is something in the present situation that makes the speaker sure about what will happen.

Present perfect

Present perfect simple (indefinite) refers to: 1) recent events, without a definite time given. The recentness may be indicated by the word just. Ex: I have just seen a ghost! 2) indefinite events, which happened at an unknown time in the past. Ex: Jim has had three car accidents (up to the present). 3) indefinite events which may have an obvious result in the present. Ex: I have twisted my ankle (that’s why I’m limping).4) with state verbs, a state which lasts up to the present. Ex: I’ve lived here for the past ten years.

We form the present perfect with have/has + the past participle. The past participle often ends in –ed (opened, decided) but many verbs are irregular (lost, written, done etc.)

When we use the present perfect there is a connection with the present, We often use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening. Ex: I’ve lost my key. Can you help me look for it? You can use the present perfect with already to say that something has happened sooner than expected. Ex: Don’t forget to post the letter, - I’ve already posted it. We also use ever (in questions) and never (in negative sentences) with the present perfect. Ex: Have you ever eaten caviar? We have never had a car. We often use the present perfect after a superlative adjective. Ex: It’s the most boring film I have ever seen. We use the present perfect with the expressions This is the first time…etc. Ex: This is the first time he has driven a car. Use the present perfect to say that you have never done something or that you haven’t done something during a period of time which continues up to the present. Ex: I haven’t smoked for three years/since September/for nearly a month. We often use the present perfect with yet (in questions/negative sentences). Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen Ex: Has it stopped raining yet? We can also use the present perfect with this morning/today/this week etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking. Ex: I haven’t seen Tom this morning.

Present perfect continuous (progressive) can refer to: 1) a state which lasts up to the present moment. Ex: I have been waiting for you for three hours! 2) an incomplete activity. Ex: I have been cleaning the house but I still haven’t finished. 3) to emphasize duration. Ex: I have been writing letters all morning. 4) a recently finished activity. Ex: I’ve been running. That’s why I look tired.

We form the present perfect continuous with have/has been + doing.

We use the present perfect continuous when we talk about quite a long action which began in the past and has recently stopped or just stopped. We also use it to ask or say how long something has been happening or has just stopped. We can also use the present perfect continuous (with how long, for and since) for actions repeated over a period of time. Ex: She has been playing tennis since she was eight. How long have you been smoking?