Lesson: Tense Comparison

Present Tenses

Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

Simple Present

• Structure: [Subject] + base verb (add -s/-es for third person singular)
  • Example: "She walks to school."
• Uses: General truths, habits, repeated actions, and fixed arrangements.
  • Example: "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."

Present Continuous

• Structure: [Subject] + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing)
  • Example: "They are watching a movie."
• Uses: Actions happening now, temporary situations, and future arrangements.
  • Example: "I am studying for my exams."

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect

• Structure: [Subject] + have/has + past participle
  • Example: "He has finished his homework."
• Uses: Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past, actions that started in the past and continue to the present, and past experiences.
  • Example: "She has lived here for ten years."

Present Perfect Continuous

• Structure: [Subject] + have/has + been + present participle (verb+ing)
  • Example: "We have been waiting for an hour."
• Uses: Actions that started in the past and are still continuing, actions that have recently stopped with a present result.
  • Example: "I have been reading this book for weeks."

Past Tenses

Simple Past vs. Past Continuous

Simple Past

• Structure: [Subject] + past form of the verb
  • Example: "They visited Paris last year."
• Uses: Actions that happened and finished in the past.
  • Example: "I played soccer yesterday."

Past Continuous

• Structure: [Subject] + was/were + present participle (verb+ing)
  • Example: "She was sleeping when the phone rang."
• Uses: Actions that were happening at a specific time in the past, interrupted actions.
  • Example: "We were watching TV at 8 PM."

Past Perfect vs. Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect

• Structure: [Subject] + had + past participle
  • Example: "He had left before I arrived."
• Uses: Actions that happened before another action in the past.
  • Example: "By the time she got to the party, it had ended."

Past Perfect Continuous

• Structure: [Subject] + had + been + present participle (verb+ing)
  • Example: "They had been talking for hours before the movie started."
• Uses: Actions that were ongoing in the past up until another past action.
  • Example: "I had been studying for two hours when he called."

Future Tenses

Simple Future vs. Future Continuous

Simple Future

• Structure: [Subject] + will + base verb
  • Example: "She will travel to Japan next month."
• Uses: Future actions, predictions, and promises.
  • Example: "I will help you with your homework."

Future Continuous

• Structure: [Subject] + will + be + present participle (verb+ing)
  • Example: "This time tomorrow, I will be flying to New York."
• Uses: Actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.
  • Example: "They will be eating dinner at 7 PM."