Tenses

an action that happens again and again (a habit / a routine).
I go to work by bus.

a fact that is always true.
Some birds fly south in winter.

fact that is true for a long time / a permanent situation.
He works in a bank.

an activity that is happening now.
Don’t turn the TV off. I’m watching a football match.

an activity or situation that is true now but is not necessarily happening at the
moment of speaking (around now).
I’m doing a French evening class this year.

a temporary situation.
Peter is a student, but he’s working as a waiter during the holidays.

a trend or a change.
Summers are getting hotter due to climate change.

an annoying habit (with always) (too often, more often than normal)
You’re always losing your keys!

behaviour at the moment of speaking with the verb be.
I can’t understand why she’s being so selfish. She isn’t usually like that.

a finished action in the past.
I went to Manchester last week.

actions that follow each other in a story.
Mary walked into the room and stopped. She heard a noise from
behind the curtain. She threw the curtain open, and then she saw …

a past situation or habit.
When I was a child, we lived in a small house by the sea. Every day I
walked for miles on the beach with my dog.

This use is often expressed with used to or would.
When I was a child, we used to live in a small house …
Every day I would walk for miles …

to express a past experience (often with the adverbs ever, never or before).
(indefinite past)
Have you ever been to Australia?
I have never had a car.
I haven’t tried sushi before.

for an activity which has a result in the present (often with just, recently,
already or yet). (indefinite past)

I’ve lost my key. (I haven’t got it now.)
I’ve just had lunch. (I’m not hungry now.)
I’ve seen John recently.
I’ve already done the washing up. (The dishes are clean.)
He hasn’t arrived yet. (He is not there now.)

for an action that began in the past and that has continued up to the
present or still continues. (unfinished past)

We’ve lived in the same house for 25 years. (For is used with a
period of time.)
We have known each other since 1995. (Since is used with a point in
time.)

with gone to express that the person has left.
He has gone to Spain. (He is in Spain now, or on his way to Spain.)

with been to express that the person is back again.
He has been to Spain. (He is back now.)

with today, this morning, this evening etc. when these periods are not
finished at the time of speaking.

I’ve had three cups of coffee this morning. (It is still morning.)
I had three cups of coffee this morning. (It is afternoon or evening.)

when we say: ‘It’s the first/second/third… time something has happened.’
It’s the first time he has driven a car.
It’s the second time I have lost my passport.
It’s the third time you have asked this question.

indefinite time
no time reference
(It is not important when.)

I have been to London.

definite time
with time reference
(We know when.)

I was in London in 1997.

for unfinished actions
(actions that began in the past and have
continued up to the present or still
continue)

I've lived in Texas for six years.
(I still live there.)

I've written three books.
(I can still write more.)

for finished actions

I lived in Texas for six years.
(Now I live in California.)

Shakespeare wrote 37 plays.
(He can't write anymore.)

to express an activity that began in the past and is continuing now.
I’ve been studying English for three years.

to emphasise duration.
I’ve been writing letters all morning.

to express an incomplete activity.
I’ve been cleaning the house, but I still haven’t finished.

to express a temporary activity that began in the past.
I’ve been living with my friends for the last two months, but next month
I’m going to move to my own flat.

to express a past activity that has recently stopped and has caused a
present result.
Have you been crying? Your eyes are red.

We are interested in the fact that
something has been finished.

The car is OK again now. I’ve repaired it.

We are interested in the activity.

My hands are dirty. I’ve been repairing the
car.

We are interested in the
achievement.

I’ve ironed five shirts this morning.

We are interested in the duration.

I’ve been ironing my shirts this morning.

The action has finished.

I’ve waited long enough. (I’m leaving now.)

The action has not finished.

I’ve been waiting for half an hour. (I’m still
waiting now.)

The activity is permanent.

I’ve lived here all my life.

The activity is temporary.

I’ve been living with friends for two
months.

We ask or say how much, how
many or how many times an
activity has been carried out.

How many pages of that book have you
read?
She has written five letters.
They’ve played tennis three times this
week.

We ask or say how long an activity
has been going on.

How long have you been reading that
book?
She has been writing letters all day.
They’ve been playing tennis since two
o’clock.

to express activities in progress before, and probably after, a particular time
in the past.
At 7 o’clock this morning I was having my breakfast.

for descriptions.
She was wearing a green cotton dress. Her eyes were shining in the
light of the candles that were burning nearby.