•The presentation is divided into three levels:
•
•
• = Lower-intermediate/Intermediate
• = Upper-intermediate
• = Advanced
 Overview of tenses

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)He does English exercises every day.
b)He is doing English exercises now.
c)I work at a bank.
d)I am working on a project at the moment.
present simple
present continuous
present tenses
repeated actions (a)
action at the moment of speaking (b)
permanent activities (c)
temporary activities (d)

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
present tenses
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)She hates our new colleague.
b)I really need a new car.
c)I don’t believe what he’s saying.
d)What do you want to do now?
•
•There are verbs that we do NOT usually use in the continuous form. They are called state verbs and
they are often connected to thinking, opinions and feelings, i.e. they do NOT describe actions.
•We use them in the simple form although we are speaking about something that is true now.

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
present tenses
•These are examples of state verbs:
•
•verbs of emotion: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer
•verbs of mental state: believe, know, need, remember, understand, want, wish
•verbs of possession: have, own, possess
•verbs of senses: hear, see, smell, sound, taste
•other: contain, depend, include, involve, mean
•

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
practice
•Read the sentences and complete them with the correct form of the verb in brackets (present simple
or present continuous).
•
1.I ________ (come) from Slovakia but at the moment I _________ (study) in the Czech Republic.
2.We _____________ (interview) a lot of people at the moment because we __________  (need) to hire
five new staff members.
3.What time ________ you usually ________ (finish) at work?
4.What _______ Mr Goodwin _______ (do)? He’s not in his office.
5.The price ____________ (include) flights and three nights’ accommodation.
6.They normally ____________ (export) a lot to Germany but they ____________ (not get) many orders
at the moment.
•
come
’m studying
’re interviewing
need
do
finish
is
doing
includes
export
aren’t getting

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)In 2002, I spent a month in Greece.
b)When the phone rang, I answered it.
c)Yesterday at 1 o’clock they were having lunch with a client.
d)When the phone rang, I was talking to a colleague.
e)It was a usual morning in our office. Phones were ringing, some colleagues were chatting and some
were hurrying in the corridor.
f)She was checking her email and I was finishing the report.
past simple
past continuous
past tenses
action that happened in the past (a)
action that was in progress at
a particular moment in the past (c)
chronological sequence of actions (b)
action that was in progress and which was interrupted by another action (d)
background information, to give atmosphere (e)
two or more parallel actions (f)

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
practice
•Read the sentences and complete them with the correct form of the verb in brackets (past simple or
past continuous).
•
1.What __________ you __________ (do) yesterday at 1 pm?
2.Ingvar Kamprad __________ (start) IKEA in his small farming village in Sweden in 1943.
3.Who _________ you _________ (hire) to do the catering at your last conference?
4.When I _________ (be) in Germany, I tried to speak German but people ________________ (not
understand) what I was saying.
5.When Mrs Young __________ (arrive) at the reception, my secretary _________ (go) to meet her.
6.He __________ (drive) to a conference when his car __________ (break down).
•
doing
started
didn’t understand
did
hire
was
arrived
went
was driving
were
broke down

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
present perfect
•Look at the sample sentences:
•a) My sister has worked as an au-pair.
•b) Have you ever worked in a bank?
•c) I’ve never been to China.
•d) We’ve just heard the news.
•e) He hasn’t finished yet.
•f) She’s already left.
•g) How long have you lived here?
•h) He’s been the CEO since 2011.
past experience when you do not say when exactly it happened (period of time up to now) (a)
with ever and never (b, c, d)
state that started in the past and still continues (with since and for, questions with how long)
(g, h)
with just, yet and already (e, f)
PAST
PRESENT

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
present perfect:
time expressions
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)She hasn’t sent the letter yet.
b)We have already finished.
c)Have you ever been unemployed?
d)I’ve just had an idea.
• Mid position:
• End position:
e)We’ve had a new secretary since October.
•Since is always followed by an expression of a point in time.
f)He’s worked here for 3 years.
•For is always followed by an expression of duration.
•
a)
1.
•
already, ever, just, never
yet

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
practice
•Read the present perfect sentences and complete them with the correct word. Use each word only
once.
•
•ALREADY, EVER, FOR, NEVER, SINCE, YET
•
1.We haven’t received any complaints ________.
2.She’s ________ finished the report. She’s a quick worker.
3.They’ve been in France ________ five months.
4.Have you ________ worked for a German company?
5.I’ve known Charles ________ he joined our company.
6.I’ve ________ given a presentation in front of so many people. This is the first time for me.
7.
•
yet
already
for
ever
since
never

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)I’ve spent a semester in Greece.
b)In 2002, I spent a semester in Greece.
c)He’s been married for 30 years and is still very happy.
d)He was married for 30 years and then got divorced.
•
present perfect
past simple
present perfect vs past simple
with words that describe finished times, e.g. yesterday, last week (b)
with for, to talk about action that happened during a period of time and has finished (d)
past action when you do not say when exactly it happened (a)
with for, to talk about action that started in the past and still continues (c)

  Overview of tenses
Lower-intermediate/Intermediate level
practice
•Read the sentences and complete them with the correct form of the present perfect or the past
simple.
•
1.I ______________ (not email) him yet.
2.You don’t have to introduce us. We ______ (meet).
3.Last year I __________  (go) to Milan for a trade fair.
4.__________ you ever __________ (speak) in front of a large audience?
5.The company __________  (grow) a lot since they __________  (start) in 2010.
6.Steve Jobs _______ (be) CEO of Apple for 14 years. He ________ (die) in 2011.
•
’ve met
went
has grown
started
was
haven’t emailed
died
Have
spoken

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
state verbs & actions verbs
•Look at the sample sentence:
a)I need a few days off.
•Some verbs are never or rarely used in continuous forms. These are called state verbs. They often
refer to states rather than actions.
b)I see what you mean.
c)I’m seeing the doctor tomorrow.
»
»Some verbs are NOT used in continuous forms if they have certain meanings. They often refer to
mental states or to perception.
»
= I understand it.
= I have an appointment.

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
state verbs & actions verbs
•Look at the sample sentence:
a)I’m just tasting the sandwiches to see if they’re still OK.
b)The cucumber sandwiches taste wonderful.
c)The area measures five kilometres by three kilometres.
d)They’re measuring the size of the area.
»
»
»These are verbs that can be both state and action verbs:
»appear, feel, have, look, measure, see, taste, think, weigh…
STATE
STATE
ACTION
ACTION

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
•Complete the sentences with the correct form of the present tense. Use the continuous form when
possible.
•
1.I ______________ (think) about changing my job.
2.We ______________ (have) 35 members of staff at the moment.
3.She ______________  (have) lunch with a customer.
4.I’m sorry I _______________ (not understand) what you’re saying.
5.They ______________ (taste) wine in wine cellars in Southern Moravia to choose new corporate wine
gifts.
6.Your suitcase ______________ (look) really big. How much ______________ it ______________
(weigh)?
7.David Beckham ______________ (appear) in H&M commercials.
’m thinking
’s having
have
practice
don’t understand
are tasting
looks
does
weigh
is appearing

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
used + infinitive
•Look at the sample sentence:
a)He used to work as an accountant. (= He has a different job now.)
b)What did you use to do during the summer holidays when you were a child?
c)I didn’t use to like my boss, but now I do.
»
»Used + infinitive is used to talk about past habits and repeated actions that are no longer true
and about states that have changed.
»It is NOT used for single events.
»The structure has no present form. (For present habits, we use the present simple + usually, e.g.
I usually finish work at 5 pm.)
»
Do NOT confuse with be used to doing something (být zvyklý dělat co).

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
practice
•Read the past simple sentences and decide whether USED + INFINITIVE is also suitable.
•
1.I had a very important test last week.
• (It was a one-time action.)
2.She had a PC but then she changed to a Mac.
• She used to have a PC but then she changed to a Mac.
3.Our previous boss held meetings several times a week.
• Our previous boss used to hold meetings several times a week.
4.I worked very hard last year.
• (This does not describe a past habit or repeated actions.)
3.
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  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
present perfect simple
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)I have been to the USA.
b)I’ve just seen our new secretary.
c)I haven’t seen her yet.
d)He’s been in marketing since 2002.
e)I’ve known him for 3 years.
f)This is the most boring meeting I’ve attended.
g)They have been fired. (= They have no job now.)
h)
h)
h)
h)
h)
past action when time is not mentioned (a)
with just, already, yet (b, c)
with for and since with STATIVE VERBS (to describe a state that started in the past and still
continues) (d, e)
with superlatives, the first, the second etc. (f)
past action with a present result (g)

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
present perfect continuous
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)How long have you been running the company?
b)I’ve been running the company since 1998.
c)In the past few weeks, he hasn’t been working hard enough.
d)I’ve been writing emails all morning. I’m exhausted.
continuous activity that started in the past and is still true, with for and since (a, b)
with in the past x days/weeks etc., recently (c)
continuous activity that has just finished, often with a present result (d)

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
present perfect
simple vs continuous
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)We have prepared your contract.
b)We have been preparing your contract.
c)I have written ten emails this morning.
d)I have been writing emails all morning.
•
present perfect simple
present perfect continuous
past activity completed recently (a)
activity that is still going on (b)
to give a number or a quantity as a result of an activity (c)
to emphasize duration of an activity, which may have finished but has a present result, or has not
finished yet (d)

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
•Read the sentences and complete them with the correct form of the present perfect simple or the
present perfect continuous.
•
1.Our company donates to a children’s home.  We ______________ (contribute) €500 this year.
2.The car prices ______________ (fall) ever since the EU introduced new laws.
3.Since August, our turnover ______________  (increase) by 10%.
4.I’m sorry I’m so behind with my work but I _______________ (travel) so much recently that
I______________ (not have) enough time to do anything.
5.How long _________  you _________ (use) the new equipment?
’ve contributed
has increased
have been falling
practice
’ve been travelling
haven’t had
have
been using

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
past perfect
•Look at the sample sentences:
•When she arrived, the meeting started.
•
•
•
•When she arrived, the meeting had (already) started.
•
•
•We use the past perfect to talk about past actions that happened before other actions in the past.
PAST
PRESENT
She arrived.
The meeting started.
PAST
PRESENT
She arrived.
The meeting started.

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
past perfect
•We do NOT have to use the past perfect when we mention past events chronologically.
•
•Look at the example:
•He left his keys at home and did not realize it until he came to his office.
•
•
•
•However, we must use the past perfect when we “go back” to talk about an earlier event.
•
•When he came to his office he realized that he had left his keys at home.
•
PAST
PRESENT
He left his keys at home.
He came to his office.

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
past perfect
•Look at the forms:
a)He told me he had finished.
b)I thought I hadn’t sent the email yet.
c)How long had you worked there when she joined the company?
•
•We do NOT have to use the past perfect when we use a time conjunction (e.g. after, as soon as,
when) to talk about two past actions that happened one after the other.
•As soon as she finished her exams, she applied for a job.
•
•However, we can use the past perfect after a time conjunction to emphasize that the first action
was completed before the second started.
•As soon as she had finished her exams, she applied for a job.
•

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
past perfect
•Look at the sample sentence again:
•When she arrived, the meeting had started.
•
•In this sentence, it is also possible to use by the time instead of when:
•By the time she arrived, the meeting had started.
•
•

  Overview of tenses
Upper-intermediate level
•Read the sentences and complete them with the correct form of the past perfect or past simple. Use
the past perfect when possible.
•
1.He ________ (be) in a very good mood because we _______ (win) a major contract.
2.She _________ (set up) her first company ages ago.
3.I __________ (recognize) my colleague at once although I __________ (not see) him for almost 10
years.
4.Mrs Fitzherbert _________ (leave) her office before we ________ (arrive).
5.By the time they __________  (offer) me the job, I __________  (sign) a contract with another
company.
•
had won
set up
was
recognized
hadn’t seen
practice
had left
arrived
offered
had signed

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
used to vs would

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
practice
•Read the sentences and decide whether WOULD could replace USED TO.
•
1.Before I bought a car, it used to take me 2 hours to get go work.
2.
2.The company used to belong to an American multinational.
3.
3.I used to think that I wanted to work in advertising. Now I’m an accountant.
4.
4.In the old days, we used to send hundreds of letters every month. Now we send emails.
»
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  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
aspect
simple, continuous and perfect
•There are three verb aspects in English:
•
•Simple – the action is viewed as complete or permanent
•Continuous – the action is viewed as having duration
•Perfect – the action is viewed as completed before another action
•
•
•

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
simple aspect
•The simple aspect describes actions that are viewed as complete or permanent.
•
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)We sell a full range of insurance products.
b)
b)The investment bank collapsed in September 2008.
c)
c)The conference will start on Friday.
d)
d)She always arrives at work early.
e)He always wore a suit to work.

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
continuous aspect
•The continuous aspect describes actions that are viewed as having duration or as temporary, not as
completed or permanent.
•
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)He was checking accounts when he spotted the error.
b)
b)They’ve been producing cars for over 50 years.
c)
c)I’m dealing with enquiries at the moment, as my colleague is ill.
d)
d)She’s been trying to reach them to make a reservation.
•

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
perfect aspect
•The perfect aspect describes actions that are viewed as completed before another action or
connected to a later action.
•
•Look at the sample sentences:
a)The office was in a mess because someone had broken in.
b)We’ll have repaid the loan by the end of September.
c)
c)I’ve finished the report. (i.e. It is ready.)
•
•
•

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
practice
•Compare the use of tenses in the pairs of sentences. Decide what the differences in meaning are.
•
1.When we got to the premises, the presentation started.
• It started after we arrived. Sequence of actions.
•When we got to the premises, the presentation had started.
• It started before we arrived. An earlier past event.
1.
2.At 1 pm, we had lunch with our major customer.
• The lunch started at 1 pm.
•At 1 pm, we were having lunch with our major customer.
• The lunch started before 1 pm. An activity in progress.
2.
2.

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
practice
•Compare the use of tenses in the pairs of sentences. Decide what the differences in meaning are.
•
3.He’s so selfish.
• Generally true.
•He’s being so selfish.
• He’s not usually a selfish person. Temporary behaviour.
1.
4.She was explaining her proposal when he arrived.
• He arrived in the middle of her explanation. Interrupted action.
•She explained her proposal when he arrived.
• He arrived and then she explained it. Sequence of actions.
2.
2.

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
practice
•Compare the use of tenses in the pairs of sentences. Decide what the differences in meaning are.
•
5.She was CEO of the company for 8 years.
• They have a new CEO now. The situation ended.
•She’s been CEO of the company for 8 years.
• She still is the CEO. The situation has not ended yet.
1.
6.I’ve checked my emails.
• The emails are checked now. The focus is on the result.
•I’ve been checking my emails.
• That is why I haven’t done anything else. The emails may still not be checked. The focus is on
the process.

  Overview of tenses
Advanced level
sources:
•Duckworth, M. (2003) Business Grammar and Practice (Oxford Business English). 1st edition. Oxford
University Press.
•Emmerson, P. (2002) Business Grammar Builder.  1st edition. Macmillan Education.
•Soars, J. and L. New Headway Advanced. 1st edition. Oxford University Press.
•Swan, M. (2005) Practical English Usage (New International Student’s Edition). 1st edition. Oxford
University Press.
•