UNIT 1 – PRESENT AND PAST TENSES 1. The present simple is used § to give factual information Unilever makes a wide variety of consumer goods. § to talk about routine activities I always buy the supermarket‘s own brand of detergent. § for actions and situations which are generally true Many consumers prefer well-known brands. § for timetables and schedules events We launch the new range on 15 January. 2. The present continuous is used to refer + to events in progress We are installing a new switchboard. § to temporary or changing situations (trends) Are you offering a good discount during the launch period. The number of people shopping online is growing. 3. The present perfect is used § to say that a finished past action is relevant now. There cannot be any specific reference to past time. They have changed the address of their website. (it’s new) § to cover a period of time starting in the past and continuing to the present. An appropriate time expression takes us up to now Over the last few years e-commerce has become fashionable. § to talk about our life experience She has had a number of interesting jobs. 4. The present perfect continuous is used § to describe an action or situation in progress from the past up to the present Trade between Slovenia and the Ukraine has been increasing steadily since 1992. § to emphasize an activity rather than a result We‘ we been exporting to the USA for years. § to refer to repeated actions I’ve been phoning her all morning, but she’s always in a meeting. 5. The past simple is used § to refer to events completed in the past. We frequently use a time expression. In the late 1940s Ford decided it needed a medium price model to compete with GM. 6. The past continuous is used § to set the scene at the start of a narrative Commuters were pouring off the trains, a lot of people were impatiently waiting for taxis and two stall-holders were busily selling souvenirs. § to show an action was in progress when another action occurred They were preparing the accounts when the computer crashed. § to show two or more actions were in progress at the same time. While we were packing the boxes the children were writing out the labels. 7. The past perfect is used § to show that an action happened earlier than an action which followed When we arrived, the meeting had already started. 8. The past perfect continuous is used § to show that an action had begun and was still in progress before another action or event took place He had been waiting patiently for promotion for seven years before an opportunity finally came. § to describe repeated actions up to a point in the past Colleagues had been taking her biscuits and borrowing her stationery for years before she finally lost her temper. 9. Would or used to + infinitive is used § to describe past habits or routines § to describe past state, it´s necesary to use used to § you can´t use state verbs with would After work he would / used to sit down and read the newspaper; then he would / used to have a nap. BUT He used to be (Not: would be) much more enthusiastic in the old days. (past state) 10. Verbs relating to beliefs, being, knowledge, liking, perception and appearance are normally only used in the simple form. Examples of the state verbs: BELONG, CONSIST OF, CONTAIN, MATTER, OWN, BELIEVE, MEAN, REALIZE, REGRET, UNDERSTAND etc.