Present forms
| Present Simple | Present Cont. | Present Perfect | Preset Perf. Cont. |
| permanent situations or states She works as a nurse. She owns a large shop. |
temporary situations They're staying at the Park Hotel at present. |
recently completed actions She has tidied her room. (She has finished tidying her room. You can see it's tidy now. - evidence in the present) |
actions started in the past and continuing up to the present He's been writing a letter for two hours. (He started two hours ago and he's still writing it.) |
| repaeated / habitual actions (especially with frequency adverbs: often, usually etc) I usually get up at 7.30. |
actions happening at or around the moment of speaking She is looking for a better job. |
actions which happened at an unstated past time and are connected with the present He has lost his keys. (He is still looking for them.) |
past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present She's been crying. (Her eyes are red.) |
| permanent truths or laws of nature Money doesn't buy happiness. Water freezes at 0°C. |
repeated actions with "always" expressing annoyance or criticism She's always interrupting me! |
personal experiences / changes which have happened I've lost 10 kilos. |
actions expressing anger, irritation, annoyance, explanation or criticism Who has been using my toothbrush? (annoyance) |
| timetables / programmes (future meaning) The match finishes at 7.45. The plane leaves at 6.50. |
fixed arrangements in the near future The Browns are visiting us tonight. (It's all arranged.) |
emphasis on number She's written three letters since this morning. She has called on two clients since 12 o'clock. |
emphasis on duration (usually with for, since or how long) She's been calling on clients since this morning. |
| reviews / sports commentaries / dramatic narrative Meryl Streep acts brilliantly in this film. |
changing or developing situations His English is getting better. |
Note: live, feel and work can be used either in the Present Perfect or in the Present Perfect Cont. with no difference in meaning. I've been living / I've lived in Rome for a year. |
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| Present simple | every day / week / month / year, usually, often, always, rarely, never, sometimes, in the morning / evening / afternoon, at night, on Mondays etc |
| Present Cont. | now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, still etc |
| Present Perfect | just, ever, never, already, yet (negations & questions), always, how long, so far, recently, since (= from starting point in the past), for (= over a period of time), today, this week / month etc |
| Present Perf. Cont. | how long, for, since |
Stative Verbs
| Verbs describing a permanent state (stative verbs) do not normally have continuous forms. These are: |
| (1) verbs of the senses : see, hear, smell, feel, taste etc (We often use can or could with these verbs.) eg. Can you see that tall boy over there? The verbs look, watch and listen express deliberate actions and can be used in continuous forms. eg. Be quiet please! I'm listening to the news. But: I can't hear you. Can you speak louder, please? The verbs feel and hurt can be used in either continuous or simple forms, though. eg. A: How are you feeling today? or How do you feel today? B: My leg is hurting. or My leg hurts. (2) verbs of opinion : agree, believe, consider etc (3) verbs of emotions : feel, forgive, hate, like, love etc (4) other verbs : appear (=seem), be, belong, fit (= be the right shape and size for smth.), have (=possess), know, look (= appear), need, prefer, require, want, weigh, wish etc eg. He knows where Peter is. (not is knowing) |
| Some stative verbs (see, smell, taste, feel, think, have etc) have continuous forms but there is a difference in meaning. | |
| STATE | ACTION |
| I think she's rich. (= I believe) | I'm thinking about your plan. (= I'm considering) |
| The milk tastes awful. (= it has a bad flavour) | He's tasting the sauce; it might need some salt. (= he's trying its flavor) |
| He has a pet dog. (= he owns) | He's having dinner now. (= he's eating) |
| This cloth feels like velvet. (= has the texture) | She's feeling her way in the dark. (= she's finding her way) |
| I see you're in trouble. (= I understand) | I'm seeing my lawyer tonight. (= I'm visiting) |
| The kitchen smells of burnt meat. (= has the smell) | Why are you smelling your food? (= trying the smell of) |
| He comes from Spain. (= he was born in) | He's coming from Spain. (= he's traveling from) |
| I love holidays, (in general) | I'm loving this holiday. (= I'm enjoying; specific) |
| Your hair looks great. (= it appears) | She's looking at some old photographs. (= she's examining) |
| The baby weighs 5 kilos. (= it is) | I'm weighing myself on my new scales. (= I'm finding out my weight) |
| Ann is very tall. | Ann is being very kind to me these days. (= she's behaving) |
