Proficiency Tests

{ Tenses -1
Present Simple or Continuous
 Quick Look at the Tense Aspect

How many Tenses are there in English?

Time Aspect

Present Past Future

• Present Simple • Past Simple • Future Simple

• Present Continous • Past Continous • Fuure Continous
• Present Perfect • Past Perfect • Future Perfect
• Present Perfect Continuous • Past Perfect Continuous • Future Perfect Continuous

Aspects

Simple Perfect Continuous

 PRESENT SIMPLE
Routine My university applies a hybrid system

Facts İstanbul has many problems including traffic,

unemployment, and high living costs

Film&Movie Summaries In Avatar 2, the captain attacks the village again

and kills many.

News Headlines Bomb kills millions in the US

Timetables The train leaves at 8.30

On a proficiency test, there are also some hints that you can notice
this tense form when the meaning is not very clear.

« HOW OFTEN»

ALWAYS

USUALLY/NORMALLY/GENERALLY

OFTEN/FREQUENTLY

SOMETIMES/TIME TO TIME

RARELY/HARDLY EVER

*NEVER
Some Sample Sentences:

• How often does your univeristy apply quizes?

• The department always applies quizes at the end of the unit

• How often do you attend online lessons via zoom?

• I never attend online lessons because this semester is face-to-face.
 You also see them at the end of the sentences

« HOW OFTEN»

Once/twice a week/month/year

Every day/weekend/weekday & weekly-yearly-monthly

In the morning/afternoon/evening

At nigth/at noon/at the weekend

On Mondays/Tuesdays/Wednesdays ….
Speaking Practice:

MUSIC HOBBY
 What is your favorite music?
 What are your hobbies?
 Why do you like it?
 Why do you like them?
 When do you listen to it?
 Is there a hobby you don’t like?
 Who is your favorite singer?

FRIENDS BIRTHDAY
 When is your birthday?
 Who is your best friend?
 How do you celebrate it?
 How often do you see him/her?
 What presents do you like?
 Where does he/she live?
 How many friends do you
 How does he/she help you?
usually invite?

HOLIDAYS
 What is your favorite holiday? MOVIES
 Why do you like it?
 What is your favorite movie?
 What do you eat and drink
 Why do you like it?
on this day?
 Who are the actors there?
 Where do you spend it?
 PRESENT CONTINOUS
Things happening now We are having an online lesson right now

Exceptions The shuttle generally takes me around 8.00, but

today the driver is sick, so I am taking a taxi

Things getting better/worse Unfortunately, Turkish economy is not getting better.

Day by day, it is getting worse

Planned Future I am flying to Ankara on 28th, February

Speaking Practice:
Some VERBS in English cannot be used in this tense form.
Instead , we prefer Simple present. Mind those verbs
Exercise Simple Present or Continuous

https://elt.oup.com/student/solutions/preint/grammar/grammar_01_012e?cc=tr&selLanguage=en

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/b1-b2-grammar/stative-verbs