Instituto Superior Cultural Británico

Prácticas Discursivas de la Comunicación Escrita I

Prof. Lic. Pontoriero, Roberto.
We use the PRESENT SIMPLE tense in these situations:
 Facts: Argentinians speak Spanish.
 Routines: We have lessons on Mondays and Fridays.
 Retelling of plots: In this story, Mary, the main character, is a waitress who meets a man…
 Comments in sport events: …and Hingis serves, Davenport returns the ball with ease…
 Newspaper headlines (block language): (past event) President arrives in China.
(future event) President to arrive in China. (to-inf.)

We use the PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense in these situations:

 Actions happening at the moment of speaking: Listen… somebody’s singing.
 Temporary situations: We are studying at home nowadays.
 Changing situations: More and more people are shopping from their homes.
 Annoying habits (+always): My brother is always shouting while I’m studying.
 In the case of STATE VERB, we can only use the PRESENT SIMPLE tense:
 Hey! I know you
 You are a great student.
 My girlfriend has got beautiful green eyes.
 I like doing sports.
 Sometimes, we can use the PRESENT CONTINUOUS tense with a change in
meaning:
 You are being naughty today.
 My girlfriend is having breakfast right now.
 What a great place… I’m liking it! (colloquial)
 We use the PAST SIMPLE tense in these situations:
 Actions that happened at a specific time in the past: I did my homework yesterday.
 An action that lasted for some time in the past and was completed: I lived in
England from 2000 to 2010.
 Repeated past actions or habits: I always went to the beach when I was a kid.

We use the PAST CONTINUOUS tense in these situations:

 To set the scene in a story: Yesterday, I was walking home when…
 Actions that went on for some time: Yesterday I was studying all day.
 To talk about simultaneous past actions: I was studying while my brother was
watching TV, so it was impossible for me to concentrate.
 Annoying habits (+always): My ex was always complaining.
 PAST HABITS:
USED TO: I used to go to the beach when I was a kid.
WOULD: I would spend the whole day in the sea.

*In the case of state verbs, we can only use USED TO.
When I was a kid, I used to be very shy.
When I was a kid, I would be very shy.
We use the PAST PERFECT SIMPLE tense…
 To express an action in the past which happened before another past event:

When I arrived at the cinema, the film had started.

We use the PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS tense…

 To express an action in the past which happened before another past event and
lasted for some time:

When I woke up, I realized that it had been raining all night.

*In some cases, there is no difference in meaning between the past perfect simple
and the past perfect continuous, but with dynamic verbs we usually use the
continuous form to stress the continuity of the action.
 We use the Present Perfect SIMPLE tense in
these situations:
 Finished past actions with a connection to the present: I’ve already done my
homework.
 Finished past actions with an indefinite time reference (experiences): I think I’ve
heard that song before.
 Finished past actions with no time reference (experiences): I’ve been abroad
twice in my life.
 Actions that started in the past and continue in the present: My wife and I have
been together for seven years.
 With the expression ‘It’s the first time’ to talk about experiences: It’s the first time
I’ve been to Europe.

*Verbs be and go in the present perfect tense:

-My best friend has recently gone to teach English to Italy.
-My friend has recently been to Italy.
 We use the Present Perfect CONTINUOUS tense in
these situations:
 Actions that started in the past, continue in the present, and are happening now.
The action is likely to go on in the future: I’m so tired; I’ve been studying all day.
 With the expressions for and since and dynamic verbs: I’ve been living in this
house for years.
 Events that have just finished, so there is present evidence of that event:
-You look red!
-I’ve been running.

*Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous?

-I’ve corrected forty exams so far. (The focus in on the action and it’s result)
-I’ve been correcting exams for hours. (The focus is on the amount of time)
 We use the phrasal modal Be Going to…
 to express future intentions/plans: I’m going to start saving money to buy a car a
rent a new house.

 to make future predictions based on present facts: You’re eating too much, Homer.
You’re going to get sick.
 We use the Present Continuous tense…
 to make future arrangements / appointments: I’m starting a new course on
photography Tuesday next week.

We use the Present Simple tense…

 to talk about timetables: The next plane takes off at 3:00 pm.

We use the present simple or present perfect, and not future forms, after words and
expressions such as while, before, after, until/till, as, unless, when, whenever, if,
suppose/supposing, once, as soon as, as long as, by the time, in case, on condition
that, etc.
 We use the modal auxiliary verb WILL…
 To express future facts: I’ll be 21 years old next year.

 To make factual predictions: Covid-19 cases will reach a new peak soon.

 Future predictions based on prior knowledge, hopes, and fears: Don’t worry,
you’ll get the job. I know it.

 Decisions taken at the moment of speaking: I’m so hungry… I’ll make a

sandwich.

 Requests: Sarah, I love you.Will you marry please?

 Offers: That looks heavy, I’ll help you.

 Promises: I won’t lie to you again, mum. I promise.

 We use the modal auxiliary verb SHALL…

 With I or WE in offers and suggestions: Shall I help you? / Shall we go to the

cinema tonight?

 In place of will in more formal English, especially written English: We shall make
every effort to deal with your complain.
 We use the future continuous…
 to talk about future actions that will take place over a period of time: At this time
on Saturday, I’ll be flying to Mexico.

 to talk about future actions that will happen around or at a certain time: I’ll be
phoning you at 1.

 to talk about a future activity without expressing deliberate intention: She’ll

probably be running her own company in a few years’ time.
 We use the future perfect simple…
 to talk about future actions that will be completed BEFORE a given time: When
you get home, I will have finished dinner.

We use the future perfect continuous…

 to talk about future actions that will be completed BEFORE a given time, but
continue over a period of time: By the time it gets dark, I will have been driving
for five hours.

The future perfect is used with the following time expressions: before, by, by then,
by the time, until/till.
Other ways of talking about the future
The future in the past