The Difference Between

Tenses
By :
Fauziah Khoirun
Nisa X MIA 5 / 14
 Simple Present vs Present Continuous
FORM
Simple Present Present Continuous
infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak I am speaking
you speak you are speaking
he / she / it speaks he / she / it is speaking
we speak we are speaking
they speak they are speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' :
• For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Example:
he can, she may, it must
• After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes
• After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes
ie. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays
Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
• Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
• After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant
is doubled.
Example: sit - sitting
• After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in
British English (but not in American English).
Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)
• Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
USE
In general or right now?

Simple Present Present Continuous

right now
in general (regularly, often, never)
Look! Colin is playing football now.
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
also for several actions happening at the same
present actions happening one after another
time
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

• always
• every ...
• at the moment
• often
• at this moment
• normally
• today
• usually
• now
• sometimes
• right now
• seldom
• Listen!
• never
• Look!
• first
• then

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Simple Present Present Continuous

action set by a timetable or schedule arrangement for the near future

The film starts at 8 pm. I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Simple Present Present Continuous

only for a limited period of time (does

not have to happen directly at the
daily routine
moment of speaking)
Bob works in a restaurant.
Jenny is working in a restaurant this
week.
 Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the
continuous form).

• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.
• possession: belong, have
Example: Sam has a cat.
• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold.
• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loves pizza.
• brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I believe you.
• Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.
 Exercise
Simple Present – Present Continuous
Question :
1. This (be) Caroline.
2. Caroline (have) long blond hair.
3. She usually (wear) glasses, but now she (wear) contact
lenses.
4. Caroline (like) sports.
5. She (play) handball every Monday and Thursday.

Answer :
6. This is Caroline.
7. Caroline has long blond hair.
8. She usually wears glasses, but now she is wearing contact lenses.
9. Caroline likes sports.
10.She plays handball every Monday and Thursday.
 Simple Past vs Past Continuous
FORM
Simple Past Past Continuous
past form of 'be' + ing form of verb
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs I was speaking
I spoke you were speaking
regular verbs: verb + ed he / she / it was speaking
I worked we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
• when the final letter is e, only add d. •Exceptions when adding 'ing' : silent e is
Example: love - loved dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final Example: come - coming
consonant is doubled but: agree - agreeing
Example: admit - admitted •after a short, stressed vowel, the final
• final l is always doubled in British English (not in consonant is doubled
American English) Example: sit - sitting
Example: travel - travelled •final l is always doubled in British
• after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not English (not in
after a vowel) American English)
Example: worry - he worried Example: travel - travelling
but: play - he played •final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
USE
After another or at the same time?

Simple Past Past Continuous

after another at the same time
She came home, switched on the Simon was playing on the computer while
computer and checked her e-mails. his brother was watching TV.

New action or already in progress?

Simple Past Past Continuous

new action action already in progress
My mobile rang (when I was sitting in a While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile
meeting.) suddenly rang.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

Simple Past Past Continuous

emphasising progress
just mentioning
Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing
Colin played football yesterday.
football.
 Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Past (not
in the continuous form).

• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We were on holiday.
• possession: belong, have
Example: Sam had a cat.
• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He felt the cold.
• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example: Jane loved pizza.
• brain work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I did not understand him.
• introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.
 Signal Words

Simple Past Past Continuous

• first • when
• then • while
• If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …) • as long as
 Exercise
Simple Past or Past Continuous
Question :
1. When I (get) up yesterday, the sun (shine) .
2. It (is) a beautiful morning.
3. So I (decide) to cycle around a little.
4. I (go) to the shed and (take) out my bike.
5. While I (cycle) past some villages, I (see) some people in
their
gardens.

Answer :
6. When I got up yesterday, the sun was shining.
7. It was a beautiful morning.
8. So I decided to cycle around a little.
9. I went to the shed and took out my bike.
10. While I was cycling past some villages, I saw some people in their
gardens.
 Simple Past vs Present Perfect Simple
FORM

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular irregular verbs
verbs Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he /
Example: I spoke she / it has spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: I worked Example: I / you / we / they have worked he /
she / it has worked

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed':
• when the final letter is e, only add d
Example: love - loved
• after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example: admit - admitted
• final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)
Example: travel - travelled
• after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - worried but: play - played
 Use

In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is

quite strict. As soon as a time expression in the past is given, you
have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must
decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its
consequence in the present is important.

Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to

British English only. In American English, you can normally use
Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in our
exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst those
who have to learn the differences.
Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet
Example: I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. Example: I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

whether / how often till now
certain event in the past
Example: Have you ever been to Canada? /
Example: He went to Canada last summer.
I have been to Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on result
Emphasis on action
Example: I bought a new bike. (just telling Example: I have bought a new bike. (With
what I did in the past.) this sentence I actually want to express that
I have a new bike now.)
 Signal Words

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

• just
• already
• yesterday • up to now
• ... ago • until now / till now
• in 1990 • ever
• the other day • (not) yet
• last ... • so far
• lately / recently
 Exercise
Simple Past or Present Perfect Simple
Question :
1. Mary (already / write) five letters.
2. Tom (move) to this town in 1994.
3. My friend (be) in Canada two years ago.
4. I (not / be) to Canada so far.
5. But I (already / travel) to London a couple of
times.

Answer :
6. Mary has already written five letters.
7. Tom moved to this town in 1994.
8. My friend was in Canada two years ago.
9. I have not been to Canada so far.
10. But I have already travelled to London a couple of times.