The Past Master
Correct the error: "I was walking to the park when I was seeing my old teacher.
"I was walking to the park when I saw my old teacher." (Seeing is a state/short action here).
Fill in the blank: "I _______ (live) here for ten years and I love it."
"I have lived"
Which tense do we use for a permanent state or a habit?
Simple Present.
Use "going to" to make a prediction based on clear evidence (e.g., dark clouds).
"Look at those clouds! It is going to rain."
Is "I am wanting a pizza" correct? Why or why not?
No. "Want" is a state verb; it should be "I want a pizza."
Which tense describes a background action in progress? (e.g., "The sun was shining...")
Past Continuous
Which sentence suggests the action might continue into the future?
A: I wrote three emails.
B: I’ve been writing emails all morning.
B: I’ve been writing emails all morning.
Fill in the blanks: "I usually _______ (drink) tea, but today I _______ (drink) coffee.
drink / am drinking.
Which tense do we use for a fixed appointment in a diary?
Present Continuous (e.g., "I'm meeting the doctor at 4:00").
Give an example of a verb that can be both state and dynamic.
Think (opinion vs. process), Have (possession vs. action), See (vision vs. meeting), Smell (quality vs. action).
Use the verb "work" to describe an interrupted action in the past.
N/A
Name two "trigger words" that are used exclusively with the Present Perfect.
Just, yet, already, ever, never, since, for. (Any two).
Correct the error: "Look at him! He wears a tuxedo!"
"He is wearing a tuxedo!" (Action happening right now).
What is the difference in meaning between these two "future" plans?
A: I’m meeting my boss at 5:00.
B: I’m going to meet my boss sometime next week.
A is a fixed arrangement (Present Continuous); B is a general intention/plan (Going to).
Correct this: "I am having this car for three years."
"I have had this car for three years." (State verbs use Present Perfect Simple for duration).
Explain the difference in meaning: "When he arrived, they had dinner" vs. "When he arrived, they were having dinner."
"Had dinner" means they started after he arrived. "Were having dinner" means the meal was already in progress when he arrived.
Why is "I have been knowing him for years" grammatically incorrect?
"Know" is a state verb. We don't use it in the continuous (-ing) form.
Explain the change in meaning: "She is being very kind" vs. "She is very kind."
"Is being" refers to temporary behavior right now; "Is" refers to her permanent personality.
What is the difference between "I'll help you" and "I'm going to help you"?
"I'll help" is a spontaneous offer made at the moment of speaking. "I'm going to help" implies a prior plan or intention.
Use "smell" in the continuous form to describe an active action.
"The chef is smelling the soup to check the seasoning."
Create a sentence using three different past actions.
Create a question for this answer: "Since 2015."
"How long have you lived here?" or "How long has she worked at the bank?"
Some verbs change meaning when used in the continuous. What is the difference between "I think it's a good idea" and "I am thinking about the idea"?
"Think" (Simple) = Opinion/State; "Am thinking" (Continuous) = Mental process/Action.
What is the tense used for schedules and timetables?
Present Simple. "The bus leaves at 6:15."
Translate the logic: "I’ve been thinking about you" vs. "I think about you."
"I've been thinking about you" suggests a continuous/recent process; "I think about you" is a general habit or fact.