PRESENT
When do we use the Present Simple, and when do we use the Present Continuous?
Present Simple - habits, routine, facts, and general truth.
Present Continuous - actions happening now or around the present time.
How do regular and irregular verbs differ in their Past Simple formation?
Regular verbs form the Past Simple by adding the suffix "-ed" to the base form, while irregular verbs have unique forms that do not follow a fixed pattern and must be memorized (e.g., go becomes went).
When is the Present Continuous used to refer to the future?
It is used to talk about definite, personal arrangements in the near future. This means the event has already been planned, and crucial details (like time, place, or other people) have been agreed upon.
The train to London ________ (leave) at 8:30 AM tomorrow, so we absolutely cannot be late.
leaves
(Present Simple) — Used for scheduled public timetables (trains, planes, cinema shows).
Shakespeare ________ (write) Romeo and Juliet in the late 16th century.
wrote (Past Simple) — Used for completed historical facts or actions in the past with a specific time frame.
What is the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple?
Present Perfect connects the past with the present and is used when the exact time isn't important.
Past Simple is used for finished actions at a specific time in the past.
How is the Past Continuous formed, and what does it emphasize compared to the Past Simple?
It is formed using "was/were" + the present participle (-ing). It emphasizes the duration or the progress of an action at a specific moment in the past, rather than its completion.
What are the two distinct, major functions of the "be going to" structure?
1) To express future intentions or plans that were decided before the moment of speaking. 2) To make predictions based on clear, present physical evidence that we can see or hear right now.
She realized she ________ (leave) her passport at home only when she arrived at the airport check-in desk.
had left
(Past Perfect) — Used to show that leaving the passport happened before arriving at the airport (the "past of the past").
"I have a terrible headache." – "Wait here, I ________ (get) you an aspirin."
will get / 'll get (Future Simple) — A spontaneous reaction/decision made at the exact moment of hearing about the headache.
When do we use the Present Perfect Continuous?
Why is the Past Perfect often described as the "past of the past"?
Because it is used to talk about an action that happened before another action or a specific point in time in the past.
How do you structure "be going to" in positive, negative, and question forms?
Positive: "subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb." Negative: "subject + am/is/are + not + going to + base verb." Question: "Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?"
She ________ (not / study) for her exams this week; she is taking a short vacation.
is not studying / isn't studying
(Present Continuous) — Used for temporary situations or actions happening around the present period, but not necessarily at this exact second.
I ________ (already / write) three emails this morning, but I still have several more to send.
have already written (Present Perfect) — Used for completed actions in an unfinished time period ("this morning") with a focus on the current result/quantity.
How do we form the Present Continuous tense?
subject+am/is/are+verb+ing
What happens to the main verb in negative sentences and questions in the Past Simple?
The main verb reverts to its base form (infinitive without "to") because the auxiliary verb "did/didn't" already carries the past tense marker.
What is the primary rule for using "will" when making a decision about the future?
Will" is used for spontaneous decisions made at the exact moment of speaking, rather than plans made in advance (e.g., "The phone is ringing. I'll answer it!").
While my mother ________ (cook) dinner, the electricity suddenly went out.
was cooking (Past Continuous) — Used for a longer background action in the past that was interrupted by a shorter action.
Why ________ you ________ (constantly / lose) your keys? It is so frustrating!
are you constantly losing (Present Continuous) — When paired with constantly or always, it expresses irritation or a complaining attitude about a habit.
What time expressions are commonly used with the present tenses?
Present Simple - always,often,every day,etc.
Present Continuous- now, at the moment,currently,etc.
Present Perfect- already,yet,since,for,just,ever,never.
Present Perfect Continuous - since,for,all day,recently.
What is the difference between "When I arrived, they ate" and "When I arrived, they had eaten"?
In the first sentence (Past Simple), the eating happened after the arrival. In the second sentence (Past Perfect), the eating was already completed before the arrival.
Difference between will, going to, present continuous?
will - predictions, promises, offers, decisions.
going to- intensions, predictions.
present continious - certain plans.
They ________ (not / enjoy) the concert last weekend because the sound quality was poor.
didn't enjoy / did not enjoy (Past Simple) — A completed negative state/action in the past with a specific time reference ("last weekend").
He failed the final exam because he ________ (not / study) at all the week before.
had not studied / hadn't studied (Past Perfect) — The lack of studying occurred in the period before the past event of failing the exam.