Interview 1
"I live in Bayside, Queens."
Simple present tense. Why? The verb is still in the dictionary form and suggests that she currently lives in Queens (stable condition).
"I'm a student right now."
Simple present tense. Why? There is no -ing, have + V-en, or have been V-ing. The event is happening right now, as the quote clearly states.
"I have been working for most of the day."
present perfect progressive. Why? It has the have been + Verb-ing construction and is focusing on a prior event that is still ongoing.
"I make incense and oils."
Simple present tense. Why? the verb "make" is in dictionary form and as this is someone's job it is a habit and fact, which makes it simple aspect.
"I was born on November 22nd, 1956."
Simple past tense. Why? It is in passive voice and uses the past tense "was" and the past irregular "born". It is simple aspect because she is stating a fact that is already done.
"I'm studying international relations."
progressive present tense. Why? It is following the structure I am + Verb-ing. It implies that their studying is ongoing at the present.
"I just had lunch with some of my coworkers, and we ate pizza."
"I just had lunch with some of my coworkers," is in simple past tense since only the verb has changed to an irregular past tense verb. It is simple aspect because the event is a fact and already over.
Then, "we ate pizza," is simple past tense as well since there is only one verb, which is an irregular past tense verb.
"I have been studying for around two years now."
perfect progressive present tense. Why? it follows the structure of have been + Verb-ing. It focuses on the priorness of when they started studying two years ago and they are still studying now (the progressive aspect).
"Tonight, I am doing laundry...and helping my husband put up the track lighting in our new apartment."
"Tonight, I am doing laundry...and helping my husband," is in progressive present tense because it follows the form of am + V-ing. It implies that is an ongoing action that she is doing tonight.
Then, "put up the track lighting in our new apartment." is in the simple present tense because it is in dictionary form, and also since she imagines and talks about herself tonight, it is happening in the present tense.
"I study physics, maths and further maths and I used to do economics as well."
"I study physics, maths and further maths," is in simple present tense as the verb "study" is in dictionary form and is simple aspect because it is stating a fact about themselves.
"I used to do economics as well." is simple past tense because the verb follows the construction of Verb-ed. It also states a fact about the person so it is also in simple aspect.