Simple present/past/future tense
Choose the correct answer.
a) Water boil at 100 degrees Celsius.
b) Water is boiling at 100 degrees Celsius.
c) Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
c) Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
When do we use present continuous tense?
→ when we talk about what is happening at the time of speaking
→ something that happens for a limited period of time
Correct the error.
"I have saw that movie already."
"I have seen that movie already."
Fill in: She ___ (study) for two hours.
Answer: has been studying
Identify tense
Sentence: I was eating dinner when my friend called.
Answer: Past continuous + past simple.
When do we use simple past tense?
We use simple past tense when talk about something that happened at a definite time in the past, which is NO LONGER TRUE at present time
Spot the error. Explain why.
Sentence: Look! The birds sings.
Correct: Look! The birds are singing.
“Look!” = action happening at the moment → continuous.
Sentence: By the time she arrives, we ___ (eat).
Options: (a) eat, (b) will eat, (c) will have eaten
c) will have eaten
Choose the correct sentence.
a) I have been knowing him for five years.
b) I have known him for five years.
b) I have known him for five years.
Fill in the blanks.
“Right now, she ______ (read) a book, but she ______ (finish) her homework already.”
Right now, she is reading a book, but she has finished her homework already.
Which one is a habit? Which one is a plan?
Sentence A: He plays football on Saturdays.
Sentence B: He will play football this Saturday.
Answer: A = habit, B = plan/future.
Make a past continuous sentence with at 8 p.m. yesterday.
Suggested answer: At 8 p.m. yesterday, I was having dinner.
Fill in: By the time the movie started, we ___ (finish) our popcorn.
Answer: had finished
Fill in: She was tired because she ___ (work) all day.
Answer: had been working
Reason: Past perfect continuous = action before another past result.
Choose the correct tense:
“They ______ (live) here since 2015, and they ______ (learn) Cantonese for two years.”
have lived / have been learning
Rewrite in negative: They went to Ocean Park last week. Explain your answer.
They didn’t go to Ocean Park last week.
After didn’t we use base form.
Explain the difference between these two sentences.
a) She is living in Hong Kong right now.
b) She lives in Hong Kong
First = temporary situation; second = permanent fact.
Complete: By next July, I ___ (complete) S3.
will have completed
Fill in all blanks with correct tense and explain why:
“Since last week, I ______ (practice) the piano every day. I ______ (already/play) three new pieces, but I ______ (try) to improve my technique.”
have been practicing / have already played / have been trying
Which is correct? Why?
A: At 8 p.m. tomorrow, I will watch TV.
B: At 8 p.m. tomorrow, I will be watching TV.
Answer: B is better → shows ongoing action at 8 p.m.
What is the difference between "will" and "be going to"?
"Will" is often used for spontaneous decisions or predictions based on opinion, while "be going to" is typically used for planned actions or predictions based on evidence.
Use past simple + past continuous: (phone ring / I take a shower).
Answer: I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
Explain why "I have done my homework yesterday" is wrong.
Past time expressions (yesterday) → use Past Simple: I did my homework yesterday.
Error spotting
Sentence: I have studied for two hours, so I am very tired now.
Correct: I have been studying for two hours, so I am very tired now.
What is the difference between present perfect tense and present perfect continuous tense?
Present perfect --> focus on the result of a past action that is connected to now. / Focus on "What has happened?"
Present continuous --> Focus on the duration or the fact the action is/was still happening until now (How long has it been happening)