Tenses

Present Continuous Tense

English Grammar for proficiency: The Simple Present Tense 
The Simple Present Tense is usually used to talk about regular actions or general truths. 
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); height: 43.5334px; vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">Affirmative </td>
<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;">I/You/We/They +&nbsp;V1</td>
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<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;">&nbsp; He/She/It + V1 + -s </td>
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<td style="height: 43.5334px; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">Negative </td>
<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px;">I/You/We/They +&nbsp;do + not + V1 </td>
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<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; He/She/It + does + not + V1</td>
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<td style="text-align: center; height: 43.5334px; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">Question </td>
<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px;">Do +&nbsp;I/You/We/They + V1</td>
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<td style="height: 21.7667px; border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; Does + He/She/It + V1</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Example </td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Short Form </td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">+ </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">I love you.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; He sings well.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 74.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">&minus; </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">I do not love you.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">I don't love you.</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 37.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp; He does not sing.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 37.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">He doesn't sing.</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">+? </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">Do you love me?</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp; Does he sing?</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.25px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">-? </td>
<td style="height: 36.65px; width: 44.2022%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Do you not love me?</td>
<td style="height: 36.65px; width: 43.5466%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Don't you love me?</td>
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<td style="height: 36.6px; width: 44.2022%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; Does she not sing?</td>
<td style="height: 36.6px; width: 43.5466%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Doesn't she sing?</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px;">Time Expressions</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px;">always, usually, generally, often, sometimes, occasionally, never, every day/week/year etc., once a day, twice a week, three times a year, on Sundays, on Saturday nights, on Monday mornings, on weekdays/weekends, at night/noon, in the morning/afternoon/evening </td>
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<h2>Usage </h2>
<h3>Habit </h3>
It's used when we talk about habits, daily routines, repeated actions or repeated events, usually with adverbs of frequency such as 'always, sometimes, usually, often, never'. 
・ I always get up early. 
・ He likes playing chess.&nbsp;
・ John drinks tea every day.&nbsp;
・ We go swimming twice a week. 
・ How often do you go running? 
・ They watch TV in the evening.
<h3>General Truth </h3>
It is used to indicate a permanent situation or a general truth. 
・My name is Maria.&nbsp;
・He works in Germany.&nbsp; 
・Where do you live?&nbsp; 
・It doesn't rain much here. 
・Tom knows three languages.&nbsp;
<h3>Scientific Fact </h3>
It is used to indicate situations that are accepted as true by everyone, such as laws of nature or scientific facts. 
・The sun sets in the west.&nbsp; 
・Every atom has a nucleus. 
・The Earth orbits around the Sun. 
・Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. 
・The human body is made up of cells.
<h3>Now </h3>
It is used with 'stative verbs' to express a current feeling or thought.
・I feel dizzy.&nbsp;
・You look awful.
・I want to drink water.&nbsp;
・I don't understand you.&nbsp;
<h3>Future</h3>
It is used to indicate that something is scheduled to happen in the future, usually&nbsp;with adverbs of time such as&nbsp;'tomorrow,&nbsp;next week, this evening'. 
・The school starts next week.&nbsp;
・The concert starts at 7 p.m. tonight.
・The plane arrives at 09.45 tomorrow.&nbsp; 
<h3>Clause</h3>
It is used as a clause with conjunctions such as&nbsp;'if, when, while, after, before, unless'.
・If it rains, we'll get wet. 
・I will visit my uncle before I leave.&nbsp;
・We listen to music while we work. 
・I'll give something to him when I see him.&nbsp; 
<h3>Instruction</h3>
It is used in sentences giving orders, instructions or directions.
・Call the police. 
・You two help me. 
・You turn the key to start the car.
・Go straight for one mile and then turn right.
<h3>Narrative</h3>
It is used to narrate a story, tale, book, movie, or match.
・The prince goes to the forest and...&nbsp;
・The player kicks the ball and scores a goal.
<h3>Quotation </h3>
It is used to introduce the quotation or paraphrase someone's words.
・The Bible says do everything in love. 
・The report warns that a global water crisis is likely.
<h3>News&nbsp; </h3>
It is used instead of the past tense in news headlines.
・Five soldiers die in Iraq.&nbsp;
・Four people injure in the collision.&nbsp;
<h3>There/Here</h3>
It is used in phrases 'there goes.., here comes...'. 
・Here comes your daughter. 
・There goes the bus we were supposed to catch.

Simple Present Tense

'Simple Present Tense' and 'Present Continuous Tense'

Comprehensive English Grammar: Simple Past Tense 
The Simple Past Tense is used to talk about events or actions that happened and finished in the past.
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<td style="text-align: center; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); height: 42.5334px; vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;">Affirmative </td>
<td style="height: 21.2667px; border-width: 1px; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;">I/You/He/She/It/We/They + V2 + object </td>
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<td style="height: 42.5334px; text-align: center; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;">Negative </td>
<td style="height: 21.2667px; border-width: 1px;">I/You/He/She/It/We/They&nbsp;+ did + not + V1 + object </td>
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<td style="text-align: center; height: 42.5334px; background-color: rgb(248, 251, 252); vertical-align: middle; border-width: 1px;">Question </td>
<td style="height: 21.2667px; border-width: 1px;">Did&nbsp;+&nbsp;I/You/He/She/It/We/They&nbsp;+ V1 + object </td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Example </td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Short Form </td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">+ </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">I went there.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; It rained a lot.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 74.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">&minus; </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">I did not go there.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">I didn't go there.</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 37.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp; It did not rain a lot.</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 37.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">It didn't rain a lot.</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.3px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">?+ </td>
<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">Did you go there?</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 44.2022%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp; Did it rain a lot?</td>
<td style="width: 43.5466%; height: 36.65px; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp; &ndash;&ndash;</td>
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<td style="width: 12.2528%; height: 73.25px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;" rowspan="2">?- </td>
<td style="height: 36.65px; width: 44.2022%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Did&nbsp;you not go there?</td>
<td style="height: 36.65px; width: 43.5466%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Didn't you go there?</td>
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<td style="height: 36.6px; width: 44.2022%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">&nbsp; Did it not rain a lot?</td>
<td style="height: 36.6px; width: 43.5466%; border-color: rgb(230, 235, 239); border-width: 1px;">Didn't it rain a lot?</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px; width: 1.60985%;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; width: 96.875%;">Time Expressions</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; width: 1.60985%;">&nbsp;</td>
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<td style="border-width: 0px; width: 1.60985%;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="border-width: 0px; width: 96.875%;">yesterday; yesterday evening, yesterday morning, the day before yesterday ago; five minutes ago, an hour ago, one day ago, two months ago, years ago last; last night, last week, last year, last Friday, last summer </td>
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<h2>Usage </h2>
<h4>☞&nbsp;It is used to talk about events that happened and finished in the past.</h4>
&bull; I saw her yesterday. 
&bull; He graduated last month. 
&bull; He went to France five years ago.&nbsp; 
&bull; I learned how to ride a bike when I was six years old. 
<h4>▪︎ These events may have happened in the recent or distant past.</h4>
&bull; Shakespeare died in 1616. 
&bull; He started a new job two days ago. 
<h4>▪︎ These events may have been short or long-lasting.</h4>
&bull; John lived in Germany for 5 years.&nbsp; 
&bull; I just slept for a few hours last night.&nbsp; 
<h4>☞ It is used to talk about past habits or actions that happened regularly or repeatedly.</h4>
&bull; He went abroad several times last year.&nbsp; 
&bull; We often went to the beach on weekends.&nbsp; 
&bull; I sometimes played football when I was in school. 
&bull; She went camping every summer when she was young. 
<h4>☞ It is used to describe a series of events that happened in the past or to tell a story, fairy tale, etc. </h4>
&bull; He drank water, looked at me and sat down.&nbsp; 
&bull; Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a magnificent castle. She... &bull; One night, Tom decided to write a novel. When he sat down at his desk, he heard a strange sound and... 
<h3>Notes</h3>
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<td style="width: 1.70584%;">&nbsp;</td>
<td style="width: 98.2752%;">💬 The simple past tense is used as 'subject + v2 + object' in affirmative sentences, but it can also be used as 'subject + did + v1 + object' to emphasize the verb. &bull; I went there. &bull; I did go there. 💬 The simple past tense is used with interrogative pronouns as 'what/when... + did'. However, with the subject pronoun 'who' it can be used with or without 'did' - it is more common without 'did'. &bull; Who did discover America? &bull; Who discovered America?</td>
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