We use the present simple tense to talk about regular or repeated actions, especially with ‘frequency adverbs’ like often or usually.
People often get stuck in their comfort zones.
2
We also use this tense for general truths that don’t change, and for some verbs that describe states rather than actions, for example seem or like.
Clubs and societies are a vital part of college life. It seems as if everyone is speaking a different language.
3
We use the present continuous tense to describe actions that are in progress at or around the time of speaking, or to talk about continuous change that isn’t finished yet.
My brother is speaking on the phone at the moment. Mahmoud’s English is getting better quickly.
4
Many verbs (sometimes called ‘stative’ verbs) can’t usually be used in a continuous tense because they describe states, not actions. Examples include: like, love, hate, prefer, etc., want, seem, know, believe, remember, suppose, agree, mean, realise, recognise, understand.
Many people think they can’t change their lives. Please be quiet. I’m thinking.
5
Some state verbs can be used in both tenses, but with a different meaning, according to whether or not the verb is an action, for example think, have and look.
He looks worried. What are you looking at?
Grammar
Unit 1 — Present perfect (general)
1
We make the present perfect (simple) tense with have + the past participle of the main verb.
2
We make the present perfect (continuous) tense with have + the past participle of the verb be + the -ing form of the main verb.
3
Sentences in the present perfect tense tell us more about the present than the past. For example, the meanings of the two sentences below are more or less the same.
I’ve also joined two other clubs. I’m also a member of two other clubs.
Grammar
Present perfect simple or continuous?
1
We use the present perfect simple tense to talk about recent past experiences that are important at the time of speaking.
I’ve joined the Palestine Society.
2
We also use this tense to talk about general past experience when it doesn’t matter when the experience happened (the important thing is the experience itself).
I’ve joined two other clubs and have participated in three events so far.
3
We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about actions that began in the past and have continued up to the present.
I’ve been studying English for five years.
4
We use the same tense to focus on the (unfinished) activity itself and emphasise that the action has been in progress throughout the period.
She’s under stress because she’s been studying so much.
Grammar
Unit 2 — Infinitives and -ing forms
1
We use the infinitive form (with to) after certain verbs like advise, want, ask and tell.
2
When an object is needed, it goes between the verb and the infinitive.
Experts advise us to break this habit.
3
We also use the infinitive form to talk about purpose (the reason why you do something).
You need good exam results to go to university.
4
We use the -ing form after certain verbs like enjoy and like.
Not many students enjoy revising for exams.
5
We always use the -ing form after prepositions like in and by.
He likes playing football, but he’s not interested in watching it on TV.
6
Some verbs change their meaning when they are followed by the infinitive or -ing forms.
He was getting tired, so he stopped working. (simply stopping the action you are doing) We were lost, so we stopped to ask the way. (stopping one action in order to do another) Remember to eat regularly and healthily. (actions we have to do or should do) I remember feeling stressed when I was doing school exams. (remembering actions / situations that happened in the past)