English Tenses

[Select all the correct options]

We use present simple to talk about...

• permanent situations in the present

• repeated actions or habits in the present

• past habits

• timetables and scheduled events

• general truths

Answer explanation

We use present simple to talk about what usually happens in the present, which includes:

1. Permanent situations (something that is true in the present). For example, "He lives in London".

2. Repeated actions or habits (something that happens regularly in the present). For example, "She plays football every weekend".

3. General truths (something that is always true). For example, "The human body contains 206 bones".

4. Timetables and scheduled events. For example, "The train to London leaves at 07:30".

The structure for positive present simple sentences is SUBJECT + VERB + COMPLEMENT

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The most important thing about the present simple structure is the use of the verb in its present form.

Positive sentences

1. With verb to be:

SUBJECT + VERB (IS/AM/ARE) + COMPLEMENT

2. With other verbs:

SUBJECT + (VERB + S/ES) + COMPLEMENT

Negative sentences

SUBJECT + DO/DOES + NOT + INFINITIVE VERB + COMPLEMENT

Questions

(WH- QUESTION) + DO/DOES + SUBJECT + INFINITIVE VERB + COMPLEMENT

[Fill in the blank]

She (a)   (LIVE) in Santiago.

Answer explanation

"Live" is a verb in its infinitive form, so we have to use its present form to complete a present simple sentence.

Verbs need an "s" at the end of the word when the subject is in the third person singular (he, she, or it).

If the subject is I, you, they, or we, we use the verb in its base form ("live").

[Fill in the blank]

They (a)   (BE) from Chile.

Answer explanation

The present form of the verb to be can be is, are, or am.

1. We use am with a subject in the first person singular --> I

2. We use is with a subject in the third person singular --> he, she, it

3. We use are with the rest of the pronouns --> you, we, they

We use the past simple to talk about finished actions or states in the past.

• True

• False

[Select the correct option]

We use the past continuous to talk about...

• past habits or states that are not longer true

• actions in progress at a time in the past

We use used to to talk about past habits or states that are not longer true.

• True

• False