| simple | continuous |
| present | I do
present simple (→ Units 2-4)
- Ann often plays tennis.
- I work in a bank, but I don't enjoy it much.
- Do you like parties?
- It doesn't rain so much in summer.
| I am doing
present continuous (→ Units 1,3-4)- 'Where's Ann?' 'She's playing tennis.'
- Please don't disturb me now. I'm working.
- Hello. Are you enjoying the party?
- It isn't raining at the moment.
|
| present perfect | I have done
present perfect simple (→ Units 7-8, 10-14)- Ann has played tennis many times.
- I've lost my key. Have you seen it anywhere?
- How long have you and Sam known each other?
- A: Is it still raining?
B: No, it has stopped. - The house is dirty. I haven't cleaned it for weeks.
| I have been doing
present perfect continuous (→ Units 9-11)- Ann is tired. She has been playing tennis.
- You're out of breath. Have you been running?
- How long have you been learning English?
- It's still raining. It has been raining all day.
- I haven't been feeling well recently. Perhaps I should go to the doctor.
|
| past | I did
past simple (→ Units 5-6, 13-14)- Ann played tennis yesterday afternoon.
- I lost my key a few days ago.
- There was a film on TV last night, but we didn't watch it.
- What did you do when you finished work yesterday?
| I was doing
past continuous (→ Unit 6)- I saw Ann at the sports centre yesterday. She was playing tennis.
- I dropped my key when I was trying to open the door.
- The television was on, but we weren't watching it.
- What were you doing at this time yesterday?
|
| past perfect | I had done
past perfect (→ Unit 15)- It wasn't her first game of tennis. She had played many times before.
- They couldn't get into the house because they had lost the key.
- The house was dirty because I hadn't cleaned it for weeks.
| I had been doing
past perfect continuous (→ Unit 16)- Ann was tired yesterday evening because she had been playing tennis in the afternoon.
- James decided to go to the doctor because he hadn't been feeling well.
|
For the passive, see Units 42-44.
