| Present tenses / Настоящие времена |
| Present simple (indefinite): lives, live |
This is used:
- to talk about permanent truths
They live in Madrid.
The sun sets in the west.
- to state scientific facts
Water boils at 100C.
- to talk about routines and frequency
She always gets up at 8 a.m.
- with certain verbs not normally used in the present continuous, e.g. know, like, think, want
I like dogs better than cats.
I don't know the answer.
- to give instructions
You turn left at the corner.
- to tell a joke or a story
The Englishman goes up to Russian and says…
- to talk about fixed future events
Our plane leaves at five.
- to make suggestions
Why don't they go on a day-trip?
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| Present continuous: is/are living |
This is used to:
- talk about what is happening at/around the time of speaking
She is having breakfast right now.
They are living in Moscow for the time being.
- talk about a current situation
The phone isn't working.
- talk about changing state
The world's climate is getting warmer.
- talk about planned future arrangements
She's arriving at airport tomorrow at noon.
- express irritation about someone's behavior
He is always complaining about something.
- give a commentary on a performance or activity
She's taking off her tracksuit and…
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| Present perfect simple (indefinite): have/has lived |
This is used:
- to talk about events which happened at an indefinite time in the past
I've had lunch, thank you.
- to express events which have recently happened
Max has just arrived home from work.
- with 'for' and 'since' and expressions of time
They've lived in London for fifteen years.
They have only had a car since last August.
- with adverbs 'just', 'already', 'yet'
I've already sent a postcard.
He hasn't gone home yet.
- to talk about present result of a past activity
You've lost weight.
I've hurt my arm.
- [often] with a superlative to talk about experience
This is the worst meal I've ever eaten.
- with first time
It is first time I have been at the USA.
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| Present perfect continuous: have/has been living |
This is used to:
- talk about an activity which began in the past and is still going on
We've been living here since 1999.
- talk about an activity which began in the past and may have recently finished
It's been raining quite hard during the night.
- talk about a past activity recently finished, the result of which is evident
Have you been frying onions?
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| Past tenses / Прошедшие времена |
| Past simple (indefinite): lived |
This is used:
- to talk about a past event which took place at a definite point in time
We went to the theatre last night.
Did you have a nice weekend?
- to narrate events in sequence
Jec got home, opened the door, and found the house comletely empty.
- to report statements and questions
He said that he was a stranger.
She asked if I knew her aunt.
- after It's (high) time
It's time I went to my room.
- after I'd rather
I'd rather you didn't pay for me.
- after I wish and If only when expressing regret about present facts
If only I was taller.
I wish I had a car.
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| Past continuous: was/were living |
This is used to:
- talk about an event which was in progress when another event happened
When I was walking in the park, I heard a cry.
- give background to an event
I looked out of the window. It was shining.
- talk about an interrupted event in the past
She phoned while I was having lunch.
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| Past perfect simple: had lived |
This is used:
- to talk about an event which happened before another event in the past
When I arrived, Mike had already left.
- After I wish and If only for past regrets
I wish I'd learnt Spanish at college.
- in if clauses in past conditionals
If you hadn't woken me, I'd have missed my train.
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| Past perfect continuous: had been living |
This is used to:
- emphasise the continuous or repeated nature of an event which happened before another event in the past
He failed the exam because he'd been going out every evening.
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| Future tenses / Будущие времена |
| Future simple (indefinite): will/shall live |
This is used to:
- express future prediction
It'll rain tomorrow.
We'll be there by Monday night.
- promise
I'll write when/as soon as I get there.
- accept warnings and advice
Don't worry I will/I won't.
you.
- make a decision
I'll call him tomorrow.
- order in a restaurant
I'll have the chicken.
- threaten
I'll kill you.
- offer
I'll get it for you.
- refuse
I won't do it!
- request
Will you tell him for me?
- talk about consequences
If you ask her, she'll tell you.
- offer help
Shall I wash up for you?
- ask for suggestions
What shall we have for lunch?
- make decisions
I shall let you know the results in the morning.
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| Future continuous (progressive): will be living |
This is used to:
- talk about an event which will be in progress at a particular time in the future
When we get there, they'll be getting ready for the party.
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| Future perfect: will have lived |
This is used to:
- talk about an event which will be over or completed at a specified time in the future
I'll have typed it by tomorrow.
The film will have started by the time we get there.
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| Future perfect continuous: will have been living |
This is used to:
- talk about an event which will not be over or completed at a specified time in the future
I'll have been writing a letter by 5 o'clock tomorrow.
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