Tenses

Q - What are Tenses?

A - Tenses are used to express time at which a particular action has taken place.
 1. Simple Present Tense
FORM
[VERB] + s/es in third person singular

Examples:

 You speak English.

 Do you speak English?
 You do not speak English.

USE 1: Repeated Actions

To express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a
daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person
often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

 I play tennis.
 She does not play tennis.
 Does he play tennis?
 The train leaves every morning at 8.
 The train does not leave at 9 AM.
 When does the train usually leave?
 She always forgets her purse.
 He never forgets his wallet.
 Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
 Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2: Facts or Generalizations (Universal Truth)

To indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the
future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make
generalizations about people or things.
Examples:

 Cats like milk.

 Birds do not like milk.
 Do pigs like milk?
 California is in America.
 California is not in the United Kingdom.
 Windows are made of glass.
 Windows are not made of wood.
 New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3: Scheduled Events in the Near Future

To talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking
about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

 The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

 The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
 When do we board the plane?
 The party starts at 8 o'clock.
 When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4: Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

To express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now.

Examples:

 I am here now.
 She is not here now.
  He needs help right now.
 He does not need help now.
 He has his passport in his hand.
 Do you have your passport with you?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active

 Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

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2. Simple Past Tense

FORM:
[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs

Examples:

 You called Debbie.

 Did you call Debbie?
 You did not call Debbie.

USE 1: Completed Action in the Past

To express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes,
the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Examples:

 I saw a movie yesterday.

 I didn't see a play yesterday.
 Last year, I traveled to Japan.
 Last year, I didn't travel to Korea.
 Did you have dinner last night?
 She washed her car.
 He didn't wash his car.
USE 2: A Series of Completed Actions

To list a series of completed actions in the past.

Examples:

 I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
 He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at
10:00.
 Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

USE 3: Duration in Past

Can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action
often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Examples:

 I lived in Brazil for two years.

 Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
 They sat at the beach all day.
 They did not stay at the party the entire time.
 We talked on the phone for thirty minutes.
 A: How long did you wait for them?
B: We waited for one hour.
USE 4: Habits in the Past

The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the
same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add
expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples:

 I studied French when I was a child.

 He played the violin.
 He didn't play the piano.
 Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?
 She worked at the movie theater after school.
 They never went to school, they always skipped class.

USE 5: Past Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.
As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Examples:

 She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing.

 He didn't like tomatoes before.
 Did you live in Texas when you were a kid?
 People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Tom repaired the car. Active

 The car was repaired by Tom. Passive

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 3. Simple Future Tense

Simple Future has two different forms in English: "will" and "be going to." Although
the two forms can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often express two very
different meanings. These different meanings might seem too abstract at first, but
with time and practice, the differences will become clear. Both "will" and "be going to" refer to a
specific time in the future.

FORM ‘Will’
[will + verb]
 You will help him later.
 Will you help him later?
 You will not help him later.

FORM ‘Be Going To’

[am/is/are + going to + verb]
 You are going to meet Jane tonight.
 Are you going to meet Jane tonight?
 You are not going to meet Jane tonight.

USE 1: "Will" to Express a Voluntary Action

"Will" often suggests that a speaker will do something voluntarily. A voluntary action is one the
speaker offers to do for someone else. Often, we use "will" to respond to someone else's complaint or
request for help. We also use "will" when we request that someone help us or volunteer to do
something for us. Similarly, we use "will not" or "won't" when we refuse to voluntarily do something.

Examples:

 I will send you the information when I get it.

 I will translate the email, so Mr. Smith can read it.
 Will you help me move this heavy table?
 Will you make dinner?
 I will not do your homework for you.
  I won't do all the housework myself!
 A: I'm really hungry.
B: I'll make some sandwiches.
 A: I'm so tired. I'm about to fall asleep.
B: I'll get you some coffee.
 A: The phone is ringing.
B: I'll get it.







USE 2: "Will" to Express a Promise

"Will" is usually used in promises.

Examples:

 I will call you when I arrive.

 If I am elected President of the United States, I will make sure everyone has access to
inexpensive health insurance.
 I promise I will not tell him about the surprise party.
 Don't worry, I'll be careful.
 I won't tell anyone your secret.

USE 3: "Be going to" to Express a Plan

"Be going to" expresses that something is a plan. It expresses the idea that a person intends to do
something in the future. It does not matter whether the plan is realistic or not.

Examples:

 He is going to spend his vacation in Hawaii.

 She is not going to spend her vacation in Hawaii.
 A: When are we going to meet each other tonight?
B: We are going to meet at 6 PM.
 I'm going to be an actor when I grow up.
 Michelle is going to begin medical school next year.
 They are going to drive all the way to Alaska.
 Who are you going to invite to the party?
 A: Who is going to make John's birthday cake?
B: Sue is going to make John's birthday cake.

USE 4: "Will" or "Be Going to" to Express a Prediction

Both "will" and "be going to" can express the idea of a general prediction about the future. Predictions
are guesses about what might happen in the future. In "prediction" sentences, the subject usually has
little control over the future and therefore USES 1-3 do not apply. In the following examples, there is
no difference in meaning.

Examples:

 The year 2222 will be a very interesting year.

 The year 2222 is going to be a very interesting year.
 John Smith will be the next President.
 John Smith is going to be the next President.
 The movie "Zenith" will win several Academy Awards.
 The movie "Zenith" is going to win several Academy Awards.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 John will finish the work by 5:00 PM. Active

 The work will be finished by John by 5:00 PM. Passive

 Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner tonight. Active

 A beautiful dinner is going to be made by Sally tonight. Passive

============================================================================

4. Present Continuous Tense

FORM
[am/is/are + verb + ing]
 You are watching TV.
 Are you watching TV?
 You are not watching TV.

USE 1: Now

To express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used
to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

 You are learning English now.

 You are not swimming now.
 Are you sleeping?
 I am sitting.
 I am not standing.
 Is he sitting or standing?
 They are reading their books.
 They are not watching television.
 What are you doing?
 Why aren't you doing your homework?
USE 2: Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on.
Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action
which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

 I am studying to become a doctor.

 I am not studying to become a dentist.
 I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
 I am not reading any books right now.
 Are you working on any special projects at work? 
 Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3: Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in
the near future.

Examples:

 I am meeting some friends after work.

 I am not going to the party tonight.
 Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
 Isn't he coming with us tonight?
USE 4: Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but
with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and
"verb+ing."

Examples:

 She is always coming to class late.

 He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
 I don't like them because they are always complaining.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
 Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
 Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

============================================================================

5. Past Continuous Tense

FORM
[was/were + present participle]
 You were studying when she called.
 Were you studying when she called?
 You were not studying when she called.

USE 1: Interrupted Action in the Past

Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption
is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
Examples:

 I was watching TV when she called.

 When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
 While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
 What were you doing when the earthquake started?
 I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
 You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
 While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
 Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
 While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
 A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.

USE 2: Specific Time as an Interruption

In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past.
However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.

 At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
 Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.

IMPORTANT

In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past
Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.

Examples:

 Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.

I started eating at 6 PM.
 Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
USE 3: Parallel Actions

When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that
both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

 I was studying while he was making dinner.

 While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
 Were you listening while he was talking?
 I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
 What were you doing while you were waiting?
 Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
 They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.

USE 4: Atmosphere

In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in
the past.

Example:

 When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the
phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One
customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to
each other about the bad service.

USE 5: Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something
irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used
to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and
"verb+ing."
 Examples:

 She was always coming to class late.

 He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
 I didn't like them because they were always complaining.

While vs. When

Clauses are groups of words which have meaning, but are often not complete sentences. Some
clauses begin with the word "when" such as "when she called" or "when it bit me." Other clauses
begin with "while" such as "while she was sleeping" and "while he was surfing." When you talk about
things in the past, "when" is most often followed by the verb tense Simple Past, whereas "while" is
usually followed by Past Continuous. "While" expresses the idea of "during that time." Study the
examples below. They have similar meanings, but they emphasize different parts of the sentence.

Examples:

 I was studying when she called.

 While I was studying, she called.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 The salesman was helping the customer when the thief came into the store. Active
 The customer was being helped by the salesman when the thief came into the store. Passive

=============================================================================

6. Future Continuous Tense

Future Continuous has two different forms: "will be doing " and "be going to be doing." Unlike Simple
Future forms, Future Continuous forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Continuous with "Will"

[will be + present participle]
 You will be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
 Will you be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
 You will not be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.

FORM Future Continuous with "Be Going To "

[am/is/are + going to be + present participle]

 You are going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
 Are you going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight?
 You are not going to be waiting for her when her plane arrives tonight.
REMEMBER: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Continuous with
little difference in meaning.
USE 1: Interrupted Action in the Future

Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the future will be interrupted by a shorter
action in the future. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.

Examples:

 I will be watching TV when she arrives tonight.

 I will be waiting for you when your bus arrives.
 I am going to be staying at the Madison Hotel, if anything happens and you need to contact
me.
 He will be studying at the library tonight, so he will not see Jennifer when she arrives.

USE 2: Specific Time as an Interruption in the Future

In USE 1, described above, the Future Continuous is interrupted by a short action in the future. In
addition to using short actions as interruptions, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.

Examples:

 Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.

I will be in the process of eating dinner.
 At midnight tonight, we will still be driving through the desert.
We will be in the process of driving through the desert.

REMEMBER

In the Simple Future, a specific time is used to show the time an action will begin or end. In the Future
Continuous, a specific time interrupts the action.

Examples:

 Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to eat dinner.

I am going to start eating at 6 PM.
 Tonight at 6 PM, I am going to be eating dinner.
I am going to start earlier and I will be in the process of eating dinner at 6 PM.
USE 3: Parallel Actions in the Future

When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea
that both actions will be happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.

Examples:

 I am going to be studying and he is going to be making dinner.

 Tonight, they will be eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
 While Ellen is reading, Tim will be watching television.
Notice "is reading" because of the time clause containing "while."

USE 4: Atmosphere in the Future

In English, we often use a series of Parallel Actions to describe atmosphere at a specific point in the
future.

Example:

 When I arrive at the party, everybody is going to be celebrating. Some will be dancing.
Others are going to be talking. A few people will be eating pizza, and several people are
going to be drinking beer. They always do the same thing.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be washing the dishes. Active

 At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be washed by John. Passive

 At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be washing the dishes. Active

 At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going to be washed by John. Passive

============================================================================
 7. Present Perfect Tense

FORM
[has/have + past participle]

 You have seen that movie many times.

 Have you seen that movie many times?
 You have not seen that movie many times.

USE 1: Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The
exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions
such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that
moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such
as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

 I have seen that movie twenty times.

 I think I have met him once before.
 There have been many earthquakes in California.
 People have traveled to the Moon.
 People have not traveled to Mars.
 Have you read the book yet?
 Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
 A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate
Present Perfect with the following topics:

Experience:

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience
of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present
Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples:

 I have been to France.

This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France.
Maybe you havebeen there once, or several times.
 I have been to France three times.
You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
 I have never been to France.
This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
 I think I have seen that movie before.
 He has never traveled by train.
 Joan has studied two foreign languages.
 A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.

Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples:

 You have grown since the last time I saw you.

 The government has become more interested in arts education.
 Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian
studies program was established.
 My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot
mention a specific time.

Examples:

 Man has walked on the Moon.

 Our son has learned how to read.
 Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
 Scientists have split the atom.

An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using
the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples:
  James has not finished his homework yet.
 Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
 Bill has still not arrived.
 The rain hasn't stopped.

Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the
past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are
possible.

Examples:

 The army has attacked that city five times.

 I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
 We have had many major problems while working on this project.
 She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick. 

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives
before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with
expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:

 Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

 I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
 They have had three tests in the last week.
 She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different
companies so far.
  My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year"
means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires
Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a
specific time, so it requires PresentPerfect.

Examples:

 I went to Mexico last year.

I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one.
 I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.

USE 2: Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect to
show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two
weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect.

Examples:

 I have had a cold for two weeks.

 She has been in England for six months.
 Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-
continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in
this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Many tourists have visited that castle. Active

 That castle has been visited by many tourists. Passive

=============================================================================
 8. Past Perfect Tense

FORM

[had + past participle]

 You had studied English before you moved to New York. 

 Had you studied English before you moved to New York? 
 You had not studied English before you moved to New York.

USE 1: Completed Action Before Something in the Past

The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another action in the past. It can
also show that something happened before a specific time in the past.

Examples:

 I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.

 I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
 Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several times.
 Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
 She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
 Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
 We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in advance.
 A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.

USE 2: Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect to
show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two
weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect.
Examples:

 I have had a cold for two weeks.

 She has been in England for six months.
 Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-
continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in
this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

Unlike with the Present Perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or phrases with the Past
Perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not necessary.

Example:

 She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. 

MOREOVER

If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past
Perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell
you what happens first, so the Past Perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are
correct.

Examples:

 She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. 
 She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in with them in 1996. 

HOWEVER
If the Past Perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, Past Perfect is not
optional. Comparethe examples below. Here Past Perfect is referring to a lack of
experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason, Simple Past
cannot be used.

Examples:

 She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
 She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's license. Active
 Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his mechanic's license. Passive

=============================================================================

9. Future Perfect Tense

Future Perfect has two different forms: "will have done" and "be going to have done." Unlike Simple
Future forms, Future Perfect forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect with "Will"

[will have + past participle]

Examples:

 You will have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
 Will you have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
 You will not have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

FORM Future Perfect with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have + past participle]

Examples:

 You are going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.
 Are you going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.?
 You are not going to have perfected your English by the time you come back from the U.S.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect with little or no
difference in meaning.
USE 1: Completed Action Before Something in the Future

The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur before another action in the future. It
can also show that something will happen before a specific time in the future.

Examples:

 By next November, I will have received my promotion.

 By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned the entire house.
 I am not going to have finished this test by 3 o'clock.
 Will she have learned enough Chinese to communicate before she moves to Beijing?
 Sam is probably going to have completed the proposal by the time he leaves this afternoon.
 By the time I finish this course, I will have taken ten tests.
 How many countries are you going to have visited by the time you turn 50?

USE 2: Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Future
Perfect to show that something will continue up until another action in the future.

Examples:

 I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
 By Monday, Susan is going to have had my book for a week.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 They will have completed the project before the deadline. Active
 The project will have been completed before the deadline. Passive

 They are going to have completed the project before the deadline. Active
 The project is going to have been completed before the deadline. Passive

=============================================================================
 10. Present Perfect Continuous

FORM
[has/have + been + present participle]

Examples:

 You have been waiting here for two hours.

 Have you been waiting here for two hours?
 You have not been waiting here for two hours.

USE 1: Duration from the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has continued
up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be
used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

Examples:

 They have been talking for the last hour.

 She has been working at that company for three years.
 What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
 James has been teaching at the university since June.
 We have been waiting here for over two hours!
 Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days? 

USE 2: Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks."
Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words
"lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

 Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

 She has been watching too much television lately.
  Have you been exercising lately?
 Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
 Lisa has not been practicing her English.
 What have you been doing?

IMPORTANT
Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you use
the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?", it can suggest
that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest
that you smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you can see, smell,
hear or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using this tense incorrectly.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Recently, John has been doing the work. Active

 Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

=============================================================================

11. Past Perfect Continuous

FORM
[had been + present participle]

Examples:

 You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.
 Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived?
 You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally arrived.

USE 1: Duration Before Something in the Past

We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up until
another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which can be used
with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous;
however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else in the past.

Examples:

 They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
  She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of
business.
 How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
 Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
 James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he
left for Asia.
 A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.

USE 2: Cause of Something in the Past

Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and
effect.

Examples:

 Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

 Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
 Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous

If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday," many
English speakers choose to use the Past Continuous rather than the Past Perfect Continuous. Be
careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Past Continuous emphasizes
interrupted actions, whereas Past Perfect Continuous emphasizes a duration of time before
something in the past. Study the examples below to understand the difference.

Examples:

 He was tired because he was exercising so hard.

This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was exercising at that exact moment.
 He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he had been exercising over a period of
time. It is possible that he was still exercising at that moment OR that he had just finished.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two
years before hemoved to Paris. Active
 The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones
for two yearsbefore he moved to Paris. Passive

=============================================================================
 12. Future Perfect Continuous

Future Perfect Continuous has two different forms: "will have been doing " and "be
going to have been doing." Unlike Simple Future forms, Future Perfect Continuous
forms are usually interchangeable.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Will"

[will have been + present participle]

Examples:

 You will have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives. 
 Will you have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives? 
 You will not have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.

FORM Future Perfect Continuous with "Be Going To"

[am/is/are + going to have been + present participle]

Examples:

 You are going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives.
 Are you going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally arrives?
 You are not going to have been waiting for more than two hours when her plane finally
arrives.

NOTE: It is possible to use either "will" or "be going to" to create the Future Perfect Continuous with
little or no difference in meaning.

USE 1: Duration Before Something in the Future

We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that something will continue up until a particular event
or time in the future. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Friday" are all durations which
can be used with the Future Perfect Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect
Continuous and the Past Perfect Continuous; however, with Future Perfect Continuous, the duration
stops at or before a reference point in the future.

Examples:

 They will have been talking for over an hour by the time Thomas arrives.
 She is going to have been working at that company for three years when it finally closes.
 James will have been teaching at the university for more than a year by the time
he leaves for Asia.
  How long will you have been studying when you graduate?
 We are going to have been driving for over three days straight when we get
to Anchorage.
 A: When you finish your English course, will you have been living in New
Zealand for over ayear?
B: No, I will not have been living here that long.

USE 2: Cause of Something in the Future

Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another action in the future is a good way to show cause
and effect.

Examples:

 Jason will be tired when he gets home because he will have been jogging for over an hour.
 Claudia's English will be perfect when she returns to Germany because she is going to have
been studying English in the United States for over two years. 

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

 The famous artist will have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it is
finished. Active
 The mural will have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by the time
it is finished. Passive
 The famous artist is going to have been painting the mural for over six months by the time it
is finished. Active
 The mural is going to have been being painted by the famous artist for over six months by
the time it is finished. Passive