Past Continuous Tense

I. The Past Continuous Tense is used:

a) to express an action which was taking place at a definite moment in the past. This definite moment is indicated by an adverbial phrase (at that time, at ten о^\ clock, from six to seven) or a subordinate clause of time with the verb in the Past Indefinite:

He was doing his lessons at that time yesterday.

She was writing a composition at ten о 'clock yesterday.

They were talking loudly when I entered the room.

b) to express an action which was going on for a certain period of time in the past, usually with some emphasis of the progress of the action:

I was reading the whole day yesterday.

It was raining the whole day yesterday.

NOTE: If we only state a fact, the Past Indefinite is used:

I read the whole day yesterday.

It rained the whole day yesterday.

II. a) The Past Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Past Indefinite Tense (was, were) and Participle I of the notional verb:

He was still sleeping at seven о’clock.

b) The contracted negative forms are:

wasn’t [wɔznt], weren’t [wə:nt]

The Future Continuous Tense

I. The Future Continuous Tense is used:

a) to express an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future. The definite moment is indicated by an adverbial phrase (at this time, at seven o’clock, from six to seven) or by a subordinate clause of time with the verb in the Present Tense:

I shall be having dinner at five о 'clock.

I shall be sleeping when mother comes.

b) to express an action which will be going on for a certain period of time in future:

I shall be working in the library the whole day tomorrow.

c) to express a planned future action:

Will you be taking any more exams this year?

NOTE: The Future Continuous Tense is not used in Subordinate clauses of time and condition. The Present Continuous Tense is used instead of it:

While you are doing your lessons, I shall be washing up.

II. The Future Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Future Indefinite Tense and Participle I of the notional verb (shall be, will be working, shall not working). The contracted negative forms are: shan’t be, won’t be working.

The perfect form

The Perfect Form expresses an action completed before the present moment (and connected with it) or before a definite moment in the past or future.

The Present Perfect Tense

I. 1) The Present Perfect Tense is used:

a) to express an action completed by the moment of speaking (so that the present moment is excluded and the tense is called - The Present Perfect Exclusive). The Present Perfect Exclusive is used:

a) when we are interested in the result of the action; in this case there may be no time indication in the sentence at all:

I have opened the window. (The window is open now).

I have done my exercises. (Here they are).

I have read the book. (You may take it).

b) when we are interested in the action itself but not in the time of its completion, in this case the adverbs of indefinite time are often used (just, already, yet, ever, never, always, often, seldom, sometimes, twice, several times), when they do not refer to a definite moment in the past:

She has just taken a shower.

He has never been to London.

My mother has already cooked dinner.

But: We never met her last year.

He always got up early last summer.

c) with adverbs denoting a period of time which is not over (today, tonight, this week, this month, this year, lately, recently); if the action does not refer to some definite moment within this period:

I have seen this film recently.

We have worked much at the laboratory today.

He has read three English books this month.

But: Did you get up early today?

I saw him at 9 о 'clock today.

NOTE: In special questions beginning with where, why, how, either the Past Indefinite or the Present Perfect is used:

Where has he gone? (The person is away).

Where did she go? (The person is back again).

In special questions referring to the past and beginning with when the Past Indefinite is always used:

When did you see him last?

When did he come back?

2) The Present Perfect is used to express an action which began in the past and is not completed by the moment of speaking: it is still going on (so that the present moment is included and the tense is called - the Present Perfect Inclusive. The following verbs are used in this case: to be, to know, to live, to see, and others. In this case the starting point of the action is indicated by since and the whole period of the action is indicated by for:

She left Moscow in 1990 and I have not seen her since.

We have learnt three poems since October.

They have had six English periods since eight о 'clock.

I have known her for five years.

We have not seen you for ages.

She has lived here for three years.

NOTE: If the period of the action in the Present Perfect is expressed by the verb to be, the preposition to is used with the Present Perfect Exclusive and the preposition in with the Present Perfect Inclusive:

They have been to Moscow several times.

They have been in Moscow since 1993.

II. The Present Perfect Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the Present Indefinite and Participle II of the notional verb.

She has already written the letter.

They have just come in.