Lingua e traduzione inglese 2 - Grammatica inglese (lezioni 1-20)

Present progressive and present simple

Present Simple describes events, situations or activities not connected to time restrictions. It is also used for general statements of truth or fact. We use Present Simple to talk about a habit.

Present Progressive (Continuous) describes what is happening right now or in the extended present (these days, this month, this year, …) with action verbs (and not with non-action or stative verbs). We use Present Progressive to talk about an action or a situation that is in progress. It is formed: form be (am/are/is) + -ing form of verb. We don’t use the Present Progressive with verbs not normally used in the progressive form (know, want, etc.). We don’t normally use the Present Progressive to talk about daily routine.

In sentences with both Present Simple and Present Progressive, the former (il primo) describes the situation and the latter (il secondo) the continuing action. We often use the Present Progressive and the Present Simple in the same sentence to express contrast.

Past progressive and past simple

Past Progressive describes an action that started before a certain time in the past and was still in progress at that time. We use Past Progressive to talk about an action or a situation that was in progress. We often used the Past Progressive to describe a situation, to give the background to a scene that happened in the past. We don’t use the Past Progressive with verbs not normally used in the continuous form. We don’t normally use the Past Progressive to talk about a repeated action in the past. It is formed: form of be (was/were) + -ing form of verb.

Past Simple is used to talk about a completed action that was finished at a specific time in the past. It describes an action occurred in the past. When is usually used with a specific time or date (Past Simple). While is usually used with a duration of time (Past Progressive). When the Past Simple and the Past Progressive appear together in a sentence, the Past Simple describes the action that interrupts the ‘longer’ action in progress. The action in the Past Simple is short and usually unexpected.

Present perfect and present perfect progressive

Present Perfect, and Present Perfect Progressive, describe an action, that began in the past, and is just ending, or might continue into the future. They are connected to the present, and can mean the same thing, with certain verbs like live, work and teach.

Present perfect is used to talk about an action, that started in the past, and is now completed, or to say how often something happened. The focus is on the result. Often it shows that something is finished, either recently or at some unspecified time in the past. It’s formed: form of have + past participle of verb.

Present Perfect Progressive is used to talk about an action, that started in the past, and may or may not be completed. The focus is on the action, and how long it has been in progress. Often it shows that something is still going on. We don’t use the Present Perfect Progressive with verbs not normally used in the continuous form (know, want, have=possess, etc.). It’s formed: Present Perfect of be + -ing of the verb.

• When, ago, last …, in + month or year or season, on + date (Past Simple)
• Never, ever, always, recently, lately, just, yet, already, still (Present Perfect)
• For, since, all … (all day, all night, all morning, etc.), how long (Present Perfect Progressive)

The time of the day sometimes determines whether Past Simple tense, or Present Perfect, is appropriate.

Past perfect and past perfect progressive

Past Perfect is used in contrast with the Past Simple; Past Perfect action happened before the past action. We use the Past Perfect to talk about an action that started in the past, and was interrupted by another action in the Past Simple. We also use it to say how often something happened. The focus is on the result. It’s formed: had+ past participle of verb.

Past Perfect Progressive is also used in contrast with the Past Simple, but it describes continuing action before (or by) a specific point in the past. We use the Past Perfect Progressive to talk about an action that had already started in the past, and was interrupted by another past action (Past Simple). The focus is on the action, and how long it has been in progress. We don’t use the Past Perfect Progressive with verbs not normally used in the continuous form. It’s formed: Past Perfect of be + -ing of the verb.

These tenses can be used to create a contrast between actions, which took place in the past (Past Simple) and a “more past” (Past Perfect or Past Perfect Progressive) situation. By + time expression and by the time, are commonly used with these tenses.

The time of the day sometimes determines whether Past Simple tense, or Present Perfect, is appropriate. If two past actions are close in time, or closely connected, the use of the Past Perfect is often avoided.

Future simple and future progressive

Present Simple, Present Progressive, the auxiliary will + verb, and be going to + verb base form, all show future meanings, with a future time adverb. Present Simple is used for scheduled events (events planned now for later), so simple present makes sense. Will is used when a sudden decision, or definite plans, are made, and when a prediction is made that the speaker is fairly sure of. Will is not used as frequently as the other forms are, by native speakers.

Be going to is much more common. It is used for less certain predictions, when a situation, in the present, leads to the prediction, and when one is discussing intentions or plans. Present Progressive is used for arrangements, with not much difference between Present Progressive and be going to. Future Progressive, uses either will or be going to +