Mixed tenses 9.4
When do we use different tenses ? We usually have history at this time of the week, but today we ’re having a whole morning of art. She crashed her bike while she was cycling to school. That looks heavy! You ’re going to hurt your back. I ’m not doing anything until this evening, so I ’ll help you. We use different tenses to show the time, continuation or completeness of an action or situation. Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3
These verbs refer to the present. Find the verbs in this text. Which refer to: a) the present, b) the past, c) the future ? It’s four o’clock. I’m standing outside my house, but I’ve looked through my bag and my keys definitely aren’t in there. Did I drop them when I was running for the bus this morning ? I don’t know. I think it’s going to rain very soon, and my parents are working until 8 today. I’ve got an idea! I’ll phone my aunt. She doesn’t live far away, and she usually works at home on Fridays. She’ll help me. Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3 These verbs refer to the past. These verbs refer to the future.
How do we make different tenses (1)? Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3 Talking about the present Present Simple Present Continuous Talking about the past Past Simple Past Continuous Talking about the present and the past Present Perfect School children learn Maths. We start school at 9 a.m. We ’re sitting in a Maths class right now. We ’re revising for our exams this week. We use the Present Simple for facts and routines. We use the Present Continuous for actions happening at the moment of speaking and actions happening around the moment of speaking. I did my Maths homework last night. We use the Past Simple for finished actions in the past. I was doing Maths at 6 p.m. last night. We use the Past Continuous for actions that were in progress at some time in the past, or when another action took place. She’s passed her Maths exam. You ’ve got taller ! The Present Perfect is used to talk about events that finished in the past (without saying when), or to talk about past events when their effects are visible in the present or continue up to the present. They ’ve lived in this town for six years. I was doing Maths when you phoned.
How do we make different tenses (2)? Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3 Talking about the future will be going to Present Continuous Present Simple He will do well in his exams. Are you going to the shops ? I ’ll come with you. I ’m going to study harder next year. Look at those clouds ! It ’s going to rain. We use will to talk about predictions and decisions taken at the moment of speaking. We use be going to to talk about general plans and predictions based on evidence in the present. I ’m meeting Ada at 5 p.m. The plane lands at 7.35. We use the Present Simple to talk about timetables and schedules. We use the Present Continuous to talk about arrangements.
I can remember my first day at this school very clearly. It 1 rained / was raining when I 2 entered / was entering the building. In the classroom, I 3 didn’t see / haven’t seen anybody that I knew, so I quickly 4 sat down / was sitting down next to a girl who looked nice. Now Sylvia and I 5 are / have been friends for three years! In three months, I 6 ’m going to leave / have left this school. I 7 already choose / have already chosen a secondary school. I hope my results 8 are being / will be good enough to get in to the school! I 9 ’m finding out / have found out next week, and between now and then, I 10 ’m trying / ’m going to try not to think about it ! Choose the correct option. Practice Time Copyright © 2 020 by Pearson Education Wider World 3
