fe use the indefinite article afan ‘when we say what something is or what itis like: What's that? 1's a radio. [My sister drives an expensive German car. when we say what somebody's job is: Tom Cruise is a film actor. when we describe somebody's features: He's got a long face and a small moustache. je use the when it’s clear what we are talking about. This can he because we've already mentioned it Tve got a cat and a dog. The dog is called Rover. or because there is only one: You shouldn't look directly at the sun. or because it’s clear from the situation: Could you pass me the dictionary? (The one that’s oon the table over there.) with most nationality words The English have a reputation for being bad cooks. with the names of rivers, mountain ranges, deserts and seas: the Nile, the Himalayas, the Sahara, the Mediterranean with a few countries and most groups of islands the United States the Netherlands the Czech Republic the Canaries the Seychelles the Maldives in various set phrases, for example: 0 to the cinema listen to the radio lay the piano/the guitar, etc in the morning/the afternoon/the evening je don’t use an article when we are making generalisations: Cats chase mice. with most countries, continents, towns and ci lakes and mountains: ‘Mount Everest is in Asia, on the border between ‘Nepal and Tibet. 11. with some nouns following a preposition: g0 10 work/school be in bed/hospitalyprison 12 with meals: ‘have breakfasi/lunch/dinner Simple and continuous tenses Overview ‘We generally use continuous tenses to describe temporary situations: It’s snowing. ve been getting a lot of headaches recentiy ‘We generally use simple tenses to state facts: It snows a tot in Finland, ve never had toothache. ‘We generally use simple tenses for very short actions or events: The bomb exploded. ‘We generally use continuous tenses for things happening over a longer time: We noticed that the boat was sinking. We often use continuous tenses to talk about duration (how long): ‘She has been directing films since the age of twenty. ‘We never use continuous tenses to say how many times something happens, will happen, has happened, etc: By the end of this year, she will have made twetve films. 4. Continuous tenses are normally used for actions or events, rather than states: Please be quiet, I'm reading, (action) We normally use simple tenses for states: These books belong to the library. (state) Grammar Reference @ @®Non-continuous verbs Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses. These include: 1 mental states believe doubt hate know like love prefer realise recognise regret. remember suppose understand — want 2. communication agree disagree mean 3. other verbs belong contain cost depend fit’ matter. need owe own possess. seem Some verbs are non-continuous with some meanings but not with others, For example, think is not used in continuous tenses when it means ‘have an opinion’: 1 think reality TV shows are boring. BUT I'm thinking about my last holiday. @ crammar Reference a Present tenses The present simple We use the present simple 1 to talk about a habitual or repeated action or event: ‘My grandfather runs 3km every morning. 2 to state a general fact: Koala bears sleep more than 20 hours a day. for actions and events in a story, especially when describing the plot of a book, film, ete: Scout goes to school for the first time that autumn and has a terrible day, 4 with verbs not used in continuous tenses (see non- continuous verbs in previous column). 5 to refer to a future action or event that is part of a timetable: The next train to Manchester leaves in ten minutes. The present continuous ‘We use the present continuous 1 to talk about an action or event that is in progress now: Put the umbrella up, it's raining, 2. to talk about an action or event which is repeated, but only around this time: I'm drinking too much coffee these days 3 to talk about a temporary situation: ‘My brother's working in China, (He normally works in France.) 4 to talk about changes in a situatioi ‘Air travel is getting cheaper. 5 (with always) to complain about annoying behaviour: ‘That dog is always jumping on the sofa. 6 to refer to a future action or event that has been arranged: Which country is hosting the next Olympics?‘alking about the ture i and going to fe use will to make impersonal, factual statements about the future: Work on the new stadium will begin next year to make predictions based on your own beliefs: ‘Ym sure you'l enjoy the play. NB We often use will after phrases like: I think, I don't think, imagine, I reckon, I'm certain when you make an instant decision about what to do next: That soup smells delicious. I'l try some. to talk about future events that are dependent on other events: If we leave now, we'll be home before nightfall to make offers and promises: Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret. to add a question tag to an imperative or make a tag reply: Don't tell anyone, will you? ‘Don’t forget your passport.” ‘I wont’ fe use going to 1 to talk about things you have decided to do: Pmt going to apply for a better job. NB We usually avoid using going to with the verb 50; we can use the present continuous instead, Tm going to the theatre tomorrow. to make predictions based on what is happening now. It looks like this match ts going to be a draw: e present simple ‘We use the present simple with a future meaning 1 to talk about things that are due to happen as part, of a schedule: ‘The next train to Manchester leaves in half an hour. after certain words and phrases, for example: when, as soon as, by the time, the moment, provided, assuming, if: Til give Jason his present as soon as he arrives. The present continuous We use the present continuous with a future meaning to talk about arrangements that we have made for the future, usually with other people: I can't go out toraorrow night. I'm having dinner with my grandparents. The future continuous We use the future continuous 1 to talk about an action that will be in progress at a specific point in the future: At midday tomorrow; I'll be taking my exams. 2. to talk about planned events. Used like this, itis similar to the present continuous for arrangements: Next year, IM be spending most of the summer abroad 3 to ask polite and less direct questions about somebody's plans Will you be staying at the hotel for two nights or three? The future perfect simple We use the future perfect simple to talk about a completed action or event in the future: By the time they get home, they'll have travelled ‘more than 10,000 kn. The future perfect continuous ‘We normally use the future perfect continuous to say how long an action or event will have been in progress at a specific point in the future: By the time he takes part in the Olympics, he'll have been training for four years. Grammar Reference @ @®Review of past tenses The past simple We use the past simple 1 to talk about actions or events that happened at a particular time in the past: “Tlefe work at 10.30. Jackson replied. took a taxi home! 2 to describe a series of actions or events in the past: Jackson. put on his coat, switched off the light, opened the door and walked out onto the street The past continuous ‘We use the past continuous 1 to describe a scene in the past: Ie was 2 a.m. but the city wasn't sleeping. Music was coming from countless upstairs windows 2. to talk about actions or events that were in progress around a particular time in the past: “What were you doing at 11 o'clock yesterday evening?” asked the policeman. 3. We often use the past simple and the past continuous together to describe how one event interrupted another, longer event: Waile Jackson was looking for the right addres @ police car came around the corner. The present perfect simple We use the present perfect simple 1 to talk about recent events, particularly when. giving news: Have you heard? Toni and Nancy have just got married! NB We often use the present perfect simple for events within a period of time that continues up to the present moment. Words which often go with the present perfect simple include: ever, never, just, already, yet, and so far. 2 to talk about an event that began in the past and continues up to the present, particularly with non- continuous verbs: ve had this skateboard since I was six years old. NB With verbs which can be used in continuous tenses, we normally use the present perfect continuous, not simple, to say how long an action has been in progress: ‘Tve been waiting for hours!" © @ © crammar Reference to talk about recent past events that have a result in the present: You've broken my laptop. Now I can't check my emails. 4 to talk about experiences at an unstated time in the past: Have you ever been to Rome? I've never trled rock climbing. The present perfect continuous ‘We use the present perfect continuous to talk about recent actions or events that are not necessarily complete: You've been spending too much money recently. (And you might continue to spend too much.) NB When the action is complete, we use the present perfect simple, Compare: I've been writing a novel Tm on chapter 4/'ve written a novel. It was published last year. to say how long an action or event has been in progress: TTve been learning the guitar for stx years. 3 to explain a current situation in terms of recent events My trousers are muddy because F've been planting trees in the garden. The past perfect simple ‘We use the past perfect simple to talk about an event that happened before another event in the past: wanted some pasta, but my brother had eaten it all. The past perfect continuous ‘The two most common uses of the past perfect continuous are 1. for saying how long an action had been in progress up to a certain point in the past: By the age of 18, my grandfather had been working in a factory for six years. 2 to explain a past situation in terms of previous events: ‘Terry was upset because his sister had been making fan of him.