Unit 39: VERBS & PRESENT TIME

Which one do you use?

SIMPLE?
Present?: He works
Present perfect?: He has worked
OR
CONTINUOUS?
Present?: He is working
Present perfect?: He has been working

Simple formation

DESCRIBING A STATE

I think you are right.
(my opinion)
She has two children.
Do you like package holidays?
He comes from Fort McMurray.
(It's his home town.)

ALWAYS TRUE ('timeless')

The sun rises in the East.
I have always had trouble with my teeth.
This key card doesn't work.
(Let's throw it away.)

POINT OF TIME -- the action finishes when you finish speaking

We all wish you good luck.
I beg your pardon.

Continuous Formation

DESCRIBING AN ACTIVITY

I'm thinking about it, but I haven't decided yet.
She is having a bath.
Are you enjoying your holiday?
He's coming from Fort McMurray.
(He's traveling now.)

TRUE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME

Look! The sun is rising.
I 've been having trouble with my teeth lately.
This key card isn't working.
(But we can try to repair it.)

POINT OF TIME -- the action finishes when you finish speaking

We cannot use a continuous formation for this meaning.

Perfect formation

We are interested in when something started.

I've been staying here for three days.
(I arrived three days ago.)
She has always liked solo traveling.
(She has liked it from the start.)
Have you lived here long?
(I know you live here. I want to know when you started.)

Non-perfect

We are not interested in when something started.

I'm staying here for three days.
(A total of three days; I'm not saying when I arrived.)
She likes solo traveling.
(I'm not saying anything about the past.)
Do you live here?
(I want to know if you live here or not.)

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Exercise 39.1
Exercise 39.2