2. Today, we are reviewing verb tenses.
Verb Tense PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Explanation It’s what we are doing NOW.
Rule Describes action right now.
Special Some verbs aren’t usually used in the continuous—
Problems Be, can, understand, forget, have
Right now, I understand you.
3. I work at Laney College.
Verb Tense SIMPLE PRESENT
Explanation It’s a general fact. It’s what I do every day. I do it
again and again
Rule Use simple present for something that is a habit, or
repeated again and again.
Pay to the difference between the two present tenses:
attention
I smoke (simple present) = it’s my habit, I’m a smoker.
I’m not smoking now (present continuous) because
I’m in class.
4. I got an M.A. at San Francisco State.
Verb Tense SIMPLE PAST
Explanation I received the degree in the past.
Rule Use simple past for something that happened to the
past and is finished.
Pay I have an M.A. now (present tense, “have” is not used
attention in the continuous).
I got the degree in the past.
5. I have taught at Laney for 14 years
I have taught at Laney since 1998.
Verb Tense PRESENT PERFECT
Explanatio I started to teach at Laney in 1998 (14 years ago),
n and I still teach at Laney now.
Rule Use present perfect with “for” or “since” for an
action that began in the past and continues in the
present.
Pay Without “for” or “since,” the meaning changes.
attention
6. I have been teaching at Laney for 14 years
I have been teaching at Laney since 1998.
Verb Tense PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Explanatio I started to teach at Laney in 1998 (14 years ago),
n and I still teach at Laney now.
Rule Use present perfect continuous with “for” or “since”
for an action that began in the past and continues in
the present.
Pay With “for” or “since,” the present perfect and the
attention present perfect continuous mean the same thing.
7. I have worked in Japan and Morocco
Verb Tense PRESENT PERFECT
Explanation This is an indefinite time in the past. There is no
“for” or “since.”
Rule Present perfect with NO “for” or “since” is
something finished in the past, but I’m not telling
you when.
Pay If I tell you when, I must use the simple past.
attention! I worked in Morocco from 1971 to 1975.
I worked in Japan from 1976 to 1979.
If I say “I have worked in Japan for 20 years,” that
means that I still work there.
8. We have been talking about verb
tenses.
Verb Tense PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Explanation I’m talking about something continuing in the
present, or just finished a minute ago. There is no
“for” or “since.”
Rule Present perfect continuous with NO “for” or
“since” is something continuing in the present, or
just recently finished.
Pay With “for” or “since,” present perfect and present
attention! perfect continuous mean the same thing.
Without “for” or “since,” the meanings are
different.
