Die englischen Zeitformen
#1. Present Simple
We use the present simple to talk about habits and routines; things which happen regulary.
For example: I visit my grandparents very Saturday evening.
We use the present simple to talk about permanent situations.
For example: Jennifer lives in Liverpool.
We use the present simple to talk about Timetables.
For example: The bus leaves at 8 o’clock.
We use the present simple to talk about what happens in stories, books and movies.
For example: At the beginning of the story, Jennifer tries to find a new job.
We use the present simple to talk about general facts, that are always true.
For example: The heart pumps blood through our body.
Signal words for the present simple are: always, often, normally, never, rarely, every week, once ad day, twice a week, …
#2. Present Continuous: (To be + infinitive + ing)
We use the present continuous to talk about things which are happening at the moment.
For example: Right now I am doing the washing up.
We use the present continuous to talk about temporary situations or new habits.
For example: I am studying on an English university for the next six months.
We use the present continuous to talk about things which will happen in the future.
For example: I am meeting my parents after school today.
We use the present continuous to describe situations, actions and people in pictures.
For example: On this photo, my mother is sitting on a horse.
We use the present continuous to talk about annoying habits.
For example: You are always interrupting me!
Signal words are: currently, now, at the moment, listen! Look!, …
3. Will Future (will + infinitive)
We use the will future to talk about spontaneous decisions.
For example: I will take a burger and chips.
We use the will future to talk about predictions.
For example: It will rain the whole next week.
We use the will future to talk about future facts which cannot be changed
For example: My birthday will be on a Saturday.
We use the will future to talk about Promises, Requests and Refusals.
For example: I promise I won’t forget your birthday again! Give me a second, I will help you!
#4. Going to Future (To be + going to + infinitive)
We use the going to future to talk about things in the future which are already planned.
For example: I am going to make a birthday party next Saturday.
We use the going to future to talk about predictions based in evidence.
For example: The sky is very cloudy. It’s going to rain.
#5. Past Simple
We use the simple past to talk about finished actions in the past.
For example: Some months ago, I found one hundred dollars on the street!
We use the simple past to describe habits and routines in the past.
For example: When I was a child, I went to the football training twice a week.
We use the simple past to talk about an order of events in the past.
For example: First I had a cup of tea, then I switched on the TV and after that, I read a book.
#6. Past continous (was + infinitve + -ing)
We use the past continuous to talk about an action in progress in the past (at a specific moment in the past).
For example: Yesterday at 7 o’clock, I was playing the guitar.
We use the past continuous to talk about a temporary situation in the past.
For example: When I was 20 years old, I was studying in England for six months.
We use the past continuous to describe multiple actions in the past, which are happening at the same time.
For example: While he was playing the guitar, I was doing the washing up.
We use the past continuous to talk about a long action in the past, which gets interrupted by a short action.
For example: I was watching television, when suddenly the phone rang.
We use the past continuous to underline the length of an action in past.
For example: Jennifer was waiting for one hour.
We use the past continuous to describe something annoying that happened all the time in past.
For example: Jennifer was always forgetting her homework and coming to late to school!