Generally speaking, the grammatical time category gives us information about when action has been taken in relation to the moment of speaking. But the more complicated it is in the old days, the more moments it's oriented towards, except for talking. If you know English, you are aware that in addition to simple /Simple/ times there are also long /Continuous /, perfect /Perfect / and perfectly long /Perfect Continuous /. Today we will not dwell on each of them individually, but we will talk more about the differences in the type of verb - Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous. So what meaning do these names have and what a reference to the importance of specific time give us.
Simple
In terms of the moment of speaking, these times describe:
- action that will happen after the moment of speaking, i.e. in the future - Future Simple;
- action that happened and ended before the moment of speaking - Past Simple/;
- repeated action or universal truth - Present Simple.
Here we should pay particular attention that the English Present Simple is not used to describe current actions. If you want to say what you are doing at this very moment, while talking, you should use Present Continued.
Continuous
The name of this category suggested that it was unfinished actions with a certain duration. Here, apart from the moment of their occurrence, the fact that they have occurred at a certain time or point. That is, unlike the upper category where there is completion or re-re-use, we are talking about unfinished actions here.
- Present Continuous - we have already said that this is the time to describe current actions;
- Past Continuous - describes an action that occurred in a certain period/moment;
- Future Continued - an action that will take place in a certain future period/moment.
Perfect
Here the moment of direction of action can be the moment of speech or another moment in the past or in the future.
- Present Perfect - one of the most extensive times in English. We don't specify when the action happened. It may have happened a long time ago or a moment before the moment of speaking, but there is a result that is important at the time of speaking.
- Past Perfect - describes actions in the past that happened before another past action; that is, through it we are clearly clear about the sequence of two past actions;
- Future Perfect - describes an action that will have ended at a certain point in time.
Perfect Continuous
Here again we have actions that last a certain period and each specific time gives us clarity about when the action started and/or its duration.
- Present Perfect Continuous - an action that has begun in the past, but continues now.
- Past Perfect Continuous - an action that lasted a certain period of time before another action took place. Both are developing in the past.
- Future Perfect Continuous -action that will have a certain duration compared to a given moment in the future.
How to Remember It Easy
- Read books - this is one of the best ways to explain your times without making special efforts. As we read, we perceive the common sense, thanks not only to specific words and grammar but also because of context. So while you're reading, your brain processes the information completely and without even knowing the relevant time that the author used, you will be able to understand the meaning. So over time you will learn to use the patterns that your brain has saved correctly;
- Table of examples - work out your time chart. Make it as brief as possible, but meaningful. Such visual models often help to memorize difficult parts of grammar, for example. You can also easily use it as a guide while reading instead of flipping textbooks and grammar;
- Time line - We mentioned above that there may be one or more moments to which action is oriented. While you are studying at some point, just draw a line on a sheet and divide it into past, present and future. Then mark in it the moment or period when the action occurs. Just below this line, write a clear example. You can leave this simple scheme in plain sight and often look at it.
But whatever you do, remember that each journey begins with the first step, and it is - to start
learn English. If your language is unknown, you will find it difficult to handle grammar yourself no matter how many help you have. So bet on quality training at the Language School . Even if you are already advanced in learning the language, do not underestimate working with a teacher.
