Review of basic English tenses

   

   ·        Present simple – this tense has the following uses:

        o regular events and repeated actions                            

   The company’s annual report is published every June.

        o permanent situations

   They manufacture electrical goods.

        o timetables and scheduled events

   The CEO arrives on Friday.

        o newspaper headlines

   Miramax signs deal with Disney.

   ·        Present continuous – this tense has the following uses:

        o things happening now and changing situations

   We’re negotiating an alliance with them.

        o temporary situations

   We’re not looking for partners this year.

        o future arrangements

   We’re signing the contract next week.

   ·        Present perfect – this tense has the following uses:

        o changes that affect the present

   Have the shareholders been informed yet?

        o situations relating to an unspecified past time

   We have agreed to share technologies

        o situations that started in the past and continue

   Costs have been rising for several years.

        o show duration

   He’s been the CEO for ten years.

   ·        Past simple – this tense has the following uses:

        o finished actions and events

   We worked with them for two years.

        o definite or finished time periods

   We merged with them last year.

   ·        Past perfect – this tense has the following uses:

        o give explanations about past events

   We were celebrating last night because we had signed the agreement.

        o give background information

   By the time of the acquisition, negotiations had taken nearly a year.

   ·        will + infinitive – this tense has the following uses:

        o predictions

   The merger won’t be finalized until next month.

        o spontaneous decisions

   I think I’ll apply for this advertised position.

   By + time marker:                  1. by + now / this time / this moment ... – present perfect

                                                   The company has finished the negotiations by
   now.

                                                  2. by + that time / 2001 / WWII / last Tuesday
   ... – past perfect

                                                  By 2002 the company had been only an
   unimportant player on the market.

                                                  3. by + next week / 2010 / this summer – future
   perfect

                                                  By the end of tomorrow we’ll definitely have
   signed a deal.