[FCE] Past Continuous, Past Perfect, Past Perfect Continuous

Past Continuous

We use Past Continuous (past form of be + -ing) to talk about something which was in progress during a period of time in the past: I was listening to the news on television at nine o’clock last night.

We use it to give background information: It was pouring with rain and she was wondering what to do.

We also use it the Past Simple to say that something happened in the middle of something else: I slept when my friend called. I was sleeping when my friend called.

Past Perfect

The Past Perfect (had + past participle) is the past form of the Present Prefect. We use it to talk about a past event which happened before another past event: When I bought some fruit I went back to the beach. When I had bought some fruit I went back to the beach.

We often use the Past Perfect with when or after: After they had eaten, they cleared the table.

We also use the Past Perfect in indirect speech when reporting the Past Simple or Present Perfect: ‘I have found the answer.’ becomes She told us she had found the answer.

Compare the Past Perfect and the Past Simple: When I arrived at the party, Mary left. (= I arrived and then Mary left) When I arrived at the party, Mary had left. (= Mary left and then I arrived)

Past Perfect Continuous

The Past Perfect Continuous (had been + -ing) is the past form of the Present Perfect Continuous. We use it to talk about something which had been in progress up to the time in the past we are talking about: They had been climbing for five hours before they reached the top of the mountain. I had been feeling sleepy all day so I went to bed early.

Source: Grammar & Vocabulary for First Certificate

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[FCE] Past Simple, Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous

Past Simple and Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is the tense that links the past with the present.

Past Simple (past form)	Present Perfect (present of have + past participle)
We use the Past Simple:	We use the Present Prefect:
For past habits of states, whether continuous or repeated: Long ago, they built most houses out of wood. He always caught the same train.	For actions or states in the past which have a connection with the present: They have bought a new house. (= they can now go and live in it) It’s just started to rain. (= now, so bring the washing in)
	When the result of an action or state are obvious now: You’ve split the coffee all over my trousers – look! They’ve polluted the river. (= the fish are dead)
	For repeated actions in the past, with words like often, rarely, seldom: He’s often been to France.
With periods of time that have finished: I read the newspaper this morning. (= it is now afternoon or evening) He did a lot in his short life. (= he’s dead)	With periods of time that have not finished yet: We’ve built 20 new schools this year. (= it is still this year) He has done a lot in his short life. (= he’s alive and young)
For finished actions with time words like a year ago, last Sunday, last week, yesterday, etc.: Watson and Crick identified the structure of DNA in 1953. The first modern Olympic took place in Athens more than a hundred years ago.	For actions with expressions like already, before, ever, never, often, recently, still, yet, etc.: Rain has already ruined the tomato crops. Have you ever seen a UFO? We still haven’t discovered life on other planets. They haven’t sent an astronaut to Mars yet.
The choice between the Past Simple or Present Perfect depends on whether the action links the past with the present: She often took the bus. (= but doesn’t any more) She has often taken the bus. (= and so she might do it again)
Regular verbs end in –in in both the past Simple and the past participle (the form we use for the Present Perfect): worked, looked, played.
Present Perfect Continuous
We use the Present Perfect Continuous (present form of have + been + -ing) to talk about actions which started in the past and which continue up to the moment of speaking. We use it especially when we are interested in the duration of the action: I’ve been waiting for a whole hour!	The Present Perfect emphasizes the idea of completion (= the homework is finished); we use the Present Perfect Continuous to indicate that the action has lasted for a period and is incomplete. Compare: I’ve read the newspaper today. (= I’ve finished it) I’ve been reading the Encyclopedia Britannia. (= I haven’t finished it yet)
Notice the difference between the Present Perfect Continuous and the Present Perfect: Present Perfect I’ve done my homework. Present Perfect Continuous I’ve been doing my homework.	We often use the Present Perfect Continuous with for and since: Those potatoes have been boiling for and hour. And the carrots have been boiling since three o’clock.

Source: Grammar & Vocabulary for First Certificate

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[Grammar] Comparing More Than Two Things

A	is	the	__________est
A	is	the	most __________
			superlative adjective

(Nile River is longer than Yangtze River).

Amazon River is the longest river.

(Africa is bigger than North America).

Asia is the biggest continent.

 (Harry Potter is more interesting than Twilight).

Lord of the Rings is the most interesting film. >> based on my opinion hehe.

(Eka Tjipta Wijaya is wealthier than Anthony Salim).

Budi Hartono is the wealthiest.

(Taxi is more comfortable than bus).

Private car is the most comfortable.

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[Grammar] Comparing between Two Things

Comparing between two different things:
A	is	__________er	than	B
A	is	more __________	than	B
		comparative adjective
C	are	__________er	than	D
C	are	more __________	than	D
		comparative adjective
B	isn’t as	__________	as	A
		adjective

 Tokyo Tower is higher than Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower isn't as high as Tokyo Tower.

Carlos Slim is wealthier than Bill Gates.

Bill Gates isn't as wealthy as Carlos Slim.

A tortoise is faster than a snail.

A snail isn't as fast as a tortoise.

A snail is slower than a tortoise.

A tortoise isn't as slow as a snail.

Comparing between two similar things:
E	is	as	__________	as	F
			adjective
G	are	as	__________	as	H
			adjective

Mark is as tall as Stefan.

The golden shoes are as expensive as the purple shoes.

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[Description] My Classroom

This is my class room. 

This is where I learn English.

In my classroom, there is a big window.

There are nine chairs.

There is a desk.

There is a whiteboard and a clock on the wall.

There is a tape. The tape is on the desk.

There is a dustbin. It's next to the desk.

There are five lamps on the ceiling.

Can you describe your classroom? But you might want to see this picture first.

Use there is with singular nouns. Use there are with plural nouns.

There's a pen on the desk.

There's a pencil and an eraser on the desk.

There are five thumbtacks on the bulletin board.

Use a lot of and a plural noun to talk about a large number.

There are a lot of books on the bookshelf - 20, I think!

Source: Word by Word Picture Dictionary and Longman Top Notch Fundamentals.

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[Description] Daily Activities

Use Present Simple to describe your daily activities.

What do you do every morning?

I get up, take a shower, and brush my teeth.

What does he do every night?

He eats dinner, watches TV, and goes to bed.

What does she do everyday?

She washes the dishes, feeds the cat, and walks the dog.

I get up at 6:00 A.M., but my sister gets up at 5 A.M.

My sister eats breakfast at 7:30.

When my sister is late for work, she puts on her make up on the train.

I don't watch TV, but my sister watches TV after dinner.

I go to bed before 11:00 P.M., but my sister goes to bed after 11:00.

I take a bath every morning, but my sister takes a shower.

I make the bed on weekdays, and my sister makes the bed on the weekend.

I brush my teeth three times a day, but my sister brushes her teeth twice a day.

How about you? What do you do everyday?

Source: Word by Word Picture Dictionary and Longman Top Notch Fundamentals

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[Grammar] Comparative and Superlative Forms of Adjectives

Credit: Teacher Jocelyn

One-syllable adjectives	old wise	COMPARATIVE older wiser	SUPERLATIVE the oldest the wisest	For more one-syllable adjectives, -er and -est are added.
Two-syllable adjectives	famous pleasant	more famous more pleasant	the most famous the most pleasant	For more two-syllable adjectives, more and most are used.
	busy pretty	busier prettier	the busiest the prettiest	-Er and -est are used with two-syllable adjectives that end in -y. The -y is changed to -i.
	clever gentle friendly	cleverer more clever gentler more gentle friendlier more friendly	the cleverest the most clever the gentlest the most gentle the friendliest the most friendly	Some two-syllable adjectives use either -er/-est or more/most: able, angry, clever, common, cruel, friendly, gentle, handsome, narrow, pleasant, polite, quiet, simple, sour.
Adjectives with three or more syllables	important fascinating	more important more fascinating	the most important the most fascinating	More and most are used with long adjectives.
Irregular adjectives	good bad	better worse	the best the worst	Good and bad have irregular comparative and superlative forms.
Both farther and further are used to compare physical distances: I walked farther/further than my friend did. Further (but not farther) can also mean “additional”: I need further information. Source: Fundamental of English Grammar 3rd Edition - Betty Azar.

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[Description] Describing Clothes

Last Monday, I learned about describing clothes:

I	+	am	+	wearing	+	a	+	print	T-shirt
She		is		wearing		a		pink	cardigan
He		is		wearing		a		blue checked	shirt

I	+	am	+	wearing	+	blue	jeans
She		is		wearing		white	shoes
He		is		wearing		black	pants
They		are		wearing		boots

Free download Word by Word Picture Dictionary HERE.

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[Grammar] Complaining Adjective

We can use adjectives to complain about something, for example:

The bed is too hard. The bed isn't soft enough.
The bathroom is too dirty. The bathroom isn't clean enough.
The bedroom is too messy. The bedroom isn't tidy enough.
The bathroom is too small. The bedroom isn't big enough.

The shoes are too big. The shoes aren't small enough.
The bags are too heavy. The bags aren't light enough.
The steak is too raw. The steak isn't cooked enough.
The cashier is too rude. The cashier isn't polite enough.

Basically, we can use adjective to complain about something by using these patterns:


The (noun (uncountable or singular countable)) + is + too + adjective.
The (noun (uncountable or singular countable)) + isn't + opposite adjective + enough.

The (noun (plural countable)) + are + too + adjective.
The (noun ((plural countable)) + aren't + opposite adjective + enough.
 

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[FCE] Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple (base form)	Present Continuous  (present of be + …-ing)
We use the Present Simple:	We use the Present Continuous:
For permanent situations: I live in a flat. She works for an insurance company.	For temporary situations existing for a period at the present time: I’m staying with a friend at the moment. She’s working very hard nowadays. Just now I wait to do my military service. Just now I’m waiting to do my military service.
	For situations which are changing during the present time: The weather’s getting hotter and hotter.
For repeated actions or habits: I use my mobile phone everyday.	For actions, or repeated actions or habits, occurring at the moment of speaking: I am using John’s mobile phone because I left mine at home. You’re eating too fast.
For general truths: The sun rises in the East. Matter consists of small particles. Water is boiling at 100 degrees. Water boils at 100 degrees.
To tell stories, or summarize the plot of a film or book: Our hero goes off to search for the reassure, which he eventually finds after many adventures.
	To express annoying habits with words like always. You’re always borrowing money.

                                                

When we use always with the Present Simple, it usually means ‘everytime’: I always complain if the service is bad in restaurants.	We do not usually use certain verbs in the Present Continuous, e.g.: appearance: appear, resemble, seem composition: consist of, contain, have connection: come from, concern, cost, fit, suit existence: be, exist knowledge: forget, know, realize, understand likes and dislikes: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer needs and wants: need, want, wish opinion: believe, doubt, imagine, suppose, think possession: belong to, have, own, owe, possess senses: feel, hear, notice, see, smell, sound, taste
When we use always with the Present Continuous, it means ‘all the time’ or ‘too/very often’: You’re always complaining that waiters are rude.
We cannot use never … again with the Present Simple: I never speak to you again. I’m never speaking to you again.

We can use some of these verbs in the Present Continuous when they have different meanings. Her are some examples:
Present Simple	Present Continuous
She has (got) a big car. (= possession) I have three brothers. (= connection)	She is having an operation/a good time/a meal/a bath. (=actively involved in)
They think it’s too expensive. (= opinion)	They are thinking of buying a cheaper car. (= considering) I’m just thinking. (= at this moment)
I feel what we did was wrong. (= opinion)	I am feeling exhausted. (= physical reaction)
Do you see what I mean? (= knowledge; understand) This juice tastes good. (= senses) She appears to be very upset. (= appearance)	Are you seeing a lot of Mary nowadays? (= spending time with) You’re seeing things – there’s nobody at the window. (= imagining) He is tasting the milk to see if it’s OK. (= checking the quality) The Blues Band is appearing at the Odeon on Saturday. (= performing)
We can use the verbs that describe the way we feel physically in a Simple or Continuous form with no change of meaning: I feel sick.          OR          I am feeling sick. My feet ache.     OR          My feet are aching. My leg hurts.      OR          My leg’s hurting.

Source: Grammar & Vocabulary for First Certificate

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