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For and Since for Time

We often use for and since when talking about time.

for + period

A period is a duration of time, for example: 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. For means "from the beginning of the period until the end of the period." For can be used with all tenses.

since + point

A point is a precise moment in time, for example: 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. Since means "from a point in the past until now." Since is normally used with perfect tenses.

for a period (from start to end) >===<	since a point (up to now) x===>|
for 20 minutes for three days for 6 months for 4 years for 2 centuries for a long time for ever etc	since 9am since Monday since January since 1997 since 1500 since I left school since the beginning of time etc
all tenses	perfect tenses only

For can be used with all tenses. Here are a few examples:

• They study for two hours every day.
• They are studying for three hours today.
• He has lived in Bangkok for a long time.
• He has been living in Paris for three months.
• I worked at that bank for five years.
• Will the universe continue for ever?

For is NOT used with "all day", "all the time" etc.

• I was there all day. (not *for all day)

Since is normally used with perfect tenses:

• He has been here since 9am.
• He has been working since he arrived.
• I had lived in New York since my childhood.

Since can also be used in the structure "It is [period] since...":

• It is a year since I saw her.
• How long is it since you got married?

Both for and since also have other meanings, with no reference to time. Here are some examples:

• This is for you.
• Is this the train for London?
• Since you ask, I'll say yes.
• Since he didn't study he didn't pass the exam.

Future Time

The future is uncertain. We know the past. We know the present. We do not know the future. We can be 100% sure or certain about the past and the present. But we can never be 100% certain about the future. In English there are several structures and tenses to talk about the future. It is usually the degree of certainty about the future that decides our choice of structure or tense.

Although we often talk about "future tenses", technically there are no future tenses in English - only different ways of talking about the future, using special constructions, other tenses or modal verbs.

In this lesson we look at four of the most common ways to talk about the future, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

• Will for No Plan, Prediction & Be
• Going to for Intention & Prediction
• Present Continuous for Plan
• Present Simple for Schedules
• Summary

Future Time: Summary

When we speak, we choose the tense that we use. This is important in English, because the tense we choose expresses more than just a simple fact. When we speak about the future, the tense we choose can express how we "see" the future, even our personal feelings about the future. It certainly expresses what we believe to be the probability (the chance, the reality) of something happening or whether we have already decided to do it.
This table gives a simple scale of probability for each structure. It is not exact because language is not a science, and there are many variables. This table should help you to think about the "concept" of the future in English. This concept does not exist in all languages, but it is rather important in English.

% probability before speaker speaks of event happening		structure	used for	example
	0%	will	no plan	Don't get up. I'll answer the phone.
	70%	going to	intention	We're going to watch TV tonight.
	90%	present continuous	plan	I'm taking my exam in June.
	99.999%	present simple	schedule	My plane takes off at 6.00am tomorrow.

 

It is impossible in English to express the future with 100% certainty. (The speakers of any language that can do this must all be billionaires!)

Present Simple for Schedules

When an event is on a schedule or timetable (for example, the take-off time for a plane), we often use the present simple to express the future. We usually also use a future word (expressed or understood) like tomorrow, at 6.30pm, next week.

Only a few verbs are used in this way, for example:

• be, open, close, begin, start, end, finish, arrive, come, leave, return

Look at these sentences:

• The train leaves Detroit at 9pm tonight.
• John starts work next week.
• Tomorrow is Thursday.

Summary of Future Time »

Present Continuous for Plan

We often use the present continuous tense to talk about the future. Of course, we normally use the present continuous to talk about action happening in the present, but if we add a future word, we can use it to talk about the future. (By "future word" we mean words or expressions like tomorrow, next week, in June. The future word may be clearly expressed or understood from the context.)

Sometimes there is no real difference between an intention (going to) and a plan (present continuous). In this case, it doesn't matter which we use.

• We're going to paint the bedroom tomorrow.
• We're painting the bedroom tomorrow.

We use the present continuous only when a plan exists before we speak. Look at these examples:

• Mary is taking her music exam next year.
• They can't play tennis with you tomorrow. They're working.
• We're going to the theatre on Friday.

Present Simple »

Going to for Intention & Prediction

Going to

Intention

We use the special going to construction when we have the intention to do something before we speak. We have already made a decision before speaking. Look at these examples:

• I have won $1,000. I am going to buy a new TV.
• We're not going to see my mother tomorrow.
• When are you going to go on holiday?

In these examples, we had an intention or plan before speaking. The decision was made before we spoke.

Prediction

We often use going to to make a prediction about the future. Our prediction is based on evidence. We are saying what seems sure to happen. Here are some examples:

• The sky is very black. It is going to snow.
• It's 8.30! You're going to miss the train!
• I crashed the company car. My boss isn't going to be very happy!

In these examples, the present situation (black sky/the time/damaged car) gives us a good idea of what is going to happen.

• We use will for prediction when we have no real evidence: "It will rain tomorrow." (It's my feeling but I can't be sure.)
• We use going to for prediction when there is some real evidence: "It's going to rain." (There's a big, black cloud in the sky and if it doesn't rain I'll be very surprised.)

Present Continuous »

Will for No Plan, Prediction & Be

Will

One of the most common ways to talk about the future is with will, for example: I will call you tonight. We often call this the "future simple tense", but technically there are no future tenses in English. In this construction, the word will is a modal auxiliary verb.

Here are the three main ways that we use will to talk about the future.

No plan

We use will when there is no prior plan or decision to do something before we speak. We make the decision at the time of speaking. Look at these examples:

• Hold on. I'll get a pen.
• We will see what we can do to help you.
• Maybe we'll stay in and watch television tonight.

In these examples, we had no firm plan before speaking. The decision was made at the time of speaking.

We often use will with the verb think:

• I think I'll go to the gym tomorrow.
• I think I'll have a holiday next year.
• I don't think I'll buy that car.

Prediction

We often use will to make a prediction about the future. Again, there is no firm plan. We are saying what we think will happen. Here are some examples:

• It will rain tomorrow.
• People won't go to Jupiter before the 22nd century.
• Who do you think will get the job?

Be

The verb be is an exception with will. Even when we have a very firm plan, and we are not speaking spontaneously, we can use will with be. Look at these examples:

• I will be in London tomorrow.
• There will be 50 people at the party.
• The meeting will be at 9.30 am.

The verb be is always exceptional!

Going to »

Used to do & Be used to

These two expressions look the same, but in fact they are completely different.

In this lesson we look at the structure and use of both expressions, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

• Used to do
• Be used to

Be used to

Be used to something
Be used to doing

Be used to is an expression. It is not a tense. If I say "I am used to Thailand", it is like saying "I am accustomed to Thailand."

Do not confuse be used to with with the special construction used to do. They have different meanings.

Structure of Be used to

The structure is:

subject + be + used to + object

	subject	main verb be	not	used to	object
+	I	am		used to	horses.
-	He	is	not	used to	horses.
	We	aren't		used to	horses.
?	Are	you		used to	horses?

If the object invoves a verb, we use the -ing form:

I	am	not	used to	being lied to.
He	is		used to	working late.
We	aren't		used to	taking the bus.
Are	you		used to	cooking?

 

Why do we use -ing for a verb after be used to? Because we always use -ing for a verb after a preposition - and the to is a preposition.

Use of Be used to

The be used to expression is for talking about something that is familiar to us or easy for us. For example:

• I am used to driving on the left.

It means that it is not a problem for me to drive on the left of the road. I am Japanese. In Japan, people drive on the left. Now I am living in the USA where people drive on the right. Of course, I drive on the right in the USA, but when I go to Japan it is easy for me to drive on the left because "I am used to it".

Look at these examples.

• I am used to hard work.
• I am used to working hard.
• He is not used to New York.
• He isn't used to living in New York.
• Are you used to fast food?
• Are you used to eating quickly?

Tenses

We can use be used to in any tense. We just conjugate the verb be in the tense that we need. Look at these examples:

• When we lived in Bangkok, we were used to hot weather.
• I have been used to snakes for a long time.
• You will soon be used to living alone.

Used to do

We use used to do to talk about the past. It is not a tense but it is like a tense. It is a special expression. We use the expression used to do for the past only.

Do not confuse used to do with with the expression be used to. They have different meanings.

Structure of Used to do

The structure is:

	subject	auxiliary did	not	main verb use	infinitive
+	I			used	to do.
-	I	did	not	use	to do.
?	Did	you		use	to do?

 

Used or use?

• when there is did in the sentence, we say use to (without d)
• when there is no did in the sentence, we say used to (with d)

Use of Used to do

We use the used to do expression to talk about:

• an activity that we did regularly in the past (like a habit)
• a situation that was true in the past

I used to smoke. past present future

Look at these examples.

the past	the present
She used to work in a shop.	Now she works in a bank.
He used to watch a lot of TV.	Now he doesn't watch much TV.
They used to be married.	Now they are divorced.
There used to be a cinema here.	Now there is a supermarket here.
I didn't use to go swimming.	Now I go swimming.
Did you use to smoke?

Be used to »

Verb Meanings with Continuous Tenses

There are some verbs that we do not normally use in the continuous tense. And there are other verbs that we use in the simple tense with one meaning and in the continuous tense with another meaning.

In this lesson we look at various uses of continuous tenses, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

• Verbs not Used with Continuous Tenses
• Verbs with Two Meanings
• Be and Continuous Tenses

Be and Continuous Tenses

The verb be can be an auxiliary verb (Marie is learning English) or a main verb (Marie is French). On this page we look at the verb be as a main verb.

Usually we use simple tenses with the verb be as a main verb. For example, we say:

• London is the capital of the UK.
  (not London is being the capital of the UK.)
• Is she beautiful?
  (not Is she being beautiful?)
• Were you late?
  (not Were you being late?)

Sometimes, however, we can use the verb be with a continuous tense. This is when the real sense of the verb be is "act" or "behave". Also, of course, the action is temporary. Compare the examples in the table below:

Mary is a careful person. (Mary is always careful - it's her nature.)	John is being careful. (John is acting carefully now, but maybe he is not always careful - we don't know.)
Is he always so stupid? (Is that his personality?)	They were being really stupid. (They were behaving really stupidly at that moment.)
Andrew is not usually selfish. (It is not Andrew's character to be selfish.)	Why is he being so selfish? (Why is he acting so selfishly at the moment?)

Notice that we also make a difference between "to be sick" and "to be being sick":

• She is sick (= she is not well)
• She is being sick (= she is vomiting)

Here is the structure of the verb be in the continuous present tense:
I am being
You are being
He, she, it is being
We are being
They are being

Verbs with Two Meanings

Some verbs have two different meanings or senses. For one sense we must use a simple tense. For the other sense we can use a continuous or simple tense.

For example, the verb to think has two different senses:

1. to believe, to have an opinion
   I think red is a sexy colour.
   
2. to reflect, to use your brain to solve a problem
   I am thinking about my homework.

In sense 1 there is no real action, no activity. This sense is called "stative". In sense 2 there is a kind of action, a kind of activity. This sense is called "dynamic".

When we use the stative sense, we use a simple tense. When we use the dynamic sense, we can use a simple or continuous tense, depending on the situation.

Look at the examples in the table below:

Stative sense (no real action)	Dynamic sense (a kind of action)
Simple only	Continuous	Simple
I think she is beautiful.	Be quiet. I'm thinking.	I will think about this problem tomorrow.
I don't consider that he is the right man for the job.	We are considering your job application and will give you our answer in a few days.	We consider every job application very carefully.
This table measures 4 x 6 feet.	She is measuring the room for a new carpet.	A good carpenter measures his wood carefully.
Does the wine taste good?	I was tasting the wine when I dropped the glass.	I always taste wine before I drink it.
Mary has three children.	Please phone later. We are having dinner now.	We have dinner at 8pm every day.

 

If you have a doubt about a particular verb, ask yourself the question: "Is there any real action or activity?"

Be and Continuous Tenses »

Verbs not Used with Continuous Tenses

There are some verbs that we do not normally use with continuous tenses. We usually use the following verbs with simple tenses only (not continuous tenses):

• hate, like, love, need, prefer, want, wish
• believe, imagine, know, mean, realize, recognize, remember, suppose, understand
• belong, concern, consist, contain, depend, involve, matter, need, owe, own, possess
• appear, resemble, seem,
• hear, see

Here are some examples:

I want a coffee.	not I am wanting a coffee.
I don't believe you are right.	not I am not believing you are right.
Does this pen belong to you?	not Is this pen belonging to you?
It seemed wrong.	not It was seeming wrong.
I don't hear anything.	not I am not hearing anything.

Notice that we often use can + see/hear:

• I can see someone in the distance.
  (not I am seeing someone in the distance.)
• I can't hear you very well.
  (not I am not hearing you very well.)

Verbs with Two Meanings »

With verbs that we don't use in the continuous tense, there is no real action or activity. Compare "to hear" and "to listen". "To hear" means "to receive sound in your ears". There is no real action or activity by you. We use "to hear" with simple tenses only. But "to listen" means "to try to hear". You make an effort to hear. There is a kind of action or activity. We can use "to listen" with simple or continuous tenses.

Plural Verbs with Singular Subjects

We often use singular nouns that refer to groups of people (for example: team, government, committee) as if they were plural. This is particularly true in English and less true in USA English. This is because we often think of the group as people, doing things that people do (eating, wanting, feeling etc).

In such cases, we use:

• plural verb
• they (not it)
• who (not which)

Here are some examples:

• The committee want sandwiches for lunch. They have to leave early.
• My family, who don't see me often, have asked me home for Christmas.
• The team hope to win next time.

Here are some examples of words and expressions that can be considered singular or plural:

• choir, class, club, committee, company, family, government, jury, school, staff, team, union, the BBC, board of directors, the Conservative Party, Manchester United, the Ministry of Health

But when we consider the group as an impersonal unit, we use singular verbs and pronouns:

• The new company is the result of a merger.
• An average family consists of four people.
• The committee, which was formed in 1999, is made up of four men and four women.

Notice that this is often a question of style and logic. The important thing is to be consistent.

Using a plural verb with singular subject is less common in American English.

Phrasal Verbs and other multi-word verbs

Phrasal verbs are part of a large group of verbs called "multi-word verbs". Phrasal verbs and other multi-word verbs are an important part of the English language. Multi-word verbs, including phrasal verbs, are very common, especially in spoken English. A multi-word verb is a verb like "pick up", "turn on" or "get on with". For convenience, many people refer to all multi-word verbs as phrasal verbs. These verbs consist of a basic verb + another word or words. The other word(s) can be prepositions and/or adverbs. The two or three words that make up multi-word verbs form a short "phrase" - which is why these verbs are often all called "phrasal verbs".

The important thing to remember is that a multi-word verb is still a verb. "Get" is a verb. "Get up", is also a verb, a different verb. "Get" and "get up" are two different verbs. They do not have the same meaning. So you should treat each multi-word verb as a separate verb, and learn it like any other verb. Look at these examples. You can see that there are three types of multi-word verb:

single-word verb		look	direct your eyes in a certain direction	You must look before you leap.
multi-word verbs	prepositional verbs	look after	take care of	Who is looking after the baby?
	phrasal verbs	look up	search for and find information in a reference book	You can look up my number in the telephone directory.
	phrasal-prepositional verbs	look forward to	anticipate with pleasure	I look forward to meeting you.

In this lesson we look at the three types of multi-word verbs, including phrasal verbs, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

• Phrasal Verbs
• Prepositional Verbs
• Phrasal-prepositional Verbs

Like many grammar books, we divide multi-word verbs into:

• prepositional verbs
• phrasal verbs
• phrasal-prepositional verbs

Other grammars, however, call all multi-word verbs "phrasal verbs".