Student’s stories

Read Joe’s story

Joe's Story

I was a finance officer for 20 years, then for the last few years I’ve been working in a
tax office in a big firm. So, I had done a Diploma when I first left school, but I had
never thought about going to uni until recently. I saw some advertising on the TV
about Open Universities Australia and then I looked into it to get an understanding of
how it worked.
The job I’ve got now is ok, but I really want to work with people and help make a
difference to their lives. All my life I’ve been able to quickly build rapport with people
and win their trust, and if I can learn skills on how to be better at helping them, then I
will be much happier doing that. So, I am going to work hard to get my degree.
(*) Adapted from: http://www.firstinfamily.com.au/stories.php

Look at these sentences:

I’ve been able to quickly build rapport with people and win their Present
trust. Perfect Simple
For the last few years I’ve been working in a tax office in a big firm. Present
Perfect
Continuous
I had done a Diploma when I first left school. Past Perfect
Simple
I will be much happier doing that. Future Will

So, I am going to work hard to get my degree. Future Going

To
Present
Present Perfect Simple

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Use the present perfect to say that you have never done something or that you
haven't done something during a period of time that continues up to the present:
• I’ve been able to quickly build rapport with people and win their trust.

When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with the present:
• I've eaten too much. (= I am not hungry now.)

You can use the present perfect with just (= a short time ago):
• "Would you like something to eat?" "No, thanks. I've just had lunch. "

Use the present perfect with already to say something has happened sooner than
expected:
• "Don't forget to write your assignment." "I've already submitted it. "

You have to use the present perfect with This is the first time…, It's the first time…,
etc.
• This is the first time I have taken an online course.

We often use the present perfect with yet. Yet shows that the speaker is expecting
something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences:
• Have you finished your university studies yet? No, I haven’t finished yet.

We use the present perfect with this morning / this evening / today / this week / this
semester, etc.:
• I have been to the bank this morning.
 Present Perfect Simple
Past
Pronoun Have Negative Contraction Participle Examples
I have not haven’t worked I have / haven’t worked much
done * recently.
Have you done your homework?
She has not hasn’t done * She has done her homework.
He finished He hasn’t finished yet.
It stopped Has it stopped raining?

You have not haven’t read* You haven’t read the news, have you?
They written They have written their essays.
We completed Have we completed all assignments?

(*) Irregular Verbs. See Tenses Chart for a more comprehensive list.

Present Perfect Continuous

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We use the present perfect continuous when we talk about an action that began in the
past and has recently stopped or just stopped:
• You look tired. What have you been doing?

We also use the present perfect continuous to ask or say how long something has
been happening. This time the action or situation began in the past and is still
happening or has just stopped:
• How long have you been studying English?
• They've been studying English for a year.
• They've been studying English since 2016.
 Present Perfect Continuous

Pronoun Have Neg- Con- Been + Gerund Examples

ative traction
I have not haven’t been working I have/haven’t been working since April.
been doing Have you been doing your homework
lately?
She has not hasn’t been doing She has been doing her homework every
He been exercising day.
It been waiting He hasn’t been exercising lately.
Has he been waiting long?
You have not haven’t been doing You have been doing your homework.
They been exercising They haven’t been exercising lately.
We been waiting Have we been waiting long?

Past
Past Perfect

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Sometimes we talk about something that happened in the past:

• I left school.
We use the past perfect to say that something had already happened before this time:
• I left school, and I had never thought about going to university.
(before leaving school, he did not think about university)

Here are some more examples:

• When I got home, I found that someone had broken into my apartment and
had stolen my TV set.
Compare the past perfect (I had done) and the simple past (I did):
• Ann wasn't home when I called her. She was at work.
• but: Ann had just gotten home when I called her. She had been at work.
 Past Perfect
Pronoun Have Negative Contraction Past Examples
Participle
I had not hadn’t worked I had worked as a secretary before I
She/He/It done started teaching.
You finished She had not done her homework
They written before she took her exams.
We studied You hadn’t finished your exam when
the time was over.
Had they written their essay?
What had you studied before you
started this major?

Future
Going To

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We use going to (do) when we say what we have already decided to do, or what we
intend to do in the future:

• I am going to go on vacation to Peru next summer.

(I have already made hotel reservations)

• I am going to work hard to get my degree.

(He has decided to study because he want to get his degree)
 Future - Going To
Pronoun Have Neg- Con- Going to Base Examples
ative traction Verb
I am not - going to do I am going to move to another city next
April.
She is not isn’t going to travel She isn’t going to travel to Europe in
He summer.
It Is she going to travel to Uruguay?
You are not aren’t going to study You aren’t going to study medicine.
They Are they going to study Business
We Administration?

NOTE: We prefer to use the present continuous (I am doing) when we say what someone has
arranged to do — for example, arranged to meet someone, arranged to travel somewhere.
• I am going on a business trip next Friday.

Future - Will

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We use will when we offer to do something:

• Don’t worry, I’ll answer the phone.

We use will when we promise to do something:

• I promise I won’t tell anybody.
We use will when we ask another person to do something:
• Will you answer the phone, please?

We use will when we make predictions or forecasts:

• I think it will rain tomorrow.
 Future – Will
Base
Pronoun Will Negative Contraction verb Examples
I will not won’t answer I will answer the phone.
She tell I promise I will not tell your secret.
He rain I think it won’t rain tomorrow.
It finish Will you finish your homework
You do tonight?
They What will they do they finish
We university?

Will or going to?

We use both will and going to to talk about our future actions, but there is a
difference.
• I’m stressed; I think I will go for a walk.

will: We use will when we decide to do something at the time of speaking.

I have not planned to go for a walk before; I am deciding it right now.

• Mary and I are going to go for a walk tomorrow at 3 P.M.

going to: We use going to when we have already decided to do something. Mary and I
have arranged to go for a walk; it is a plan.

References:
• Murphy, R. (1998). Grammar in Use - Reference and Practice for Intermediate Students
of English. Cambridge, Reino Unido: Cambridge University Press.
Units: 1, 2, 3, 4, 11, 12
• http://www.firstinfamily.com.au/stories.php
• Images:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Robbiemuffin/Using_English_Grammar_Grap
hics#Past_Continuous