Grammar
On Tuesday, I will have lived here for one year.
(A much easier number.)
I've known Julie for ten years.
(and I still know her)
I knew Julie for ten years.
(but then she moved away and we lost touch)
Julie is living in Paris for a few months.
(usually she lives in London)
My great-grandmother went to Mexico three times.
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead):
My flatmate is always leaving the kitchen in a mess!
Annoying habits (usually with 'always')
I'm meeting John after class today.
Definite future plans:
My plane leaves at eight tonight.
Future events which are part of a timetable:
I drink coffee every morning.
Habits or things we do regularly:
Water boils at 100 degrees.
Things which are always true
The water is boiling now, so you can put in the pasta.
Things which are happening at the moment of speaking
When he graduated, he had been in London for six years.
(= He arrived in London six years before he graduated and lived there until he graduated, or even longer.)
At three o'clock, I was working.
(I started before three o'clock and finished after three o'clock.)
I was walking to the station when I met John.
(I started walking before I met John, and maybe I continued afterwards.)
I've been reading the book you recommended.
(I'm enjoying it, but I'm not finished)
I've read the book you recommended.
(I've finished it, so we can talk about it)
I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible!
(Now there is no result. I got new keys yesterday)
The pavement was wet, it had been raining.
(The rain had finished before the time I'm describing in the past. We could see the result of the rain.)
I've lost my keys!
(The result is that I can't get into my house now)
They've waited for hours.
(This doesn't emphasize the length of time).
They've been waiting for hours!
(This emphasizes the length of time)
I've lived here for 11 months and three weeks.
(This is correct, but the time is not an easy number.)
My brother has been to Mexico three times.
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience):
I'm getting better and better at speaking English.
Situations which are slowly changing
I'm drinking too much coffee these days because I'm so busy at work.
Temporary or new habits
In this photo, my mother is walking beside a lake.
To talk about people in pictures and photos:
I'll call you when I get home.
To talk about the future after certain words ('when' 'until' 'after' 'before' 'as soon as'):
At the end of the book, the detective catches the killer.
To talk about what happens in books, plays and films
I've been on holiday. I went to Spain and Portugal.
a time of rest from work, school etc SYN vacation American English
Where's Kate?' 'She's off this week.'
when someone is temporarily away from their work or studies, people often say they are off, rather than on holiday
Julie lives in London.
Permanent situations
I saw John last week.
With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday):
I've seen John this week.
With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today):
The 4th of July is a national holiday in the US.
a day fixed by law on which people do not have to go to work or school
He caught malaria while on holiday in Africa.
a period of time when you travel to another place for pleasure SYN vacation
