Simple Present

Time expressions:

Every day, week, month, year…

always, sometimes, usually, rarely, seldom, never,

on Mondays, etc.

once/twice/ three times a week,month

Usage

• • Permanent situations or states
  • General truths or laws
  • Repeated/habitual actions (especially with frequency adverbs: sometimes, often, usually, always, etc)
  • To express likes/dislikes ( with the following verbs: like, enjoy, hate, think, etc.)
  • Timetables/programmes ( with future reference)

Form

Infinitive

he/she/it+-s,es,ies

Examples

Affirmative:

I arbejde

He arbejdes

I gøre

He gørees

Negative

I don’t arbejde

He doesn’t arbejde

I don’t gøre

He doesn’t gøre

Interrogative

Do I work?

Does he arbejde?

Do I gøre?

Does he gøre?

Present Continuous

Time expressions:

Now,

At the moment,

Nowadays,

Still,

Look!

Listen!

Currently,

At present,

Usage

• • Temporary situations
  • Changing or developing situations,(when describing trends, economical, social changes, etc)
  • Actions happening now or around the moment of speaking
  • Frequently repeated actions with always, continuosly, continually, expressing criticism and annoyance
  • Future meaning: fixed arrangements ( appointments, dates, booked tickets, etc.) in the future

Form

To be ( am, are, is)+ Infinitive+ ing

Examples

Affirmative:

I am arbejdeing.

He is arbejdeing.

I am gøreing.

He is gøreing.

Negative

I’m not arbejdeing.

He’s not arbejdeing.

I’m not gøreing.

He‘s not gøreing.

Interrogative

Am I arbejdeing?

Is he arbejdeing?

Am I gøreing?

Is he gøreing?

Present Perfect Simple

Time expressions:

just, already, yet, recently, yet, so far, up to now, since, for, this week/month, never, ever

Usage

• • Recently completed actions
  • Complete past actions which are connected with the present, with unstated time reference
  • Personal life experiences/changes which have happened

Form

Have/Has + (Infinitive +ed/d/ied)

eller

have/has +Past Participle ( III column of the table with irregular verbs)

Examples

Affirmative:

I have arbejdeed.

He has arbejdeed.

I have done.

He has done.

Negative

I haven’t arbejdeed.

He hasn’t arbejdeed.

I haven’t done.

He hasn’t done.

Interrogative

Har I arbejdeed?

Has he arbejdeed?

Har I done?

Has he done?

Present Perfect Continuous

Time expressions:

all day, morning

how long

since

for

the whole day

Usage

• • Actions started in the past and continuing in the present
  • Past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present
  • Emphasis: length of time of an action

Form

have/has +been + Infinitive + ing

Examples

Affirmative:

I have been arbejdeing.

He has been arbejdeing.

I have been gøreing.

He has been gøreing.

Negative

I haven’t been arbejdeing.

He hasn’t been working.

I haven’t been gøreing.

He hasn’t been gøreing.

Interrogative

Har I been arbejdeing?

Has he been arbejdeing?

Har I been gøreing?

Has he been gøreing?