PRESENT PERFECT, SIMPLE PRESENT, SIMPLE PAST, OR CONTINUOUS?

1.       I had breakfast 2 hours ago.

2.       I am having breakfast.

3.       I have had breakfast recently.

4.       I have been having breakfast for 10 minutes.

NUMBER 1: my breakfast finished at a specific time in the past. (Simple past)

NUMBER 2: describes an activity that is in progress right now (present progressive)

NUMBER 3: tells us the action happened but occurred at an unspecified time in the past.. (Present perfect)

NUMBER 4: in this example the action began in the past and is progress now. (Present perfect progressive)

WILL OR BE GOING TO?

When do we use “wil” or be going to” for future?

v  I am going to see a famous person.

v  I will see a famous person

Both examples are correct because they are predicting about the  future.

v  I bought some eggs. I am going to prepare scrambled eggs for dinner. I use “going to “ to express a prior plan. I thought about it before the moment of speaking.

v  I am tired and I can´t lift this box. I need help! 

v  I will help you.    “Will” is correct because the decision the speaker makes is at the moment of speaking.

If you want to use “probably”, follow this rule:

Affirmative:       You will probably leave early.

                            You are probably going to leave early.

Negative:          You probably won´t leave late.

                           You probably aren´t going to leave late,

Let´s see the immediate future by using the idiom  “be about to …”

Example:  I always go to work at 7:45 a.m. it is 7:44, so I am about to go to work.