Tenses to use in Interviews

Question 1

Which tense to use for current states and habits?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 1

Present Simple
subject + bare infinitive form of the verb (bare infinitive) + s for third person singular

Question 2

Which tense to use for actions currently in progress?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 2

Present Continuous
subject + “to be” + -ing form of the verb

Question 3

Which tense to use for completed actions in the past?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 3

Past Simple
subject + past tense form of the verb

Question 4

Which tense to use for
* completed actions in the past
* specific experience
* accomplishments?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 4

Present Perfect Simple
subject + has/have + past participle form of the verb

Question 5

Which tense to use for actions started in the past that are still happening, especially to emphasize the duration of the actions?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 5

Present Perfect Continuous
subject + has/have + -ing form of the verb with “for” and “since”

Question 6

Which tense to use for actions that will be in progress at a specific point in the future?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 6

Future Continuous
subject + will be + -ing form of the verb

Question 7

Which tense to use for actions that will already have occured at a specific point in the future?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 7

Future Perfect
subject + have been + past participle

Question 8

Which tense to use for likely hypothetical situations in the future?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 8

First Conditional
If + Present Simple - will/won’t + infinitive

Question 9

Which tense to use for unlikely or impossible hypothetical situations in the present or future?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 9

Second Conditional
If + Past Simple - would/wouldn’t + infinitive

Question 10

Which tense to use for hypothetical situations in the past?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 10

Third Conditional
If + Past Perfect - would/wouldn’t have + past participle

Question 11

Which tense to use for hypothetical situations in different periods in time?
Describe the form of the tense.

Answer 11

Combination of Conditionals
E.g., the third and second conditionals can be used to talk about the effect on the present of a hypothetical situation in the past.