Ex.: Last night when I came home I ate, listened to music, drank wine, then I went to bed.

What did you do at 5:15pm? WRONG!!!

What did you in the afternoon? YES

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Past Continuous: was doing + a)did / b)time ref.

For details in stories

a) 2+ actions happening at one moment in the past

Yesterday when I came home Lisa was reading a book while also listening to music. 

Last night when I came home I made dinner. While eating, I was listening to music and drinking wine. 

b) very detailed time reference

What were you doing at 5pm?

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Used-to: used to do /  didn’t use to do (früher)

Use without time reference

To compare past and present: 

I used to play….. now I don’t play

Cause (in the past) - you have cut your hair (we say this)

Effect - your hair is short (we usually don’t say this)

e.g. I have seen the film.

       I have cut my hair. (Cause) effect: is logical

Today, this morning, this year: is not over.

have you had a concert this semester? general question
have you had a concert this semester, yet? expectation

E.g. I have jumped from a plane before.

I have recently moved to Vienna. 
I have moved to Vienna, quite recently I may add. (spoken)

Recently: not long ago, vague time reference

I have recently moved to Vienna. (In the last 3 months)

                 We have recently started using mobile phones. (in the last 15 years)

Already:  earlier than expected, POSITIVE

I have already eaten. I’ve eaten already. 

Just: not long ago, rather spoken, POSITIVE

I have just eaten. I have just received your email.

               

Yet: speaker expects something, QUESTONS, NEGATIVE

Have you done your HW, yet? Elisabeth: no, I have not done it, yet.

For/since: periods until now

I have lived here for 2y/since January.

For - a period that goes until now (for 5 months)

Since - starting from a specific time (since March/5pm/2015)

I have been in Vienna since 20 years. INCORRECT

Up until now: I have never tried eating something strange (up) until now.

Ever/never: I never lived here before. I have never live here.

Today: I have not had a coffee today yet. 

This week/month/year….: I have not seen any people this week. (Corona news)

I have seen the film.
I've not had breakfast yet.

Now: at this moment,
I've lived here for 10 years now. 

I teach German for 5 years now. INCORRECT
I am teaching English (right now).

She has taught German here for over 5 years now. (Now she teaches German.)

I have lived in Vienna for 10 years now. (Now I live in Vienna.) 

Is the radio still broken?

I have repaired the radio. Result: radio is fixed.

I have eaten already. (Ich habe schon gegessen)

I have been eating for 2 hours. (Ich esse jetzt schon seit 2 stunden)

Action may or may not be finished

Last relevant action

How long + present perf.

Concentrates more on the activity NOT the result

Periods up until now

The room has been cancelled.

What have you done? - was hast du gemacht/erledigt/angerichtet

What have you been doing (how long/ in the last 2 months)? - 

was best du und warst am machen (in den letzten 2 Monaten)

How long did you live in NY? I lived there for 5 years.

How long have you been studying? I have been studying for 5 years.

I have had 2 coffees today. 

I have been drinking this coffee for 20 min.

Drink/eat - have

I have grown up in London. Logical Result in present: adult, live in LDN, childhood…..

I grew up in LDN. I know nothing about the present.

I have learned English in Vienna - finished/completed task

I have been learning Mozart

Learn - completed, passive action, rather natural learning process

Study - look at something with great detail, active action (einstudieren)

To play Mozart you have to study 

I had been painting my flat 5 years ago.

I finished writing the letter before you came home. 

When you came home last night, I had still been paining the bedroom, so we had to sleep outside.

Have been - connected to the present

I painted the room 5 years ago. 

When you came back to Vienna, I had been painting the room for 5 years. Painting before for 5 y

When you came back, I was painting. 2 actions at the same time.

You came back 2 months ago. I have been paining the room since then/for 2 months.

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I go to Spain next month. Not good!!!

E.g. The train arrives at 5:25pm.

        What time do you finish work? Regular time

I am staying at home tonight. There is no chance.

e.g. I am going to Spain on Tuesday at 5pm. My flight leaves at 5:05.

I am meeting Steve tomorrow at 3pm at the Loft. The loft closes at 10pm.

e.g. I am going to stay at home tonight. I don’t intent on going, but there is a chance 

e.g. It is going to rain. (I can see the black clouds)

You are going to have an accident if you drive like that.

It is going to get better.

I am going to buy a new car. That is my intention

The car is very expensive. I can’t afford it.

3.1. Failed intentions: in the past

I was going to buy a new car, but it was too expensive. 

I was going to fly to Korea, but then corona happened. 

Offer to help:

Shall I help you?

Should he come over to help?

Would you like Steve to come and help?

Should I open the window? -rather asking for permission

Could I open the window? - asking for permission

May I open the window? - kid asking for permission

Can I open the window? - stronger, more confident