TENSES (1)

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

• Use of the Simple Present Tense

1. To express general time
In such a use the simple present tense is usually “timeless”. It has no terminal points of
time – it can include the past, present and the future.

a. GENERAL TRUTHS. Includes the laws or principles of the physical and the social
science.

e.g. The earth revolves around the sun.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the West .

b. CUSTOMS. Includes the habitual actions of nations, communities, groups, individuals.

With the expression of frequency or not.

e.g. The English frequently drink tea in the afternoon

I take my umbrella with me when it rains

2. To express present time.

The simple present time indicates present time with many non-action verbs, especially those
expressing state or condition. Many of these verbs are durational without being limited by a
beginning or an end.

LINKING VERBS. Be, seem, appear, look

e.g. She seems to be very tired today

He is an intelligent man

VERBS OF PERCEPTION - Feel, taste, smell, used intransitively

e.g. The medicine tastes bitter

Her skin feels smooth

 When these verbs are used transitively, the present progressive form is required for the present
action :

e.g. The cook is tasting the soup

He’s feeling the surface of the table

See, hear, used transitively

e.g. I hear music coming from the other room

but I am listening to the radio

From this window they see everything that goes in the street

but We are watching (or looking at) all the people who passing by.

VERBS INDICATING A MENTAL STATE OR CONDITION.

A partial list of such verbs include agree, believe, consider, guess, hesitate, imagine,
know, prefer, realize, remember, suppose, trust, want, wish

e.g. I hope that you can come

We expect to go there next week

• VERBS EXPRESSING AN EMOTIONAL STATE. Admire, appreciate, care, like,

love, regret, trust.
e.g. We love each other

He admires his father more than he will admit

• OTHER NON-ACTION VERBS.

• Such verbs include belong, contain, depend, equal, have, hold, indicate, mean, need,
owe, require, resemble, tend
e.g. We need more chairs

I owe him ten dollars

3. With verbs of saying and telling

 e.g. He says that he cannot come tonight

We suggest that you take the warm clothes with you

4. To express future time

With verbs like come, go, arrive, depart. A future time expression is usually

required.

e.g. The plane arrives tomorrow morning

I arrive in Hong Kong on Saturday

5. For the historic present or summaries of a story plot.

e.g. The King addresses the soldiers and asks them to fight bravely for their country

6. For stage direction

e.g. Mary walks to the window and waves good-bye to her departing guests

A few verbs have irregular forms in the simple present tense :

Go, do, have in third person – be goes, does, has

Be – I am, you-we-they are, he-she-it is

• Pattern :
Subject + Verb (present) + Object + Complement

Subject + do/does + not + verb (present) + Object + Complement

Do/does + Subject + Verb (present) + Object + Complement

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE (CONTINUOUS) TENSE

The progressive forms occurs mostly with verbs that denote limited duration (work, study,
attend). However, it can also occur with verbs that express some stage in a progression – either
in the beginning, end, continuation of an action :
e.g. The play is beginning (or ending) now

The book is getting (or becoming) more and more interesting (continuation)

Like the simple present tense form, the present progressive form may signal future time if it is
accompanied by a future time expression.
e.g. The tickets are going on sale next week.

The gardener is cutting the grass tomorrow

 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE. The emphasis is on the progression of one event.

e.g. He is planning (or hoping, expecting) to enter the university

Where are you living now? – I live in California

How are you feeling? I’m feeling fine

Sometimes the progressive is used in general statement to add a feeling of present action in
progress :
e.g. They enjoy listening to good music, while they are eating their dinner.

Millions of people are watching television every night.

 Pattern :
 Subject + To be (present) + Verb-ing + Object + Complement
 Subject + To be (present) + not + Verb-ing + Object + Complement
 To be (present) + Subject + Verb-ing + Object + Complement

EXERCISES