LANGUAGE and TOOLS PRESENT TENSES
SIMPLE PRESENT
FORM: add an –s to the 3° person singular form (he, she,it);
 use do/does (he, she,it) as a help verb (auxiliary) to make negative and interrogative sentences;
 use do/does as a help verb in short answers.
TENSE MEANING: the tense meaning is “TIME”; the verb action is complete and finished in the Present. Action is seen as
“closed” in the present.
Present
USES:
GENERAL - to talk about things in general
THINGS - to talk about something that is true in
general
- to say about permanent situations or long-
PERMANENT term activities
SITUATIONS
- to say that something happens all the time
HABITUAL or repeatedly
ACTIONS - to talk about habitual actions (usually,
generally, normally, always, often, every …,
once a …, two/three times a ….)
- to say how often we do things
- to talk about future actions which are
FUTURE certain
MEANING - to talk about programmes, fixed plans,
timetables for public transport or services
1) verbs expressing a “brain activity”: to
STATE VERBS: believe/to think, to forget, to know, to
OPINIONS notice, to recognize, to remember/to
AND FEELINGS forget, to understand, to realise, to
suppose, to mean, to seem.
2) verbs expressing an “emotional
activity”: to desire/to want/ to refuse,
to hate/to like/ to love, to agree/to
disagree, to suggest/to advise, to
insist, to promise, to apologise, to
need.
3) verbs of possess: to have, to own, to
belong.
4) verbs of perception: to see, to hear, to
smell, to feel, to taste, to sound.
Silvia Roma
The earth goes round the sun.
Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
It takes a long time to write an essay.
The future looks bright.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
It doesn’t rain very much in summer.
What does this word mean?
Where do you come from?
He works for the government.
I live in Paris.
He’s always so lazy, he doesn’t do anything to help.
I live in France but I work in Italy.
The company owns a contemporary art gallery.
I usually go away at weekends.
Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.
I get up at 6.30 every morning.
How often do you go to the dentist’s?
The term finishes in June.
The concert starts at 8.30 pm.
The café opens at 9 o’ clock.
The train leaves at 3.15 pm.
What time does the plane arrive?
I start my new job on Monday.
He believes in God.
I don’t understand what you are saying.
I know how to do it.
I think you’re right.
I forget phone numbers easily.
She loves her parents.
Which do you prefer? I prefer the blue one.
He wants a new car.
I hate scented candles.
I promise I won’t be late.
What do you suggest I do? I suggest that you leave at
once.
I apologise for what I did.
The soup tastes good.
The silk feels very soft.
The roses smell wonderful.
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LANGUAGE and TOOLS PRESENT TENSES Silvia Roma

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
FORM:
 use the verb be + verb +-ing. Don’t forget to use contractions when speaking;
 use the verb be in short answers.

TENSE MEANING: the tense meaning is “ASPECT”; the verb action is un-complete and un-finished in the
Present,
the speaker “sees” the action in progress. Action is seen as “open” in the present.
present

USES:
ACTIONS - to talk about actions which are Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work.
HAPPENING happening at the time of speaking Where’s Mark? He’s having a shower.
- the action is not finished, What are you doing? I’m watching TV now.
AROUND THE complete Let’s go out. It isn’t raining anymore.
TIME OF - time expressions: at this moment, Are you enjoying the party?
SPEAKING now, at the moment What’s going on? What’s happening?
Turn off the radio. I’m not listening to it.
The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.
He’s studying in the library at the moment.
I’m tired. I’m going to bed now.
Are you ready yet? Yes, I’m coming.
Who’s calling please?

- Actions in the middle of doing,
ACTIONS IN actions you have started doing
THE MIDDLE and haven’t finished yet, so they
OF DOING are not necessarily happening at
the time of speaking
I’m reading a really good book at the moment.
Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.
I’m attending a very nice gym.

- Temporary conditions I’m living with some friends until I find a place of my
TEMPORARY
own.
SITUATIONS John is living in Britain for a few months.

- For arrangements in a short time
FUTURE period (24/48 h or a week time)
- A fixed programme, something
MEANING
you have already decided and
arranged to do
What time are you meeting Ann this evening? I’m
meeting her at 7.00 pm.
I’m leaving tomorrow with Bob.
What are you doing on Saturday evening?
What time is Tom arriving tomorrow?
He isn’t playing soccer this afternoon because he’s
hurt his leg.
I’m having a party tonight.
I’m taking the children to the seaside on Saturday.
This is Ben’s diary for next week: he’s playing tennis
on Monday afternoon, he’s going to the dentist’s on
Tuesday morning, he’ s having dinner with Kate on
Friday.