The Prensent Tense

Simple, Progressive and Perfect

Profs. Fassi Fihri, El Biadi, Bouhout & Belghiti
 THE SIMPLE PRESENT
 FORM
Affirmative Negative and question TO BE

In the present simple we use We use the Aux do in negatives Affirmative : I am sick
the verb without an ending. and questions with verbs except Negative : I am not sick
I get the lunch ready at one for the verb TO BE. We use do Interrogative : Are you sick ?
o'clock, usually. and don't except in the third
We always do our shopping at person singular, where we use
Greenway. does and doesn't
Most children like ice-cream.
You know the answer.
But in the third person
singular (after he, she, it,
your friend, etc), the verb
ends in s or es.
It gets busy at weekends.
My husband thinks so, too.
Sarah catches the early train.
She faxes messages all over the
world.
 Verbs with third person singular subjects

Question Does or Subject Does not Base form Base form

word doesn’t or doesn’t +s

Affirmativ The race/it starts in Paris

e

Question Why does this make a noise

machine
doesn’t
/it

Negative She/he doesn’t get up early

 Verbs with other subjects

Question Do or don’t subject Do not or Base form

word don’t

Affirmative trees lose their leaves

I want to leave

Question What do you want to eat

don’t you want to eat

Negative They don’t want to eat

S-forms of verbs:
The s-form (calls) is a finite verb in the 3rd person singular
present tense: He/ she calls every day.
 Pronunciation (1): /iz/= hissing sounds
Pass passes ; buzz buzzes push pushes catch catches
 Pronunciation (2): /z/= voiced sounds
Call calls drive drives
 Pronunciation (3): /s/= voiceless sounds
Cut cuts hop hops lock locks
 USE
1. General facts
Ice melts at 0°
Steel is a strong metal.
Two and two make four.

2. Habits and routines-Repeated events in the

present
They drive to the office every day.
The news usually starts at 6.00 every evening.
He always has breakfast and drinks a cup of coffee.
She usually eats lunch at 12:00 in the cafeteria.
She doesn't come here very often.
3.Things staying the same and true for a long time
My name is Lupita Gonzalez. I work in a large company in Monterrey, Mexico.
My supervisor’s name is Mr. Torres. He is an engineer.

4. Instantaneous events in the present

I warn you that this gun is loaded.
Serena Williams serves to Kim Clijsters and runs to the net.
(Commentaries: Sports commentators use the present simple)
I place the fruit in the blender, press gently and then pour out the liquid
(Demonstrations/instructions)

5.Verbs which change things

I pronounce you man and wife
I declare the fete open.
6. Reference to past events: Past narrative
In newspaper headlines
Shias reach deal to form Iraqi government
In relating incidents
He was only an average athlete, and then suddenly, he wins two Olympic medals.
 -I was just about to go to bed when all of a sudden there’s a knock at the door
and Sam rushes in.
Historic present
It’s one of Evelyns Augh’s best, I think, because he’s got this situation where a man is
going off to report on some trouble somewhere in America. I’ve forgotten the
details now but he gets on the wrong train and ends up in the wrong place—and
finds that he’s in a place that’s perfectly quiet and perfectly innocent and there’s no
story—and so he just writes one—and within a week he’s managed to create riots,
you know, the whole place is in a furore.
In reporting information
The weatherman forecasts heavy showers in the north
Peter tells me he has changed his job
I hear you’re moving house very soon.
7. We use the simple present to talk about future facts, usually found
in a timetable or a chart.
Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year.
The plane leaves at 5.00 tomorrow morning.
Ramadan starts in a week.
Does the class begin at 10 or 11 this week?

8. Present tense and states

a- Relational verbs:
This land belongs to the National Trust
Those exercises look difficult
She seems happy
b-Cognition verbs:
He knows Morocco quite well.
He thinks she doesn’t deserve to win.
c-Perception verbs
I can see them coming.
Can you hear them?
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 FORM
Present tense of ‘be’ (am, is/‘s or are/’re) + an –ing verb
form.

Affirmative Question/ interrogative Negative

I’m/am/ printing my thesis. Am I….? I am not printing the thesis

They/you/we are printing the Are you/they/we….? They/we/you are not driving
thesis
He/ she’s/ is singing Is she following the She is not following the
beautifully. instructions? instructions
 USE
1. Actions taking place at the moment of speaking
It's raining at the moment.
Right now, I'm watching this programme.
Look. That man is taking a photo of you

2. Routine or situation that we see as temporary

(for a short period)
At the moment they're living in a very small flat.
I usually drive to work, but today I am taking the bus.
For the moment being, I'm looking for a new apartment.
He's thinking about leaving his job.
They're considering making an appeal against the judgment.
3. States and the progressive
*I am liking the course
*He was knowing English
STATES (simple)
I think you're right. (= believe)
We have three cars. (= own)
I come from Sweden. (= live in)
I see your problem. (= understand)
Do you see that house? (= have in sight)
This picture looks nice.
The bag weighs five kilos.
The coat fits. (= is the right size)
ACTIONS (simple or continuous)
I'm thinking about the problem
We're having lunch. (— eating)
I'm coming from Sweden. (= travelling)
Mark is seeing his boss. {= meeting)
I'm looking at this picture.
They are weighing my bag.
I'm fitting a lock to the window.
4-Durative situations and the progressive
He is writing out the invitations.
She is growing up into a beautiful girl.

5-The habitual progressive

She’s always writing some short stories.
He’s teaching in a comprehensive school

6.The future
I'm meeting her at 6.30.
They aren't arriving until Tuesday.
We are having a special dinner at a top restaurant for all
the senior managers.
 PRACTICE 1
1. The children…………..(play) outside now.
2. She usually…………(read) the newspaper in the morning.
3. I …………….(do) my homework now.
4. …………………(you/want) pizza ?
5. My mother usually …………(cook) dinnr in the evening.
6. He………..(write) a letter to his pen-friend every month.
7. We ………..(go) to the movie tonight.
8. He………….(go) to work by bus everyday.
9. The children …………(play) the piano and…………(sing) a
song at the moment.
10. They …………….(sometimes/have) lunch at work, but today
they……….(eat) at a restaurant.
 THE PRESENT PERFECT
FORM
The present perfect = the present tense of have + a past
participle.

I/you/we/they have washed OR I/you/we/they've washed

he/she/it has washed OR he/she/it's washed

Affirmative sentence Interrogative sentence Negative sentence

I/you/we/they have visited Have I/you/we/they I/you/we/they have not

Portugal many times visited…? visited Portugal
he/she/it has visited Portugal Has he/she/it visited he/she/it has not visited
many times Portugal many times ? Portugal many times
 Regular forms
Regular past participles end in ed, e.g. washed, landed,
finished.
We've washed the dishes. Have you opened your letter?
The aircraft has landed safely. How many points has Matthew
scored?

 Irregular forms (Check the Gr Books for lists of irregular

vervs)

I've made a shopping list. We've sold our car. I've thought
about it a lot.
Have you written the letter? She hasn't drunk her coffee.
 USE
1. An action or situation that started in the past and
continues in the present
I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
They haven't lived here for years.
She has worked in the bank for five years.
Have you played the piano since you were a child?

2. An action performed during a period that has not yet

finished
I have worked hard this week.
It has rained a lot this year.

3. A repeated action in an unspecified period between the

past and now
We have visited Portugal several times
They have seen that film six times.
She has visited them frequently.
We have eaten at that restaurant many times.
4. An action that was completed in the very recent past
I have just finished my work.
Have you just finished work?

5. An action when the time is not important

He has read 'War and Peace'. (The result of his reading is
important)
Someone has eaten my soup!
Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?

6. After ‘the first/second… time’

Is this the first time she has flown?
 Just, already & yet
Examples
I've already drunk three coffees this morning
Don't write to John, I've already done it
Have you already written to John?
Has she already finished her homework ?
I have already been to Tokyo.
Have you met Judy yet?
I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet.
Has he arrived yet?
They haven't eaten yet
Sarah has just heard about the concert
Meaning and place
Already means
'sooner than expected'.
already comes before the past participle
We use yet when we are expecting something to
happen
Yet comes at the end
of a question or a negative sentence.
Just means 'a short time ago'
Just comes before the past
participle (heard, sold).
 For & since
Examples Meaning of “for” and “since”
I have worked here for five years We use for to say how long this period is {for
three days).
She has lived here for twenty years.
We have taught at this school for a long time.
Alice has been married for three months.
They have been at the hotel for a week
I have worked here since 1990 We use since to say when the period
began (since Friday).
She has lived here since 1980. We have taught at
this school since 1965.
Alice has been married since March 2nd.
They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday
 Ever & never

Examples
Have you ever visited Berlin ?
Have you ever been to England ?
Has she ever met the Prime Minister ?
Nobody has ever said that to me before.
Nothing like this has ever happened to us.
It's the first time (that) I've ever eaten snails.
This is the first time I've ever been to
England.
I have never visited Berlin
Meaning
We can use ever and never with the present
perfect.
We use ever in questions. In Have you ever
visited Berlin ? the word ever means 'in your
whole life up to the present time'.
Never means 'not ever'.
THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
 FORM
has (‘s) or have (‘ve) + been + -ing verb form
Affirmative Question Negative
I/they/you/we have been Have you/they been driving? I/they/you/we haven’t been
driving How long have you/they been learning Italian for long
driving?

She has been wearing glasses How long has she/he been She/he has not been wearing
for years wearing glasses? glasses for a long time
 USE
We have been driving for hours.
How long have you been trying to contact me?
1. States and actions
I've known the secret for a long time, NOT I've been knowing the secret.
We've never been very happy here, I'm afraid.

2. For, since, how long and recently.

My sister has been staying with me for three weeks now.
You've been playing on that computer since seven o'clock.

3.We use how long in questions.

How long have you been waiting?

Note also recently and lately. These both mean 'in the last few days or weeks'.
I haven't been feeling very well recently. What have you been doing lately?
 NOTE- ACTIVE VS PASSIVE VOICE

Sentences 1 Sentences 2 Form

We bake the bread here The bread is baked here. Verb “be” in the simple
present+past participle
We are baking the bread. The bread is being baked. Verb “be” in the present
continuous+ past participle
We have baked the bread. The bread has been baked. verb “be” in the present
perfect+past participle
 PRACTICE 2
1. They ______________________ in California for the last 20 years and
______________________ moving there. (LIVE, NOT REGRET)
2. I'm so tired and miserable. I ______________________ well in the last few days. (NOT
FEEL)
3. The eastern European countries ______________________ members of the EU for the
last 15 years. (BE)
4. ___________________________ on an interesting project lately? (YOU WORK)
5. She ______________________ to a few specialists, but they can't help her. (GO)
6. I ______________________ problems with my car recently, but the mechanic
______________________ the faulty part yet. (HAVE, NOT FIND)
7. We ______________________ cards for the last few hours and we are still enjoying it.
(PLAY)
8. ______________________________ an important title? (THE TEAM, EVER, WIN)
9. It ________________________ hard for the last three hours and some of the roads
______________________ impassable. (RAIN, BECOME)
10. I ______________________ four emails this morning, but nobody
______________________. (WRITE, REPLY)
 PRACTICE 3
1. 1. “What you…………..(do)?”
“I……………..(wait) for John.”
2. “You…………….(not, finish) that book?
“No, I …………..(only, read) half of it”.
3. Please be quit! I ……………..(try) to hear what the man……………(say).
4. “What’s that? You …………(smoke)!”
“Not really, I only…………..(smoke) a cigarette after lunch.”
5. This park…………(open) half an hour after sunrise and …………(close) half an hour before sunset.
6. He………….(have) three days off whenever his wife………..(have) a baby.
7. “Why you…………..(not, work)?”
“My wife ………….(have) a baby.”
7. “You …………(receive) Tom’s invitation?”
“Oh yes, I received it yesterday. I………..(be) glad to meet him, for I (not, see)………….him for a long time.
8. “Oh, it’s you Tim! You (not, be) …………..in touch with me for a long time! I ………(be) glad to see you
again.
“Well, I …………..(be) busy lately.
9. My sister Ann (be)……….one of the kindest people I (ever, know)………….During her spare time, Ann
often (do)…………something thoughtful for other people.
THANK YOU