SecHt*ru ffi present and future

pre$*int te*s€s
English has two 'present' tenses. The simple present (I play, I work etc) is used especially to talk
about regular or permanent activities and situations. The present progressive (also calied'present
continuous') is used especialiy to talk about things that are going on around the moment of speaking.
For details, see pages 23-29.
Note that in academic grammars, a distinction is made between 'tense' (present or past) and hspect'
(for example progressive). Tense shows time; progressive aspect typically shows whether an event is seen
as ongoing or completed at a particular time. In more practical grammars such as this, it is common to
use the term'tense' in both cases.

teiking ab*ret t$:* fxture

There are several ways to talk about the future in English (see pages 30-37). Three common structures
are the will-futtre, be going to and the present progressive. The differences between these are complicated
(and not generally very important). The explanations on pages 30-33 give some guidelines, but it is
not possible to give simple precise rules for the use of these structures * often we can use two or three
different forms to express the same idea.

--__. ==__l
The only bike you'll ever need recharges up to 3 devices simultaneously

Youtll
love
these
shoes Puts the fun back into driving

It mokas s@nse to go for

... will revolutlsnise your listening
lhe lotest TV technologr,t

22 PRESENTAND FUTURE
EZ runl-nl oNVlNlSlUd
'uaqrllI aql olrrr eluel I ,k1l'tBwtaqrualual 1ou utD / fiLltuarual j,uop I OI
;lP Suplool nol ila 1 1oo1 no[ op oqtrq 6
)pBor aqlJo eprs 8uo:,tt aq)vo qu!,+!tp nol ar\| 1 au.ry nol op ir174 8
'arurue.rSord srql 8ulwq wa apLl
/ I L
28u4truru nof, an 1 ruaru nol op w1,1q 9
;arall sr?llop alei iaq] ;aqlaq.n furar ou1 no{ a.Ly 1 ,ttou1 no{ oq1 5
'llE uroJ uorlerrldde slql Sutpulltrs.epun
le lou tuLl / pLnltrilapun j,uop I V
;uoit?]s snq eqt rc18uryoo1 nol aty 1 4oo1 nol oq €.
'Sutnous s,j! shtous ll -
/ {oo-i Z
'al?l eq ol Suro8 et.a-rttBuryurqj ao
/ luryj I I
'stuJoJ qlan l)aJto) aql al)lt)
GFil1+Lsau4aq+-a+us#t to N) ;uo aw,G q7 op 1o t1,14 (ssarp-LnadSu#lu+I rox) 'ssa;p .mo{ aq11 1
'(eZ-eZ saBed aas) ,.r.r.ou 1sn(,
ueaur aMJI ua^e sasua] aldruls ul pasn,(psoru are sqJe^ aruos :Jeqrueuau sqraa a,trssarSord-uou
.ouerd aqt .oI{ "' ;au8edrueqc Surrur;p s,oq14
f OI
'u proJe uef I uaqM'aIAI ){
6
"' ;au8edrueql quup oql
;erou aruos elerl I uef - ar{ I "' ;8ur1eads aqs sr a8en8uulleq6 8
'uBrssnu a{{ spunos lJ "' ;>1eads aqs seop a8en8uel 1eq11
I L
duedruoc afueJnsur 3iq e u1 g "' jurlolt aqt 8ude1d uos rno.{ s1 9
'{aaM srgtJrpre] ur ru.I
D "' :ullo1.l. eqt.(eld uos .rno.( saoq I
:aqlouduolratlalV iI "' ;8urt,ro.lt no,( a.re eJaqM ?
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'pauets rer srqt 1aB o1 paau 1 q "' nol. aru 1rq7q
;3urop Z
's]Bnueur ralndruo3 3 ... lop no,( op leq14 I
'Puelrezlr,{\s tuo4 s,aqs - qluerc g 'a a8upp.,t no,( a.re 1uq14 "(
'orper aqt qlurll fpntrv y 'a aaU,r,{t no,( op 1eq11 {
'spua pup sburuur6aq aql q)le141
'utoBa 8uts1t alo salzt $araruI '$aa aql ul sast.t uns au
's{ap asaqy sruual q)nu.L 3u1,{o1d 4ou s,at1g '[opsauparl4 ltarc xuual {o1d 1
'sa1qo1a&al anw wa o1 3u1[4 ru,1
1oe sa[an? op plllM
'luawoul aql ru 3u14to,* 1ou s,lua17 )pDqD n{s4ton nulg
;lana Suluunr pftp jaql st {4,14 oas 1)0lg aql olu! surrr aqnu0(I aw
'aa{oc ,Lnol. ffulyulrp s.rapd - 4oo7 'aa[oc qu1,rp l,uoyr
l.quaqt oN
',wou |sn[ au,L tfit,tt 3w,L1l a,ru q.uaw{ [yJ ;not 4uop'uolqBug w anfino
Sq8ueqc are 1uq1 s8uql * fla Jaaeu 'saurrleluos 'uago ,(lpaleadar
nou punoJe Suruaddeq eJB ]er{l s8urql € 'elup aql IIB uaddBq lEq1 s8ulql o
.u.ou Suruadder{ are }Br{} s8ulq} a an4 s,(e,rqe aJ? leql s8ulqr 6
Sur4ton )le pu aw nor{ '4ou luo 1 lrol1 lou saop trt/a\s/aq )FoM lou op [aq1pnpoll1
;&up1tott )le not(. afi '[ tuv ;4roAi il/aqs/aq saop la41pn1no[11 op
;4.Lont
Surltou )la alo not'wo 7 $l.totn 1!/e4s/aq lnil,{arypuqo[11 +
IIAISSIIUDOEd J,NASAUd INASIIUd ATdWIS
$rseq aql asl^al :sosual luasaJd
instructions, com mentaries, stories
Present tenses are common in instructions, commentaries and stories. The simple present is used for
things that happen one after another, and the present progressive for longer background situations.
(This is exactly like the way the simple past and past progressive are used together - see page 41,.)
'How do I get to the police station?' 'You go straight on for half a mile, then you come to a garage.
You take the next lefi, then as you're coming up to a railway bridge, look out for a sign on the right.'
I Ttut some butter in a frying pan. While the butter is melting, I break three eggs into a bowl and beat them ...
Chekhov shoots, Burns punches it away, and it's a corner. Meanwhile Fernandez is warming uyt, ready
to replace ...
So he's just having breakfast when the doorbell rings. He opens the door and sees this beautiful woman
outside. She's wearing ...
Note the use of the present progressive for slorver-moving commentaries.
The Oxford boat is movingfurther and further ahead. And what's happening now? Cambridge are getting
very low in the water. Are they sinking? .,.

. Put in simple present or present progressive verbs.

1 While the meat , L..... the potatoes and
... them ln cold uater. (roasf, peel, put)
2 Giacomo ... . Ililler deliberatell, ... the ball away
with his hand. But the referee (shoot, knock, not look)
3 So he ... into the bar. -{nd there's his girlfriend.

lil ;;;:"JiTi ':*::-.ll l":'i::i:'::}i, @ak,,atk,goup,say)

i Explain how you boil an egg or start to drive a car. Begin'First I ...'

Write instructions to tell somebody how to get f rom one place to another (for example,
from the nearest station to your home). Begin'You ,,,

Write the beginning of a short present-tense story.

24 PRESENTAND FUTURE
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e (ruo1q'nt)'tsea eql irro{
pul.lt al{l uaq,A{ plor ,(1pa; " " " "' esnol{ rno ,
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aql q """"' I ali{^, seapr lsaq'(ruJo
...I
auos ""' ' ' '11':':;'''O"::''':"" Z
(1tom '1dnt.rary1)
""'Iuar{.{Lalu"""""" """"eldoadJl 1le}eqI I
'sruJo, l)aJro) aql u! lnd
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?
'3u117ws
at no,( uaqru Qarc11oo1notr
'(..ra,tauag.rt, Sutuearu) uall/w rq7,.w uoururor sl sFIl
.8ur4eads;o
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;aqga3ol pasn eq uec a,l.rsse.r3o;d luasard pue luasard eldrurs aq1 Srq4eadsJo luaruoru aql punoJB lou
qs1;6u3 rnol sar-ur.uel6o.td 711
uollentls >[uouo:e er]] uolle:npa s.ra]ndiuo: sal]!t I
I lenerl uodsueli
.(xoq aLll ur s6u;ql
aql Jo atuos 'aldLuexa to;) 6ul6ueqr ale leql s6u;qi auos lnoqe sa)ualuos auos alllA
'aw11 {o Sutuut\aq aqi ;ou$ uaeq sL)Ll puu 'Sulpuodxa sx astavutl aql las s$quans
'ta1sa]' dn Surttott an ue.Lpltll) 'astou Swya8 st uo1onl$ 1ul14od atg
'8uryeads;o luaruoru aql punore 1sn[ 1ou
-roJ
(suor}en1rs Surdola,Lap pue Sufuerlf,
aJr aser{lJI ua^e alrssaJSord }uasa.rd eql asn e14 safiuuq:
'al'U!l o] aurll ruorJ op no^ leq] s6ulql
raqlo euos pue imou punoJe tsnl lol e 6u;op eJ,no^ ]eLll s6u!t{l aalql lo oA l }noqe alUA
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'stap "001
asaqt ,Qp1pg {o p1 a Suoas s,ayo[ ;8op aql &ulllttt a4 n ,(q,y
'luasard aldurls :suollfB paleadar raqlo
luasard :Surxeads;o luaruoru aql punoru lsnf suorl:e paltadag suol]le paSeada.l
sasuel luasetd lnoqe oroLu
more about present tenses (continued)
progressive with always We can use a progressive form wrth always and similar words to talk about
repeated but unpredictable or unplanned events.
She's always turning up with little presents for the children.
I'm always running into Joanna in the supermarket.
The structure is often used to make complaints and criticisms.
This computer's continually crashing at the most inconvenient moments.
She's forever taking days of because of one little illness or another.
This government is always thinking of new ways to take your money.

Write a sentence about somebody you know who is always doing something annoying.

."i.i'i i:.3

r' lrr,.*'/srl; jl ssl .r \rVe often use I hear or 1 see in the sense of 'I l-rave heard/seed to introdr:ce piece s of intbrmation.
I hear Karen's getting married. I see thelrs dosing Higlt Street trgttitt.
Note also the similar use of -Ir san.
It says in the paper there's a rttil strike tofilorrow.
\\;here daes it say that I need a visa?

iri'r". r--rlrr.ii li'lu';'*{r:;s \Ve use the simple present in these tlvo expressions.
Here comes the postman. This *,ind! There goes ruy httt!

:rr:l'ii:;llllr;lli'ler Sometimes r'r.e do something by saying something.

Verbs used like this are ca11ed performatives: they are norilally simple present.
I trort't tlo it agaht I pramise. I hereby declare you nan and wife.
I su,ear to tell the trfth. I name this ship'Spirit of Adventure'.
jl:ic;";:i:i
i;:ur$r;s,ti',.er Plogresslves cln sor-netimes make statements sound more tiiendiy ar-rd

informal (see page 291). Con-rpare:

\\re lookforward to Jurther rJlscrsslots irt due course.
I'm really lookittg forward to our week with yott and the kids in July.

,-iLu':liirr Remember that rve use a present perfect, not a pre-qent tense, to say how long thinqs har-e
cor-rtinued up to tl-re present.
I'ye been u,aiting since six oLlock. (sor @rce ... )

.i!
)

r"9{F1iEs
'He's swearing in full sentences now.'

26 PRESENTAND FUTURE
IZ ]UN]NJ CNV J.N]SlUd
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'suollde) uoolre) aLll roJ sruroJ qJan peJJo) aql@
qteep lo e8e a8era,te aq] 'uollelndod
'(all..t t.llcJP qslilrg lelaue8 eql uI 'lt sr uauroM roJ
Srrrsr.r tro rualqo.rd 1c:aua8 clor.Lr aql Lro ]lelJe a8ela,\€ aql 19S sr sasnel lelnlpu tuotl Sutlp
ou lo J1l]ll |'tu,tttr1 st i sLtLl a,rnlrprraclr,r aql a.LD / atp oq^,r srauoslrd
apur;o a8e a8ura.Le
pue 'ruJpr{-Jles puu JprJirls Jo slt.\JI Srit:trpar aLIt ter{} Stttltu! sr 1 spu! . lrodar }uara.r V
uo sr snJo1 at11 'a.le11a,u rarrosr.rd a-ro.rdurr o1 'saleurur ;o a8u
.rapJo ur spun] ierlLrplsqns fur,isa,urt ,i1yto.r.rrr.t ;t aql uI aseaJf,ur ue Jo uorlulndod uostrd aq1 ur
/ sJS)^ut llynt.un luaruura,to8 aq1 riSnoq111 JSU e o] anp lou sr
eseelfur aq1 '.{larnleurard
' J.Iurqllee q prepuelsqns f,l L u,t. r,t t ;-r ai Li /,) \t ) ) s.t Fur,4p atu / ary , souosrrd alour pue aJoru
euros pue 'ssa;1s ;o sla^al ralitirq ;-LrtLaJ.ftrs 'a1d1sa;n ,{reluapas e pue arerq}1eaq rood;o
oslu a-ra 1 nl/n s osTu ,(aqt uorleir-rdod aq1 asnetraq pq1 Suuoaddo st 1 aaadtlu tl 'uats{s
Jo lsoru ueql IIaM ssal SurTra ilD / Jo) pue uosrrd eq] eprsur sasneJ leJnlpu tuotl \tui1t
asrfJaxe ssai ;'ul)rl ilo / a\Dl srauosr.rd . hou afi / ary) ,\ou oq,r,r aldoad Jo raqunu
esnelaq uosr.rd ur raq8rq eq o1 lq8noql atp Jtjl olul uo!luBIl\J\ul ue ro.l Filrl1r': sr gr
salPJ LIleao '18 LraLUoM .ro] pue gl sr ueur .roJ / \llt1) : i, iti\l,rO ) r\:tt\Nli-j,ir.i.; V
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 non-progressive verbs
Some verbs are rarely or neyer used in progressive forms, even if we are talking about what
is

happening at a particular moment.

I don't like her hairstyle. (Nor @)
I called because I need to /alk. (Nor . .. @)
Many of these verbs refer to states rather than actions. Here is a list of the most common ones.

mental and emotional states; use of the senses

(= 'suppose'), know, (disfiike, love'
assL1me, believe, doubt, feel (= 'have an opinion ), hate, hear, imagine
prefer, realise, recognise, regret, remember, see, smell, suppose, taste, think (=
'have an opinion ),

under stan d, w ant, w ish.

'I love you."I don't believe you.' txot )
I doubt if the train will be on time. Who do you think will win?
I feel it\ time for a break.
communicating, causing reactions
(dis)agree, appear, astonish, deny, impress, mean, please, promise, satisfy, seem' surprise'

What do you mean? We seem to haye a problem. Your attitude surprises me.

other state verbs

matter
Jit, have (= 'possess'), include' involve, lack,
be, belong, concern, consist, cost, depend, deserve,
*rrrurr\= 'have length elc'), need, owe, own, possess' resemble, weigh (='have weight')'

Who does this car belong to? I need help. 'I'm 'h
late.' iloesn't matter''

Choose the best verbs from the boxes to complete the sentences.
consist contain depend imagine include lack not deserve own
1 'Can you do me a favour?' 'It ......... '...... '. " " " " ':
2 This ju- ........... of 5Oo/o sugar, 10% fruit, and alot of other stuff.
3 Ifthatcake.......... .nuts,Icanteatit.
4 I'm too good to you. You .... '. ' '.................... me.
5 The soup's nice, but it .. '. '.................. ' '... salt.
6 I wonder who .......... . that dog.
7 No need to tip - the bill 15olo service.

8 I ........... youd like a rest soon.

appear concern deny impress matter mean owe recognise

9 'Dontweknowthatman?' 'Muyb.. Idont........ "' him'
10 Do you know what 'incomprehensible' .................... '.. " "
' ?

11 We'regoingtobelate,butldontthinkit ...."""' much'

12 I'11 payyouwhatl ........ ... youtomorrow if that's OK'
L3'Howmuchmoneyisthecompanymaking?''Thatdoesnt """"""' you'
14 There ......... .. to be a problem wi.th the train'
15 The police are questioning three men about the attack, but they everlthing'
16'Ivegotmyownhelicopter.''Youdont ........."mei

28 PRESENT AND FUTURE

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'trapo1 paq yq a 3u1t1oo1 atcnop t1o
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'erueJaJlp aFlI qlll\t'Jou Jo a,trssarSord aq uauo uec (.uaas, Suruearu) :1oo7
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