Chapter+3


 * [[image:present-tense1.jpg width="371" height="261" align="left" caption="Present Tense"]]

Chapter 3: The present tense**

__ 3.1 Simple and continuous present tense __ Present tense: S omething that is happening in the present. Present Simple e.g.: He //__walks__// in the rain Present Continuous e.g.: He is //__walking__// in the rain

__ 3.2 Forms and Spelling of the simple present tense __ Most verbs have 2 forms in the simple present tense  -  The base form  -   The base + s form The base form is used with all persons __except__ for the 3rd person singular. I / You / We / They //__walk__// The base + s form is used for the 3rd person singular. He / She / It //__walks__//

Please note: If the base ends in a hissing sound it is followed by __es__. If the base ends with an __e__, only an __s__ is added. Examples: Ki__ss__ - Kiss__es__ Fi__sh__ - Fish__es__ Chang__e__ - Change__s__ Seiz__e__ - Seize__s__ The verbs do and go get __es__: Go - Goes Do - Does

When a verb ends in a consonant + __y__, the y changes into __ie__ Tr__y__ - Tr__ie__s Cr__y__ - Cr__ie__s This rule does not apply to: Play - Plays Obey - Obeys This is because these words end with an __E__ which __is a vowel__.

__ 3.3 Usage of the present tense __ When is the present tense used:  -  To express something/an action that is happening now  -  When there is no particular time given  -  To express a habit  -  To express the future  -  And __sometimes__ to describe events in the past (mainly in story telling)

__ 3.4 Present tense to express what is happening now. __ Actual present: describes something that is happening now or at the moment of speaking or writing.  -  I __see__ a ghost  -  I am __walking__ in the rain

Simple present tense Used when there is __no idea of ‘being in progress’ or ‘limited duration’ .__  -  These apples __taste__ good.  -  We __love__ Ped. Grammar.

Continuous present tense Used when there is __an idea of ‘being in progress’ or ‘limited duration’ .__  -  It is __snowing__.  -  The water for the tea is __boiling__.

[|Another Explanation] [|And Another Explanation]

- We use the simple present time when there is no particular time thought of, e.g. (for example) __General truths__! - The use of the simple present this way is sometimes called: __the neutral present.__ - The __Continuous present tense__ is __never__ used in this case!
 * __ 3.5 Simple present when no particular time is thought of. __**

You can say: 1) The earth goes around the earth. 2)  The committee consists of ten members. You can’t say: 1) The earth is going around the earth. <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">2)  The committee is consisting of ten members. - It is not important if the fact or generalisation is true.

Ex. 1) California is not in the United States. Ex. 2) New York is a small city. Ex. 3) Cats like milk.

**__ 3.6 Simple and continuous present to express a habit. __** - This is sometimes called the __habitual present.__ - It is very often used with adverbs of repeated time.

Ex.1) My school week **usually** starts every Monday. Ex.2) She **frequently** arrives here before I do. Ex.3) He **never** forgets to do his homework Ex.4) I **often** work till late in the evening.

- The continuous present tense is never used to express a habit in an objective way. It is however used when the habit is __a source of irritation.__ Ex.1) She is always complaining! Ex.2) The Thomson brothers are always talking in my class! Ex.3) The police are frequently searching through my bags like a common criminal! **__ 3.7 Present tense to express future. __** Ex. simple tense: The boat sails in half an hour Ex. Continuous tense: We are leaving tomorrow. - The use of the present simple this way is sometimes called: __The future present.__

<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">A) ** Use of the simple present ** - To refer to the future.

Ex. The school starts on 1 September. Ex. The next train for New York leaves at 16:30.

In these examples the tense is **simple present** and it refers to the **future.** The school **is** **to start** on **1 September** and the next train **leaves** for New York **at 16:30.**

<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;">- __ This can be mainly used to cases in which the future event can be seen as an event unalterably fixed in the future. __ It’s not going to change any time soon! <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msolist: Ignore;">- In this case also other ways of referring to the future can be used:

Ex. The next train for New York leaves/is leaving/will leave at 16:30 <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">B) ** Use of the continuous present ** - To express an arrangement for the near future.

Ex. They are arriving tomorrow Ex. The plane is taking off in a few minutes Ex. Are you staying at home tonight?

<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; msoansilanguage: EN-GB; msobidifontfamily: Calibri; msobidithemefont: minor-latin; msolist: Ignore;">C) ** Present tense in clauses indicating time or condition: ** - The present simple must be used to refer to the future in clauses indicating time or condition. (both simple and continuous)

- A clause indicating time usually starts with //till, before, when, while// Ex. We will wait till you are back (simple) Ex. We will keep our fingers crossed while you are doing your driving test. (Continuous) - A clause indicating condition usually starts with //if, unless, case, provided//. Ex. We will arrive in time, if you drive fast. (simple) Ex. We’re going for a walk this afternoon unless it is raining. (continuous)

** __3.8 Present tense to describe events in the past__ ** Ex. In 1066 William conquers England.

- The present tense both simple and continuous may be used to give a vivid description of ‘something’ that happens in the past. This is sometimes called the __historic present.__

Ex. In about 1585 Shakespeare leaves Stratford and after wandering about for some time, arrives in London in about 1586. (simple)

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ex. I am walking quietly along Whitehall, when suddenly I am stopped by a policeman. (continuous)

**Exercise 1:** What does the present tense express in the following sentences? 1) Every Monday we run to practise for the Olympics. 2) Could you please be quiet, I'm rehearsing my speech. 3) Napoleon sees himself already victorious, no one can stop my army now! 4) The popular kids are always bribing the teachers for higher grades. 5) Tomorrow we are going to see the opera whether you like it or not. 6) What goes up, must go down 7) I will no longer be your friend if you continue to date my ex.

1) Habit, simple 2) What's happening now 3) The past vividly, simple 4) Habit, continuous 5) The future, continuous 6) General truth 7) Future with a clause of condition


 * Exercises:**
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[|Thom Yorke - Present Tense]**
 * Song

__//©Nick Scheffers & Wietske Schut 2009© Bronvermelding P.L. Koning and Dr. P.J. van der Voort; An English Grammar for Students in Higher Education, pages 11 to 14; Wolters-Noordhoff; Groningen; 1997.

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