PRESENT TENSE SIMPLE Form: aff. S + vb-s/-es (pers III sg.) neg. S + do/does (pers III sg.

) + not + vb interrog. Do/Does + S + vb? Uses: Present Tense Simple with reference to present time: To express generic present, permanent, timeless states, eternal truths or truths in proverbs and sayings. e. g. Water boils at 1000C. Ice melts at above 00 C. The Earth rotates every 24 hours. Still waters run deep. The early hen catches the worm. To express habitual, iterative (= repetitious, frequentative) present: every day/ week/ month/ year, always, generally, normally, frequently, once a day, from time to time, often, seldom, rarely. e. g. I dont go to the university every day. I am free on Wednesdays. She often visits her friends in the country. To express the speakers thoughts, feelings and reactions at the present moment. e. g. Hes very busy. They look very much alike. To express physical feelings affecting the speaker or somebody else. e. g. I feel sleepy. My back aches. (*My back is aching. Im feeling cold. express temporariness) For a state or an action extending over a period of time but focusing on the present. e. g. We live in Bacu. Shes the bakers wife. We live on a small income. Instantaneous events: a) in sports commentaries: He turns, shoots and scores. b) in stage directions: He sits and listens attentively. c) in step by step instructions: You pour the oil, add the vinegar, sprinkle the salt, stir well and your salad is ready. d) in exclamatory sentences beginning with here or there.(= subjunctive) or other initial directional (such as the averb off): Here comes the bride! There goes my luck! Off they go! e) performatives/declarations: I tell you that ; We acknowledge your letter. I predict good weather. e.g. With verbs such as to continue, to go on, to keep on (doing smth) as they contain in themselves the idea of continuity, and so, it is not necessary to use a continuous form. e. g. The workers continue to be on strike. The children go on playing even if they are tired.

1. 2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

7.

Present Tense Simple with reference to past time: 8. For past actions and states described in a story to make it seem more vivid, give dynamism (= Narrative present/ Historic Present). e. g. He pulls the car into the front alley, he gets off and hurries indoors. When the two armies are face to face the captain comes and says: Courage! 9. In newspaper headlines for a recent action or caption to photographs. e. g. Transport fares go up. Plane crashes into the Pacific. (an amateur took a photo of the instance) 10. With a reporting verb such as hear or tell, learn, write, say, etc. to express the persistence in the present of the effect of a past communication. e. g. They tell me yachting is a fascinating pastime. Present Tense Simple with reference to future time: 11. To express an officially planned action for the future. e. g. The new museum opens next week. The plane arrives in London at 11 a. m. tomorrow. 12. In subordinate clauses of condition type I introduced by: as, if, unless, provided (that), given (that), assuming (that), presuming (that), whatever, whoever. e. g. Hell come to help you if you ask him politely. 13. In subordinate clauses of time introduced by: after, before, once, till, until, when, whenever, as soon as. e. g. As soon as they are in town, theyll let us know.

PRESENT TENSE CONTINUOUS (PROGRESSIVE) Form: aff. to be (Present Tense) + verb + - ing neg. to be (Present Tense) + not + verb + - ing interrog. to be (Present Tense) + S + verb + - ing Uses: 1. An action happening in the very moment of speaking. Markers: now, at the/ this moment, at present, just, still. e. g. It is raining heavily now. Mary is just tidying her room. At present we are watching Seinfeld. Look, the baby is (now/ just) sleeping! 2. To express a temporary action in contrast with a permanent one. e. g. We usually jog in the park but today we are running on a course. Generally grandma cooks dinner for us, but today I want to surprise her and thats why I am cooking. N. B. To talk about repeated events or actions, usually if they happen within a temporary period. e. g. Im feeding Marys cat this week while shes in hospital. 3. To express a personal, definite plan or arrangement for the immediate future. e. g. What are you doing tomorrow? I am having a party (tomorrow). Is she coming next week? Yes, she is arriving on Wednesday with the 11 o clock train. 4. To express futurity with dynamic verbs such as arrive, come, go, land, start, stop, etc. e. g. The plane is landing at 10.30. 5. To express a repeated activity which creates irritation, annoyance or expresses sarcasm or a critical attitude: always, continually, continuously, permanently, forever, e. g. My neighbours are always making noise late at night. She is continually disregarding my opinions. You are permanently borrowing my things. 6. To express changes, trends, development, and progress. e. g. Her singing is improving. More and more people are travelling on the moon. Im learning to drive. 7. With the verbs to get or to grow to express transitions from one state to another. e. g. It is getting dark(er and darker). She is growing older and wiser. 8. Sometimes in subordinate clauses of time and condition. e. g. The girl will play in the garden while his mother is making a cake. I will not trouble you anymore if you are doing your homework. 9. With performative verbs such as to accept, to agree, apologise, to congratulate, to declare, to deny, to disagree, to forbid, to forgive, to guarantee, to insist, to invite, to order, to predict, to promise, to propose, to recommend, to refuse, to request, to suggest, to thank, to warn when the function that these verbs express is not performed, but we use the verb to describe the action. e. g. Im warning you not to come too close. Verbs rarely used in the continuous: 1. Verbs of perception: to see, to notice, to observe, to hear, to smell, to taste, to feel. Exceptions: to see I am seeing my dentist on Friday. (= to meet by appointment, to interview) She is seeing the sights. (= to visit) I am seeing a new boy at the moment. (= to go out with) I am seeing things. (= to see hallucinations) They are seeing about the itinerary. (= to make arrangements) The mechanic is seeing to the engine. (= to put right, to deal with) The secretary is seeing the client off/ out. (= to lead out) to notice/ to observe I am observing the life of the wild ducks. (= to make research) to hear Im hearing interesting things about you. (= to receive news of or from) The judge is hearing the witnesses. (= in legal cases, meaning to try)

She is hearing things. (= to have hallucinations) We look forward to hearing from you. to smell Im smelling the flowers because they remind me of my summers in the country. (= I want to do so, my inner will is involved) to taste Im tasting the soup to see if it needs anything else. (= inner will) to feel The doctor is feeling my pulse. (= to take) Mother is feeling my forehead. (= to check) We are feeling the table to see if is it smooth. (= to touch) N. B. For an intentional action we use: to look at, to watch, to listen. To express the involuntary use of the senses we generally use the modal verb can: Can you smell the fertiliser? We are in the country now. 2. Verbs expressing mental activities: to agree, to believe, to distrust, to doubt, to expect (= to think), to feel (= to think), to find, to foresee, to forget, to guess, to imagine, to intend, to know, to mean, to mind, to realise, to remember, to recognize, to recollect, to regard, to see (= to understand), to suppose, to think (that), to trust (= to have confidence, to think), to understand, etc. Exceptions: to forget Im forgetting names and figures. (= a gradual loss of memory) to think Im thinking, (= no opinion is given) Im thinking about our new teachers. (= idem) Im thinking of buying a new car. (= intention; to consider) to mean you are always meaning to call us, but you never do.(= to intend) to mind Ann is minding her sick brother. (= to look after) to foresee She is always foreseeing difficulties! (= irritation) to doubt Our parents are always doubting us! (= annoyance) to distrust Julie is always distrusting her own judgement. (= reproach) to expect I am expecting an important guest. (= to wait for) 3. Verbs expressing feelings, attitudes, desires, emotional states: to abhor, to adore, to detest, to despise, to dislike, to displease, to enjoy, to envy, to hate, to like, to love, to pity, to please, to prefer, to resent, etc. Exceptions: to enjoy I am really enjoying myself! (= to have a good time) 4. Verbs expressing wish: to desire, to intend, to want, to wish, etc. Exceptions: to want She is wanting in decency. (= to lack) 5. Verbs expressing possession: to belong to, to have (= to own), to hold, to include, to lack, to keep, to own, to possess, etc. Exceptions: to have She is having a shower. (= to take) We are having lunch. (= to take) We are having a wonderful time. (= to experience). They are having an important discussion. (= to hold). 6. Verbs or existing or being : to be, to consist of, to contain, to include, to exist, to represent, etc. Exception: to represent He is representing me at the trial. (= to defend). 7. Verbs expressing a state or condition, or appearance: to appear, to be, to differ, to deserve, to equal, to look, to resemble, to seem, to suit, etc. Exceptions: to appear The Philharmonic are appearing at the Palladium. (= to perform) to be A new school is being built. (= in passive constructions) You are being kind today! (= temporary exhibiting of a quality) Why are you being mean? (= reproach) You are being silly. (= with adjectives such as absurd, careless, clumsy, lazy, rude, sentimental, silly, stupid, etc. to express a temporary behaviour) 8. Other verbs: to compare, to concern, to depend, to deserve, to fit, to expect, to matter, to measure, to result (from), to start, to stop, to suffice, to weigh, etc. Exceptions: to weigh I am weighing the ingredients for the cake. (= the action of weighing, not the expression of a state) to depend I am depending on you. (= I am counting on you)