PRESENT TENSES

PRESENT TENSES

1.      Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense talks about things in general, not thinking only about now. It says that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking

Meaning and Use:

•  to denote truths

   a. Habitual truths

       e.g. :He studies for two hours every night. 

   b. General truths

       e.g. : English people drink a lot of tea.

   c. Eternal and recurrent truths (facts)

       e.g. : The sun rises in the east.

   d. internal truths (verbs of thinking)

       e.g. : I think he is very nice.

•  to give instructions, directions, or demonstrations

   e.g. : You beat the eggs, and then you add the flour. 

•  to provide a narrative device

   e.g. : This man goes into a restaurant and he says, ”Do you serve frogs?”

            The waiter     says, “Yes.”   

•  to give a ‘timetable’ future with a future time marker

   e.g. : The plane leaves at 7 tomorrow morning . 

•  After when, to form a time clause

   a. the main verb in the present

       e.g. :I catch a bus when it rains.

   b. the main verb in the future

       e.g. : When I get home, I’ll make tea.

•   with non-progressive verbs, to describe:

   a. states (i.e., conditions that exist)

       e.g. : Ali knows English well.

   b. possessions

       e.g. : He has a good sense of humor.

   c. sense of perceptions

       e.g. : These flowers smell good.

2.      Present Continuous Tense

The present progressive tense shows that we are in the middle of an action

Meaning and Use:

•  to show an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking.

   e.g. : John and Mary are talking on the phone.

•  To show that we are in the middle of something but not actually doing it at the moment of speaking.

   e.g. : He is writing another book this year.

•  to show when things are changing over a long period

   e.g.: The earth is slowly getting warmer.

•  To emphasize a temporary or repeated habitual action

   e.g.: I’m watering his plants while he is away

•  with always/forever/constantly, to complain, i.e., to express annoyance or anger.

   e.g.: Mary is always leaving her dirty socks on the floor for me to pick up!

•  to express future time when the idea of the sentence concerns a planned event or definite intention.

   e.g.: She is seeing Dr. Ahmed next Tuesday.

3.      Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense shows the present situation in relation to past action; that is, how the past is relevant to now.

Meaning and Use:

•  to express the idea that something happened  (or never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past

   e.g.: They have moved into a new house.

•  to express the repetition of an activity before now

   e.g.: I have met the director twice since I came here.

•  with for or since, to express a situation that began in the past and continues to the present

    e.g.: I have liked cartoon movies since I was a child.

•  to express an action which took place in the past whose results are still present.

   e.g. :I’ve spilt the milk. (It’s still on the  floor).

•  to express an action which took place in an identified period of time, which is not yet over.

   e.g. : I haven’t seen Rachel today. (it’s still daytime).

•  with always, to express an action continued up to the present time.

   e.g. : I have always wanted to visit Mekkah

The use of yet, already, and just

•  Just means ‘a short time ago’.

   e.g. :I’ve just heard about the news.

•  Already means ‘sooner than expected’.

   e.g. :We’re too late. They’ve already gone home.

•  Yet means ‘expecting something to happen’.

   e.g. :Have you bought a ticket yet? I haven’t received a letter from him yet.  

4.      Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Progressive Tense mainly focuses on continuous or repeated activity, engaged in before the present, but relevant to it, and on the continuous duration of that action. The action is seen temporary (i.e., not a  permanent truth or usual habit) and may or may not have been completed at the time of speaking. 

Meaning and Use:

•  to indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present (it is used with time words such as for, since, all morning, all day, all week)

   e.g. : You have been studying for three hours. Why don’t you take a break?

•  To express a general activity in progress recently, lately when used without any specific mention of time. The activity may or may not be completed

   e.g. :I must sit down. I’ve been running (and now I’m exhausted. I’m not usually   breathless) 

•  to express actions repeated over a period of time up to now

   e.g. : Every morning they meet in the same café. They’ve been going there for years.