2.1: Present Tense Verbs
- Page ID
- 51941
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Simple Present and Present Continuous
Compare these sentences...
- Every day, I write in my gratitude journal
- Right now, I am writing in my gratitude journal
Study the verbs. What is the difference between the two tenses?
- Answer: The first sentence is simple present. The second sentence is present continuous
- Notice the time expressions "every day" and "right now"
Simple Present Formation
- Something that is always true
- Daily routines
- Something that happens regularly
Positive Statements:
| I | Eat |
| You | Eat |
| He | Eats |
| She | Eats |
| It | Eats |
| We | Eat |
| You | Eat |
| They | Eat |
Negative Statements:
| I | Don't | Eat |
| You | Don't | Eat |
| He | Doesn't | Eat |
| She | Doesn't | Eat |
| It | Doesn't | Eat |
| We | Don't | Eat |
| You | Don't | Eat |
| They | Don't | Eat |
Questions:
| Do | I | Eat ? |
| Do | You | Eat ? |
| Does | He | Eat ? |
| Does | She | Eat ? |
| Does | It | Eat ? |
| Do | We | Eat ? |
| Do | You | Eat ? |
| Do | They | Eat ? |
Present Continuous Formation
- Something that is just happening
- Something that is true only now or about now
- Describing pictures
Positive Statements:
| I | Am | Eating |
| You | Are | Eating |
| He | Is | Eating |
| She | Is | Eating |
| It | Is | Eating |
| We | Are | Eating |
| You | Are | Eating |
| They | Are | Eating |
Negative Statements:
| I | Am Not | Eating |
| You | Are Not | Eating |
| He | Is Not | Eating |
| She | Is Not | Eating |
| It | Is Not | Eating |
| We | Are Not | Eating |
| You | Are Not | Eating |
| They | Are Not | Eating |
Questions:
| Am | I | Eating ? |
| Are | You | Eating ? |
| Is | He | Eating ? |
| Is | She | Eating ? |
| Is | It | Eating ? |
| Are | We | Eating ? |
| Are | You | Eating ? |
| Are | They | Eating ? |
Spelling Rules
Spelling Rules for Adding -ing to a Verb (Present Participle)
| No Change |
Most verbs: Add -ing |
Read--reading Talk--talking Say--saying Want--wanting |
| No Change |
Verbs that end in -y: Add -ing |
Study--studying Carry-carrying Play--playing |
| No Change |
Verbs that end in -e: Drop the -e and add -ing |
Wake--waking Make--making Tape--taping |
| No Change |
Verbs that end in -ie: Change the ie to y |
Die--dying Lie--lying |
| No Change |
Verbs that end in CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant), one-syllable: Double the last letter |
Stop-stopping Sit--sitting Ban-banning |
| No Change |
Verbs that end in CVC, two-syllable If the stress is on the last syllable, double the last letter |
Begin--beginning Refer--referring OR Listen-listening Cancel--canceling |
Spelling Rules for Adding -s/-es to the End of a Word (Plural Noun or Third Person Singular Simple Present)
|
Most words: Add -s to the end of the word |
Verbs: Walk--walks Cook-cooks Sit--sits Run--runs |
Plural nouns: Hat--hats Table--tables Chair--chairs Tree--trees |
|
Words ending in consonant -y: Change the -y to -ie, then add -s |
Verbs: Carry--carries Study--studies Fly--flies |
Plural nouns: Sky--skies Belly--bellies Rally--rallies |
|
Words ending in these consonants: S... X... Ch... Sh... Add -es |
Verbs: Pass--passes Fix--fixes Watch--watches Bash--bashes |
Plural nouns: Mess--messes Tax--taxes Patch--patches Dish--dishes |
Simple Present Tense Usage
- General facts
- A gratitude journal promotes an optimistic attitude
- Routines/habits
- She practices gratitude every day
- Permanent situations
- I live in San Diego. I moved here in 1998 and I plan to stay for many years
- Stative verbs
- Optimism includes a positive attitude and hope for the future
Present Continuous Usage
- Actions that are happening right now
- I can't go shopping with you right now. I am writing an email to thank my manager
- Actions that are in progress
- This semester, we are keeping a gratitude journal. We will decide if it makes us happier at the end of the semester
- Actions that are new or temporary
- He is living in San Diego. He moved here a few months ago. He might move soon
- Actions that are changing over time
- I am becoming happier every day
Contrasting Simple Present and Present Continuous
Simple present is used for permanent situations. Present continuous is used for situations that are temporary or new...
- She works at Ross Dress for Less
- She has worked there for a while and plans to stay
- She is working at Ross Dress for Less
- She started the job a short time ago, or she plans to change jobs soon
Stative Verbs
Some verbs are stative. This means they are usually used for a permanent situation. Some of these verbs cannot be used in continuous form; other stative verbs change meaning when they are used in continuous form...
- GOOD EX: I own a car
- BAD EX: I am owning a car
- GOOD EX: I think happiness is an important topic
- BAD EX: I am thinking happiness is an important topic
- GOOD EX: I am thinking about happiness
Videos and Other Resources
Watch this video to learn how to form simple present...
Watch this video to learn how to form present continuous...
Watch this video to learn about the differences between simple present and present continuous...
Watch this video for more about stative verbs...
Click here for lists and exercises for stative verbs...
Click here for a list of stative verbs...
Homework
Choose 5 of the 8 questions below and answer in writing. Use simple present tense. Identify the verbs in each sentence...
According to this video, research has found that women are happier than men. Which groups would you guess are happier according to studies and why? Keep in mind that there might be differences depending on which country you're from, and of course you are only guessing...
Who do you think is happier?
- People who are married or people who are single?
- Married couples with children or married couples who choose to not have children?
- Those aged 18-29 or 65 and older?
- Educated or non-educated people who make the same amount of money?
- Religious or non-religious people?
- Introverts or extroverts?
- Moms who stay home or moms who work part time?
- Liberals or conservatives?
EX: I think older people are happier than younger people because they usually have more wisdom