1.1: The Present
- Page ID
- 273130
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Simple Present and Present Progressive Tenses Introduced
Simple Present (Present Simple)
Using The Simple Present
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The Simple Present is used to:
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--> For many sentences at least one, but often multiple of the above can apply to the sentence. Something might be a regular event, but it can also be a fact. Or, something is a habit that occurs regularly. There might be more than one reason to use the Simple Present .
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The Simple Present is constructed in a sentence:
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The Simple Present in a few examples:
- I cook dinner every Friday.
As you can see, this happens regularly, namely every Friday. Since the subject is 'I', there's no need to add an 's' to the verb.
2. She eats turkey every year on Christmas Eve.
This is a habit/tradition, which repeats itself every year (so, you could also say it's a regular event). Since the subject is 'she', we follow the 'shit-rule' and add an 's' to the verb.
3. The bus leaves every ten minutes.
It's scheduled, therefore regular. It's also a fact; not an opinion. Since the subject of this sentence is 'it', we follow the 'shit-rule' and add an 's' to the verb.
4. Sheila and her mom often collect money for a good cause.
This is a habit of two people, they think it's important to collect money. It also happens regularly. Since the subject of this sentence is 'they', there's no need to add an 's' to the verb.
States of "Being"
Simple Present is also used to describe states of "being.
States of being:
- are conditions or situations that exist
- are inactive states; no action is performed
- are not usually progressive
- express (1) equivalence or existence ("be"), (2) sensory states, (3) cognitive (thinking) states, (4) possession states, (5) emotional states, (6) measurements.
Example Paragraph:
My name is Albert. I am a sleepwalker. I know the condition seems very unusual. As you can guess, I never know where I will wake up in the morning. I am tired much of the time. I have medicine to keep me from sleepwalking, but it doesn't work well. My footsteps in the middle of the night surprise people. My nights include a lot of unexpected adventures.
Simple Present : Form
You can use the Simple Present in three different kinds of sentences:
- Affirmative (positive) statements.
- Negative statements
- Questions.
| Affirmative | Negative | Questions |
| I eat breakfast at 8 am. | I don't eat breakfast at 8, but at 7 am. | (When) Do you eat breakfast at 7 am or 8 am? |
| Jimmy likes fishing. | Jimmy doesn't like fishing. |
(Why) Does Jimmy like fishing? |
| The train stops at platform 9 3/4. | The train doesn't stop at platform 9 3/4 | Does the train stop at platform 9 3/4? |
| They arrive at the gate in ten minutes. | They don't arrive at the gate in ten minutes. | Do they arrive at the gate in ten minutes? |
Present Progressive (Present Continuous)
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The Present Progressive is used to:
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The Present Progressive is constructed in a sentence:
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The Present Progressive in a few examples:
- Shh! I'm reading a book, I can't concentrate when you're making so much noise!
- you can tell it's happening at the moment of speaking since the speaker asks the other one to be quiet.
- am + read + ing.
- I'm staying at the Holiday Inn for a few days.
- temporary situation, he/she's on vacation.
- am + stay + ing.
- The climate is getting warmer.
* An ongoing change
* is +get +ting
- His mother is always nagging about homework.
- an irritation, the mom 'nags' regularly.
- irritations are often expressed using the words 'always', 'forever', 'constantly'
- is + nag + ing
You can use the Present Progressive in three different kinds of sentences:
- Affirmative (positive) statements.
- Negative statements
- Questions.
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
| I am eating breakfast at the moment. | I am not eating breakfast at the moment. | (When) Am I eating breakfast? |
| Jimmy is fishing today. | Jimmy is not fishing today. |
(Where) Is Jimmy fishing today? |
| They are walking to school now. | They aren't walking to school. | (Why) Are they walking to school? |
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States of "being" from Grammar Quizzes by Julie Sevastopoulos is licensed for use under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International