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.
Simple Present : Form
| 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? |
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.
Stative Verbs-States of Being or Existence (non-actions)
Simple Present is also used to describe states of being or existence (non-actions)
States of being or existence:
- 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.
Present Progressive (Present Continuous)
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The Present Progressive is used to:
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Forms of the Present Progressive
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
| I am eating breakfast at the moment. | I am not eating breakfast at the moment. | (When) am I eating breakfast? |
| You are playing basketball this season. | You are not playing basketball this season. | (Why) are you playing basketball this season? |
| Jim is fishing today. | Jim is not fishing today. | (Where) is Jim fishing today? |
| We are getting closer to our goal every day. | We are not getting closer to our goal. | Are we getting closer to our goal? |
| They are walking to school now. | They aren't walking to school now. | (Why) Are they walking to school? |
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.
I'm staying at the Holiday Inn for a few days.
- temporary situation, he/she's on vacation.
Maria is taking three classes this semester.
- happening around the present time
- often with "this"
The climate is getting warmer.
- An ongoing change
His mother is always nagging about homework.
- an irritation, the mom 'nags' regularly
Irritations are often expressed using the words 'always', 'forever', 'constantly'
Stative Verbs-Exceptions-When Stative Verbs Can Have Active Meanings
Some stative verbs can take active forms. In these cases, progressive verb forms are sometimes used.
Be
be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the progressive form, it means 'behaving' or 'acting'
Stative meaning= it's part of a personality or characteristic-- Larry is a very nice person.
Active meaning= a temporary behavior--He is not being very nice today. He is angry.
Think
think is usually a stative verb, but it can also indicate active consideration of ideas, people or things
Stative meaning= have an opinion-- I think that grammar is difficult.
Active meaning= consider--I'm thinking of going on vacation. She's thinking about her family.
Have
have is usually a stative verb indicating ownership , but it also has specific active meanings
Stative meaning= own--I have two cats and a dog.
Active meanings:
eat- We're having dinner.
experience: I'm having a bad day. We're having fun.
arrange or host: Jill is having a party on Saturday. We're having people over for dinner tonight.
See
see is usually a stative verb about using your sense of sight or understanding, but it also has active meanings:
Stative meaning=see with your eyes / understand
I see her now, she's just coming along the road.
I see what you mean
Active meanings:
date: I'm seeing a man I met at the college.
meet: I'm seeing Robert tomorrow. I'm seeing a specialist for my headaches.
Taste
taste has both a stative and an active meaning related to the senses
Stative meaning= has a certain taste
This soup tastes salty.
Active meaning= the action of tasting
Laura is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
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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