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Appendix 3
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Составитель А. С Вейхман, ст. преп. каф. англ. яз.
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Учебные материалы по практической грамматике английского языка для I курса специального факультета. Учебно-методическое пособие. Изд. 2-е, доп. и перераб. Перм. гос. пед. ун-т. Сост. А. С Вейхман, Пермь, 2000
Пособие “Учебные материалы по практической грамматике английского языка для I курса специального факультета” состоит из трех частей. Первая часть представляет собой справочник, включающий сведения о значении и правилах употребления личных форм английского глагола. Вторая часть – комплекс разнообразных грамматических упражнений, градуированных по трудности. Третья часть состоит из тестов с ключами, направленных на контроль правил чтения, лингвострановедческих знаний, грамматических и лексических навыков; они позволяют студентам проверить и систематизировать свои знания по английскому языку.
Печатается по решению редакционно-издательского совета университета
Ответственный за выпуск Л. А. Чистякова, ст. преп. каф. англ. яз.
ISBN 5-85218-065-3
Ó Пермский государственный педагогический университет, 2000
TENSES IN THE ACTIVE VOICE
There are four tense groups in English. They differ in character of actions they denote. They are: the Indefinite form, the Continuous form, the Perfect form and the Perfect Continuous form.
THE INDEFINITE FORM
The Indefinite form merely shows that the action takes place in the present, took place in the past, or will take place in the future. The form of the verb gives no indication as to the duration or completion of the action.
The Present Indefinite Tense
I. The Present Indefinite Tense is used:
a) to express actions permanently characterizing the subject:
My brother studies English.
She works at a plant.
He speaks English well.
b) to express a habitual (repeated) action which is often indicated by such adverbs as: every day, often, usually, never, always, whenever and some others:
He usually gets up early.
We go to the Institute every day.
My friend often comes to see me.
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c) to express a general truth:
The sun rises in the East.
February comes after January.
Water boils at 100 ° (degrees).
d) to express an action going on at the present moment with the verbs of feeling and perception (to see, to hear, to understand, to know, to love, to hate, etc) and with the verbs: to say, to ask which are usually not used in the continuous tenses:
Mr. White doesn’t understand French.
Old Mrs. Sandford doesn’t hear well.
She loves her husband.
She says she is busy.
e) to express a further action in the subordinate clauses of time and condition:
Mr. White will see Mr. Sandford if he comes to see him tomorrow.
I shall tell her about it when I see her.
II. The Present Indefinite Tense is formed in the following way:
a) the affirmative form is formed by means of the Infinitive without the particle to. Only the third person singular takes the ending -s, -es:
I write - he writes.
We watch - she watches
b) the interrogative and negative forms are formed by means of the auxiliary verb to do and the Infinitive of the notional verb:
Do you write novels?
She doesn’t write novels.
III. The pronunciation of -s, -es:
| reads [rı: dz] | takes [teı ks] | studies ['st⋀ dı z] |
| passes ['pɑ: sı z] | goes [gouz] | does [d⋀ z] |
| Mind: says [sez] |
IV. The spelling rules of the third person singular:
| to play - plays | to fix - fixes | to cry - cries |
The Past Indefinite Tense
I. The Past Indefinite Tense is used:
a) to express an action which took place in the past and has no connection with the present. The time of the action is either understood or indicated by adverbs of past time or phrases such as: yesterday, last week (month, year), a minute ago (two years ago), at ten о 'clock, in 1945, on Sunday:
He came back from Moscow last week.
She got up at seven о 'clock yesterday.
b) after when in questions and in subordinate clauses of time:
When did the lecture begin?
When did he see her last?
He got excellent marks when he worked much.
When he came home he saw Mike there.
c) to express a repeated action in the past:
Every day he came to the library and read English books there.
He often worked in the language laboratory when he was a student.
My friend always kept his word.
NOTE: The construction used to + infinitive is also used to express a repeated action in the past:
He often came to see us in winter.
He used to come to see us in winter.
d) to express a succession of the past actions:
He came home, had dinner, read the newspaper and began to do his lessons.
He came up to the desk, took a sheet of paper and began to write a letter to his mother.
II. a) The Past Indefinite Tense of regular verbs is formed by adding -ed to the Infinitive:
| to work - worked | to live - lived | to rain – rained |
The irregular verbs have a special form of the Past Indefinite Tense:
| to go - went | to begin - began | to sit – sat |
b) The interrogative and negative forms are formed by means of the auxiliary verb did and the Infinitive of the notional verb without to:
Did you see the demonstration in Moscow yesterday?
He didn’t take part in the meeting yesterday.
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III. The pronunciation of -ed:
| rained [reɪ nd] | played [pleɪ d] | looked [lukt] |
| wanted ['wɔ ntɪ d] | lived [lɪ vd] | stayed [steɪ d] |
| added ['æ dɪ d] |
IV. The spelling rules:
| to hurry - hurried | to study - studies | |
| But: | to play - played | to stay - stayed |
| to drop - dropped | to stop - stopped | |
| to travel - travelled |
The Future Indefinite Tense
I. 1) The Future Indefinite Tense is used:
a) to express a future action which is often indicated by adverbs of future time or phrases such as: tomorrow, tomorrow morning, in an hour, in some days (weeks, months, years), one of these days, the day after tomorrow, next year:
She will study English next year.
My brother will come in half an hour.
We shall start this work the day after tomorrow.
b) in object clauses introduced by when and if:
I don’ t know when he will come.
She is not sure if he will be free.
2) The Future Indefinite Tense is not used: in adverbal clauses of time and condition introduced by when, till, until, as soon as, as long as, before, if, unless:
I shall go for a walk if the weather is fine.
We shall phone him as soon as he arrives in Moscow.
II. a) The Future Indefinite Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verbs shall (the first person singular and plural) and will (the second and the third person singular and plural).
I shall work hard tomorrow evening.
He will help her.
They will study better.
b) The contracted affirmative forms are: I’ll [aɪ l], he’ll [hі: l], she’ll [∫ і: l], we’ll [wі: l], you’ll [ju: l], they’ll [ð eɪ l]
The contracted negative forms are: shan’t [∫ ɑ: nt] and won’t [wount]
III. The construction There is is used in the Future Indefinite in the following way:
There will be a holiday party tomorrow.
There will not be any holiday party tomorrow.
There will be no holiday party tomorrow.
Will there be a holiday party tomorrow?
IV. The construction to be going is often used to express an intended future action:
I am going to take part in the concert on Sunday.
THE CONTINUOUS FORM
The continuous form expresses an action going on at a certain moment or for a certain period of time in the present, past or future. All the Continuous Tenses show the process of the action itself. The following verbs are not generally used in the Continuous Tense:
to see, to hear, to feel, to like, to love, to hate, to want, to wish, to know, to understand.
The Present Continuous Tense
I. The Present Continuous Tense is used:
a) to express an action which is taking place at the moment of speaking:
The baby is sleeping. Don’t make so much noise.
Father is out. He is working in the garden now.
b) to express an action which is taking place during the present period of time (not necessarily at the present moment):
He is a writer. He is working at a new book of short stories now.
Mr. White’s family lives in an old house. They are building a new cottage now.
c) to express an action which will take place in the nearest future (usually with such verbs as to go, to come, to start, to leave, to arrive in (at):
They are leaving tomorrow.
They are starting a new lesson on Friday.
II. a) The Present Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I of the notional verb:
She is doing her lessons now.
III. The spelling rules of Participle I:
| to see - seeing | to be - being, | |
| But: | to write - writing | to close - closing |
| to hurry - hurrying | to pay -paying | |
| to drop - dropping | to stop - stopping | |
| to travel - travelling | ||
| But: | to repeat - repeating | to limit - limiting |
IV. The pronunciation of some Participle I:
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| seeing ['sі: ɪ ŋ ] | being ['bі: ɪ ŋ ] |
| hurrying ['h⋀ rіɪ ŋ ] | paying ['peіɪ ŋ ] |
Past Continuous Tense
I. The Past Continuous Tense is used:
a) to express an action which was taking place at a definite moment in the past. This definite moment is indicated by an adverbial phrase (at that time, at ten о\ clock, from six to seven) or a subordinate clause of time with the verb in the Past Indefinite:
He was doing his lessons at that time yesterday.
She was writing a composition at ten о 'clock yesterday.
They were talking loudly when I entered the room.
b) to express an action which was going on for a certain period of time in the past, usually with some emphasis of the progress of the action:
I was reading the whole day yesterday.
It was raining the whole day yesterday.
NOTE: If we only state a fact, the Past Indefinite is used:
I read the whole day yesterday.
It rained the whole day yesterday.
II. a) The Past Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Past Indefinite Tense (was, were) and Participle I of the notional verb:
He was still sleeping at seven о’clock.
b) The contracted negative forms are:
wasn’t [wɔ znt], weren’t [wə: nt]
The Future Continuous Tense
I. The Future Continuous Tense is used:
a) to express an action which will be going on at a definite moment in the future. The definite moment is indicated by an adverbial phrase (at this time, at seven o’clock, from six to seven) or by a subordinate clause of time with the verb in the Present Tense:
I shall be having dinner at five о 'clock.
I shall be sleeping when mother comes.
b) to express an action which will be going on for a certain period of time in future:
I shall be working in the library the whole day tomorrow.
c) to express a planned future action:
Will you be taking any more exams this year?
NOTE: The Future Continuous Tense is not used in Subordinate clauses of time and condition. The Present Continuous Tense is used instead of it:
While you are doing your lessons, I shall be washing up.
II. The Future Continuous Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Future Indefinite Tense and Participle I of the notional verb (shall be, will be working, shall not working). The contracted negative forms are: shan’t be, won’t be working.
THE PERFECT FORM
The Perfect Form expresses an action completed before the present moment (and connected with it) or before a definite moment in the past or future.
The Present Perfect Tense
I. 1) The Present Perfect Tense is used:
a) to express an action completed by the moment of speaking (so that the present moment is excluded and the tense is called - The Present Perfect Exclusive). The Present Perfect Exclusive is used:
a) when we are interested in the result of the action; in this case there may be no time indication in the sentence at all:
I have opened the window. (The window is open now).
I have done my exercises. (Here they are).
I have read the book. (You may take it).
b) when we are interested in the action itself but not in the time of its completion, in this case the adverbs of indefinite time are often used (just, already, yet, ever, never, always, often, seldom, sometimes, twice, several times), when they do not refer to a definite moment in the past:
She has just taken a shower.
He has never been to London.
My mother has already cooked dinner.
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But: We never met her last year.
He always got up early last summer.
c) with adverbs denoting a period of time which is not over (today, tonight, this week, this month, this year, lately, recently); if the action does not refer to some definite moment within this period:
I have seen this film recently.
We have worked much at the laboratory today.
He has read three English books this month.
But: Did you get up early today?
I saw him at 9 о 'clock today.
NOTE: In special questions beginning with where, why, how, either the Past Indefinite or the Present Perfect is used:
Where has he gone? (The person is away).
Where did she go? (The person is back again).
In special questions referring to the past and beginning with when the Past Indefinite is always used:
When did you see him last?
When did he come back?
2) The Present Perfect is used to express an action which began in the past and is not completed by the moment of speaking: it is still going on (so that the present moment is included and the tense is called - the Present Perfect Inclusive. The following verbs are used in this case: to be, to know, to live, to see, and others. In this case the starting point of the action is indicated by since and the whole period of the action is indicated by for:
She left Moscow in 1990 and I have not seen her since.
We have learnt three poems since October.
They have had six English periods since eight о 'clock.
I have known her for five years.
We have not seen you for ages.
She has lived here for three years.
NOTE: If the period of the action in the Present Perfect is expressed by the verb to be, the preposition to is used with the Present Perfect Exclusive and the preposition in with the Present Perfect Inclusive:
They have been to Moscow several times.
They have been in Moscow since 1993.
II. The Present Perfect Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the Present Indefinite and Participle II of the notional verb.
She has already written the letter.
They have just come in.
The Past Perfect Tense
I. The Past Perfect Tense is used to express an action that took place before some moment in the past. The moment in the past may be denoted:
a) by adverbal phrases with the preposition by (by five о’clock, by that time, by the end of the year, by winter etc. ):
By five о 'clock she had finished her work.
By the end of the year she had learned to speak English.
b) by another action expressed by another verb in the Past Indefinite Tense (or in the Past Continuous):
When I got to the station the train had already left.
He was reading the book he had bought.
c) the moment can be understood from the situation:
Why did he buy a new watch yesterday? - Because he had lost his old one.
II. The Past Indefinite Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the Past Indefinite and Participle II of the notional verb:
She had gone to the station when you rang her up.
He had read twenty pages by seven о 'clock.
The Future Perfect Tense
I. The Future Perfect Tense is used to express an action completed before a definite moment in the future. The moment in the future may be expressed:
a) by an adverbial phrase with the preposition by (by seven о’clock, by this time, by next year, etc):
She will have come back by seven о’clock tomorrow.
By this time next month we shall have passed our examination.
b) by a subordinate clause of time or condition:
When he arrives we shall have already left for the country.
When his friend comes he will have finished this exercise.
II. The Future Perfect Tense is formed by the auxiliary verb to have in the Future Indefinite and Participle II of the notional verb:
I shall have finished breakfast by eight о’'clock.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
I. The Present Perfect Continuous is used to express an action which began in the past, has been going on for some period in the past up to the present moment and either:
a) is still going on (so that the moment of speaking is included - the Present Perfect Continuous Inclusive):
She has been teaching English since she graduated.
We have been living in Moscow for about 10 years.
b) or has just been finished (so that the moment of speaking is excluded - the Present Perfect Continuous Exclusive):
What have you been doing in the kitchen so long, Tom?
The Present Perfect Continuous is translated into Russian by the present and past imperfective.
II. The Present Perfect Continuous is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to be in the Present Perfect Tense and Participle I of the notional verb.
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I have been writing.
Has she been writing?
They have not been writing.
III. With verbs of feeling, perception (to be, to know, to understand, to love, to hate, to like, etc) the Present Perfect is used in the meaning of the Present Perfect Continuous and is translated into Russian by the present imperfective.
The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
I. The Past Perfect Continuous is used to express an action which began before a certain moment in the past, had been going on some period and either:
a) continued into that past moment (the Past Perfect Continuous Inclusive):
She had been writing her composition for an hour when her friend came.
The period of the action is always indicated by such adverbials as for some time. since, since smb. did smth.
b) or had just been completed (the Past Perfect Continuous Exclusive):
He felt very tired when he came home, as he had been playing volley-ball since morning.
The period of the action is not always mentioned, it is clear from the context.
II. The Past Perfect Continuous Tense is formed by means of auxiliary verb to be in the Past Perfect Tense (had been) and Participle I of the notional verb.
SEQUENCE OF TENSES
In English the tense form of the action expressed by the verb of the subordinate clause usually depends on the tense form expressed by the verb of the principal clause.
1. If the verb of the principal clause is expressed in one of the present tenses or in the future tenses, the verb of the subordinate clause may be used in any tense that is necessary.
e. g. She knows that we shall return in time.
They will understand that nothing can help them.
I have learned that they came to town yesterday.
2. If the verb of the principal clause is expressed in one of the past tenses, the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in one of the past tenses.
a) To denote an action simultaneous to the action of the principle clause the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous Tense.
e. g. She said that they had a small cottage in the country.
We knew that they were going to leave Moscow.
Compare with the Russian:
1. Она сказала, что они имеют маленький домик за городом.
2. Мы знаем, что они собираются уехать из Москвы.
NOTE: The verb must does not obey this rule.
e. g. They said that she must do it at once.
b) To denote an action preceding the action of the principle clause the verb of the subordinate clause must be used in the Past Perfect Tense.
e. g. He said that he had never been to London.
c) To denote a future action viewed from a past moment (Sequence of Tenses) the verb in the subordinate clause must be used in the Future - in - the Past. This tense is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb should for the first person singular and plural or would for the second and the third person singular and plural and the infinitive of the notional verb.
e. g. We learned that they would be pleased to see us.
He knew that we should help him.
Everybody understood that she would not tell them a word.
I told my friend that I should go to a rest-home during the vacation.
INDIRECT SPEECH
In changing from direct into indirect speech it is necessary to use all the rules of Sequence of Tenses that have been mentioned. The verb to say. which is used to introduce direct speech is usually replaced by the verb to tell in indirect speech if a person is mentioned.
e. g. 1) He said to her: ‘I don’t know anything about it‘.
He told her that he didn’t know anything about it.
2) She said: ‘Is the boy late today? ’
She asked if the boy was late that day.
In indirect speech this is usually changed into that, these into those, now into then, ago into before, here into there, today into that day, yesterday into the day before or the previous day, the previous year, next year into the next year.
e. g. 1) He said: ‘I saw her here yesterday’.
He said that hehad seen her there the day before.
2) She said: ‘We shall speak about it tomorrow’.
She said that they would speak about it the next day.
3) Ann said to her mother: ‘I read this story a few days ago’.
Ann told her mother that she had read that story a few days before.
THE PASSIVE VOICE
I. The Passive Voice is usually used:
a) when the active subject is unknown or when the speaker is more interested in the verb activity itself than in the active subject. In such cases the doer of the action with by is not used (it is omitted).
| Active | Passive |
| Someone has left this letter on the table. | The letter has been left on the table. |
| Somebody has already switched off the light. | The light has already been switched off. |
| Students mustn’t take these books away. | These books must not be taken away. |
b) Sometimes the active subject (the doer of the action must be mentioned to complete the sense of the sentence, then it is introduced by the preposition by).
| Active | Passive |
| Jack London wrote this novel. | This novel was written by Jack London. |
| A friend told me the news this morning. | I was told the news by a friend this morning. |
The Passive Voice is extensively used in Modem English. There are more passive construction in English than in Russian. In Russian only the direct object of a transitive verb in the active voice can be used as the subject in the Passive Voice.
Verbs with two objects can have two passive constructions, but it is more usual in English to make the indirect object the subject of the Passive Voice.
| Active | Passive |
| I showed them the way. | They were shown the way. The way was shown to them. |
| Someone gave him a book. | He was given a book. A book was given to him. |
| People speak well of Mary. | Mary is well spoken of. |
| She will look after you well. | You will be well looked after. |
In the Passive Voice an adverb of manner is usually placed in front of the verb it qualifies.
| Active | Passive |
| She painted the picture beautifully. | The picture was beautifully painted. |
| She has brought up her daughter very badly. | Her daughter has been very badly brought up. |
II. The Passive Voice is formed by means of the appropriate tense form of the auxiliary verb to be and the Second Participle of the notional verb.
| Indefinite | Continuous | Perfect | |
| Present | The article is translated. | The article is being translated. | The article has been translated. |
| Past | The article was translated. | The article was being translated. | The article had been translated. |
| Future | The article will be translated. | –––––––– | The article will have been translated. |
| Future in-the-Past | The article would be translated. | –––––––– | The article would have been translated. |
Appendix 1
Action verbs and state verbs
1. Verbs can express actions or states.
| Actions | States |
| Jane went to bed. I’m buying a new briefcase. I lent Jeremy five pounds. | Jane was tired. I need a new briefcase. Jeremy owes me five pounds. |
An action means something happening, something changing. Action verbs are verbs like do, go, buy, play, stop, take, decorate, say, ask, decide etc.
A state means something staying the same. These verbs are state verbs:
| adore | depend | doubt | lack | owe | seem |
| be | deserve | envy | like | own | understand |
| believe | desire | exist | love | pity | want |
| belong to | despise | hate | matter | possess | wish |
| consist of | detest | intend | mean | prefer | |
| contain | dislike | know | need | resemble |
Most action verbs refer to physical actions, but some are verbs of reporting (say) or verbs of thinking (decide). State verbs express meanings such as being, having, opinions and feelings.
2. We can use action verbs with the continuous, but state verbs are not normally continuous.
We are decorating the flat, but NOT We are owning the flat.
Some state verbs cannot be passive.
3. Some verbs have different meanings. One meaning can be an action and another meaning can be a state.
| Actions | States |
| We’re having lunch how. (action – ‘eating’) | We have a big kitchen. (state – ‘own’) |
| We’re thinking about moving. (action – ‘deciding’) | I thing we ought to move. (state – ‘believe’) |
| Jeff tasted the soup. | The soup tasted like water. |
| expect/expecting trouble | expect so (= believe) |
| imagine/imagining the result | imagine so (= believe) |
| care/caring for the sick | not care what happens |
| admire/admiring the view (= looking at it with pleasure) | admire someone’s courage (= approve of) |
| look/looking at a picture | look lovely |
| smell/smelling the powder | smell strange |
| appear/appearing in a film | appear perfectly calm |
| measure/measuring the door | measure two metres |
| weigh/weighing the luggage | weigh ten kilos |
| fit/fitting a new switch | fit perfectly |
| cost/costing a project | cost a lot of money |
4. We can use the continuous with some state verbs if we see something as active thinking or feeling for a period of time, rather than a permanent attitude.
I love holidays. (permanent attitude)
I’m loving every minute of this holiday. (active enjoyment)
Here are some more examples.
How are you liking the play? ~ Well, it’s all right so far.
We were expecting visitors. You’ re looking pleased with yourself.
This holiday is costing me a lot. I’ m hoping to get a job.
Be can be an action verb meaning ‘behave’.
The dog was being a nuisance, so we shut him out.
NOTE: a) Mean (=have the meaning) is always a state verb.
What does this word mean?
b) Enjoy expresses an action.
I’ m enjoyjng the party. NOT I enjoy the party.
5. Some verbs always express states and so cannot be continuous.
At the moment the building contains some old machinery.
I know the town quite well now.
These verbs are belong to, consist of, contain, depend on, deserve, desire, know, matter, own, possess, prefer, seem.
NOTE: The expression get to know can be continuous.
I’ m getting to know the town quite well.
6. Hurt, ache and feel can be simple or continuous with little difference in meaning.
My arm hurt /was hurting. I feel /I’ m feeling depressed.
7. We often use can and could for perceptions.
I can see something under the sofa.
We could hear music. I can smell something burning.
Sam could feel the weight of the rucksack.
We do not normally use the continuous. NOT I’m seeing something.
We can use the past simple when the thing that we saw or heard was a complete action.
We saw a magnificent sunset.
Tom heard the whole story.
They felt the building shake.
Smell, taste and feel as action verbs express a deliberate action.
Steve picked up the bottle and smelled the milk.
When we arrived, people were already tasting the wine.
Judy was feeling her way in the dark.
NOTE: a) See (= meet) is an action verb, and see (= understand) is a state verb.
I’ m seein g the doctor in half an hour.
You put the cassette in here, like this. ~ Oh, I see.
b) Look (at something), watch, and listen are action verbs.
We looked/We were looking at the sunset.
c) Feel (= believe) is a state verb.
I feel we should discuss the matter.
Appendix 2
Present continuous and present simple
MACBETH
Andrew: What are you reading?
Sadie: ‘Macbeth’. We’ r e doing it in English. Our class is going to the theatre to see it next week. Mr Adams is taking us.
Andrew: What’s it about?
Sadie: Well, Macbeth murders the King of Scotland. But it doesn’t do him any good.
Andrew: Mr Davis takes us for English. We aren’t doing Shakespeare though.
Sadie: Mr Adams loves Shakespeare. He’s always quoting bits at us. Shakespeare is England’s greatest writer, he says.
Form
| Present continuous: present of be + active participle | Present simple: base form/s-form |
| I am reading you/we/they are reading he/she it is reading Negative I am not reading you/we/ they are not reading he/she/it is not reading Questions am I reading? are you/we/they reading? is/he/she it reading? | I/you/we they read he/she/it reads I/you/we they do not read he/she/it does not read do I/you/we/they read? does he/she/it read? |
In present simple questions and negatives we use do/does and the base form of the verb. NOT He does not reads and NOT Does he reads?
NOTE: a) There are some spelling rules for the participle.
Leaving out e: lose ® losing
Doubling of some consonants: stop ® sto pp ing
b) There are some spelling rules for the s-form.
Adding es after a sibilant sound: pu sh ® push es .
Y changing to ie: hurr y ® hurr ie s.
c) For pronunciation of the s/es ending.
USE
1. An action continuing for a period.
We use the present continuous for a present action over a period of time, something that we are in the middle of now. The action has started but it hasn’t finished jet.
What are you reading? ~ ‘ Macbeth’. It’s raining now, look.
Hurry up. Your friends are waiting for you. I’m just ironing this shirt
Some typical time expressions with the present continuous are now, at the moment, are present, just, already and still.
We need not be doing the action at the moment of the speaking.
I’ m reading an interesting book. I can’t remember what it’s called.
We’d better get home. We’ re decorating the living-room at the moment.
2. A state
We normally use the present simple for a present state: a feeling, opinion or relation.
Mr Adams loves Shakespeare. I think it’s a good idea.
Who knows the answer? This book belongs to my sister.
Silicon is a chemical element. York lies on the River Ouse.
NOTE: We use the present simple for permanent states. With temporary states, states which go on only for a short time, we can sometimes use the present continuous.
The weather looks/is looking better today.
3. Repeated actions
We use the present simple for repeated actions such as routines and habits, things that happen again and again. We see the series of actions as permanent, without end.
Bob works in Avonmouth. He usually drives to work.
We do lots of things in our spare time.
I don’t often see Sarah.
The old man takes the dog for a walk every morning.
Typical time expressions with the present simple are always, often, usually, sometimes, ever/never; every day/week etc; once/twice a week etc; on Friday(s) etc; in the morning(s)/evening(s), at ten o’clock etc.
We also use the present simple for permanent facts, things that always happen.
Food gives you energy. Paint dries quicker in summer.
But we use the present continuous when a series os actions is temporary, only for a period of time.
My car’s off the road. I’ m travelling to work by bus this week.
We’ re doing ‘Macbeth’ in English.
Bob’ s working in Avonmought at the moment. But they may be moving him to head office in Birmingham.
NOTE: a) We use the present simple to talk about a permanent routine, whether or
not the action is happening at the moment.
You’re walking today. ~ Yes, I quite often walk to work.
You’re walking today. You usually drive, don’t you?
b) We use the present continuous to say that we are regularly in the middle of something.
At seven we’ re usually having supper. (= At seven we’re in the middle of supper. )
Compare the present simple for a complete action.
At seven we usually have supper. (= Seven is our usual time for supper. )
We can talk about two actions.
Whenever I see Graham, he’ s wearing a tracksuit.
I like to listen to music when I’ m driving.
c) We can also use the present simple to say what is the right way to do something.
You turn left at the church. You put your money in here.
4. The present continuous with always
There is a special use of always with the continuous.
They’ re always giving parties, those people next door.
I’ m always losing things. I can never find anything.
Mr Adams is always quoting bits of Shakespeare.
In this pattern always means ‘very often’ or ‘too often’.
Compare these sentences.
Our teacher always gives us a test. (= every lesson)
Our teacher is always giving us test. (= very often)
5. An instant action
The present simple is also used to describe actions as they happen, for example in a commentary.
Hacker passes the ball to Short. Short moves inside, but Burley wins it back for United.
The speaker sees these actions as instant, happening in a moment. For actions over a period, we use the continuous.
United are playing really well now. The crowd are cheering them on.
We can also use the present (instead of the past) to tell a story. It makes the action seem more direct, as if happening now.
I’ m standing outside the bank, and a man comes up to me and grabs hold of my arm.
We also use the present for actions in films, plays and books.
Macbeth murders the King of Scotland, who is staying at his castle.
NOTE: a) We can also use the present simple with a performative verb, e. g. promise.
I promise I won’t forget. I suggest we go. Yes, I agree.
b) For the present simple after here/there.
c) The present simple is used in headlines for a recent action: Rail fares go up.
In normal style we use the present perfect: Rail fares have gone up.
6. Verbs of reporting
We can report the written word with a present simple verb. We see the written statement as existing in the present.
It says /said in the paper that there’s going to be a strike.
The notice warns passengers to take care.
The letter explains everything.
We can also do this with reports of spoken words that we have heard recently.
Shakespeare is England’s greatest writer, Mr Adams says /said.
7. The future
We can use the present continuous to talk about what someone has arranged to do and the present simple for actions and events which are part of a timetable.
Sadie is coming to stay with us next week.
The ferry gets into Rotterdam at six o’clock tomorrow morning.
We also use the present simple in some sub clauses of future time.
If you need any help tomorrow, let me know.
Appendix 3
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