The indefinite form

The Indefinite form merely shows that the action takes place in the present, past or future. The form of the verb gives no indication as to its duration or completion.

THE PRESENT INDEFINITE

§ 1. The formation of the Present Indefinite.

1. The Present Indefinite is formed from the infinitive without the particle to.

In the third person singular the ending ‑s is added. After a sibilant represented in spelling by s, ss, ch, sh, tch, x, z and after the vowel o, ‑es is added: he writes, he reads, he speaks; he passes, he pushes, he watches, he teaches; he goes, he does [dAz].

2. The pronunciation of the ending-s (-es) depends on the sound preceding it. It is pronounced as:

[Iz] after the sibilants [s], [z], [S], [C], [G]: passes [pRsIz], pushes [puSIz], teaches [tJCIz], judges [GAGIz];

[z] after voiced non-sibilants and vowels: reads [rJdz], lives [lIvz], sees [sJz];

[s] after voiceless non-sibilants: works [wWks], wants [wPnts].

3. In the third person singular we find the following orthographical change:

A final у is changed into i if it is preceded by a consonant and then ‑es is added: to study — he studies; to try —- he tries.

After a vowel у is kept unchanged: to play — he plays; to stay — he stays.

4. The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to do and the infinitive of the notional verb without the particle to.

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I work He works She works We work You work They work	Do I work? Does he work? Does she work? Do we work? Do you work? Do they work?	I do not work He does not work She does not work We do not work You do not work They do not work

5. The contracted negative forms are:

I don’t work

He doesn’t work

They don’t work

6. The negative-interrogative forms are:

{Do you not work?

Don’t you work?

{Does he not work?

Doesn’t he work?

§ 2. The use of the Present Indefinite.

The Present Indefinite is used to denote:

1. Customary, repeated actions. This is its most characteristic use.

The Browns go to the seaside every summer.

The repeated character of the action is often shown by adverbials such as every day, often, usually, etc.

2. Actions and states characterizing a given person.

She has many accomplishments: she sings and plays the piano beautifully.

3. Universal truths, something which is eternally true.

Magnet attracts iron.

The earth rotates round its axis.

4. Actions going on at the present moment (with verbs not used in the Continuous form).

I see George in the street. Tell him to come in.

I hear somebody knock. Go and open the door.

5. A future action:

(a) in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the conjunctions when, till, until, before, after, as soon as, as long as, if, unless, on condition that, provided.

...Robert, will you mend me a pen or two before you go? (Ch. Bronte)

I promise not to try to see Robert again till he asks for me. (Ch. Bronte)

N o t e. — It should be borne in mind that this use of the Present Indefinite

occurs only in adverbial clauses of time and condition. In object and

attributive clauses introduced by when the Future Indefinite is used.

I wonder when he will give us an answer.

We are impatiently awaiting the day when our friends will return from their

long journey.

(b) with verbs of motion, such as to go, to come, to leave etc. The future action is regarded as something fixed.

The train leaves at 10 tomorrow.

We find the same phenomenon in Russian.

Он уезжает завтра.

В следующее воскресенье мы идем в театр.

THE PAST INDEFINITE