In this unit you are:
• to learn the following terms:
Synthetic forms Analytical forms Paradigm Affirmative sentences Negative sentences Interrogative sentences Stem |
Inflexion Adverb of frequency Clause of time Clause of condition Clause of concession Object clause |
• to be able to:
− to differentiate between synthetic and analytical verb forms;
− to build affirmative, negative and interrogative forms of the present simple and the present continuous;
− to explain the use of the present simple and the present continuous forms;
− to use the present simple and the present continuous in context.
Part a. Theoretical Material
Present tenses
All the present tenses (the present indefinite, the present continuous, the present perfect, the present perfect continuous) refer the actions they denote to the present, that is to, the time of speaking.
The Present Simple (The Present Indefinite)
Meaning. The present indefinite refers the action which it denotes to the present time in a broad sense. It bears no indication as to the manner in which the action is performed, that is whether it is complete or incomplete, momentary or continuous etc.
Formation. Some of the forms of the present indefinite are synthetic (affirmative forms), some − analytic (interrogative and negative forms).
Affirmative forms for all persons singular and plural except the 3rd person singular coincide with the infinitive stem: to speak − I speak, you speak, they speak.
The 3rd person singular form is built from the same stem by means of the inflexion -s, -es: to speak [spi:k] − he speaks [spi:ks]; to land [lænd] − he lands [lændz]; to wish [wIS] − he wishes [´wISIz].
As can be seen from the above examples, the pronunciation and spelling of the inflection of the 3rd person singular vary:
Verb stems ending in vowels and voiced consonants take the inflection -s which is pronounced [z]:
to see [si:] to play [pleI] to stir [stE:] to come [kAm] |
he sees [si:z] he plays [pleIz] he stirs [stE:z] he comes [kAmz] |
The 3rd person singular of the verb to say (says) is pronounced [sez].
In verb stems ending in the letter у and preceded by a consonant the letter у is replaced by the letters ie:
-
to try [traI]
to carry ['kærI]
he tries [traIz]
he carries ['kærIz]
The verbs to go and to do and their compounds (to forego, to overdo, etc.) take the inflexion [z] spelled as -es:
to go [gqV] − he goes [gqVz],
the verb to do (and its compounds) changes its root vowel:
-
to do [du:]
to overdo ["qVvǝ'du:]
he does [dAz],
he overdoes ["qVvǝ'dAz]
The 3rd person singular of the verb to have is has [hæz].
Verb stems ending in voiceless consonants (except voiceless sibilants and affricates) take the inflexion -s pronounced [s]:
-
to work [wE:k]
to hope [hqVp]
he works [wE:ks]
he hopes [hqVps]
Verb stems ending in sibilants and affricates take either the inflexion -s or -es. Both are pronounced [Iz]:
-es if the final letters of the stem are -s, -sh, -ss, -x, -z, -zz, -ch, -tch:
-
to push [pV∫]
to pass [pa:s]
to box [bPks]
to buzz [bAz]
he pushes ['pV∫Iz]
he passes ['pa:sIz]
he boxes ['bPksIz]
he buzzes ['bAzIz]
b) -s if the final letters of the stem are -se, -ce, -ze, -ge, -dge:
-
to please [pli:z]
to place [pleIs]
to freeze [fri:z]
to stage [steIG]
to sledge [sleG]
he pleases ['pli:zIz]
he places ['pleIzIz]
he freezes ['fri:zIz]
he stages ['steIGIz]
he sledges ['sleGIz]
The paradigm of the verb in the present indefinite
Main Uses
The Present Simple Tense is used to denote:
1) habitual or repeated actions:
○ regular activities and events typically with adverbials of frequency (always, usually, generally, occasionally, frequently, sometimes, often, twice a year, once a week, every day, every other day, once in a while, from time to time, hardly ever, seldom, rarely, daily, monthly): They always go out on Sundays. As a rule, she has three meals a day. It doesn’t often snow in winter here.
○ permanent characteristics and properties, hobbies, habits and customs; attitudes, opinions and feelings: British people drink a lot of tea. Cycling doesn’t appeal to me at all.
○ universal truths and generalizations (in proverbs and sayings, rules and common statement): Summer follows spring. Extremes meet.
○ time-table, itineraries, working hours: The shop opens at 9 a.m. Classes last till 3 p.m. We arrive in London at 11 a.m.
○ settled state of affairs which includes the present moment: I study English.
○ exclamatory sentences beginning with here / there to denote actions going on at the present moment: Here comes the train! There goes the bell!
2) ‘immediate’ present actions or states:
○ feelings, opinions with the so-called stative verbs (like, know, see, agree, hear, believe, think, be, taste, understand, want, wish, prefer, own, realize, cost, depend, belong): He wants a bike, but I don’t think he should have one. I disagree with her words.
○ stage directions, sport commentaries, instructions, declarations, demonstrations: Now I peel the apples, slice them and put into the bowl (recipe). Becker serves to Lendle (sports commentary).
3) past activities:
○ in summaries of historical events (‘historic present’): In May 1979 Margaret Thatcher becomes the first woman Prime Minister in the history of Great Britain.
○ plots of films, plays, books: Jean meets Paul and they fall in love with each other passionately.
○ informal story-telling (jokes, anecdotes): So this guy goes to the pub and orders two beers. At that moment the door opens and his wife appears.
○ headlines: People Say No to Terrorism.
4) future activities:
○ in subordinate clauses of time, condition and concession (притачные предложения времени, условия, уступки):
Clauses of time referring to the future may be introduced by the conjunctions when, while, till, until, before, after, as soon as, once: She won’t go to bed till you come.
Clauses of condition are introduced by the conjunctions if, unless, on condition (that), provided (providing), in case: But I must have the doctor handy, in case she feels worse.
NOTICE! In clauses other than those of time and condition, the Future Simple is used even if these clauses are introduced by the conjunctions if and when: I wonder if she will help. |
Clauses of concession are introduced by the conjunctions even if, even though, no matter how, whenever, whatever, however, etc.: Even if he hates me I shall never do him any harm.
○ in object clauses after to see (to), to take care and to make (be) sure: I’ll see that the lady is properly looked after.
○ in schedules, time-table, plans: The flight leaves at 2 p.m. tomorrow.
○ in suggestions, offers, invitations: Why don’t you join us?
○ in some special questions with the reference to the immediate future: What do we do next? (Что мы будем делать сейчас?) Where do we go now? (Куда мы сейчас пойдём?)
5) emphatic Present Simple:
○ to emphasize contrast: Adam doesn’t know much about psychiatry but he does know quite a lot about psychology;
○ to emphasize strong feeling: I do like playing word games!
Adverbs of frequency:
The Present Simple is often used with adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom / rarely, never, etc.) to show how often something happens. The adverbs of frequency answer the question ‘How often…?’: How often do you go to bed early? – I always go to bed early.
100 % |
75 % |
50 % |
25 % |
10 % |
0 % |
always |
usually |
often |
sometimes |
rarely / seldom |
never |
Adverbs of frequency come before the main verb (‘listen’, ‘watch’, etc.) but after the verbs to be and auxiliary or modal verbs, such as ‘do’, ‘can’, etc. The adverbs ‘rarely’, ‘seldom’ and ‘never’ have a negative meaning and are never used with the particle ‘not’.
E.g. I always go to school. Do you always visit the library? She must always help her relatives. Emily never watches horror films.
The Present Continuous (The Present Progressive)
Meaning. The present continuous denotes an action which is in progress at the moment of speaking.
Formation. All the forms of the present continuous are analytic. They are formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary to be and participle I of the notional verb.
The paradigm of the verb in the Present Continuous
Main Uses
1) actions in progress happening at the present moment, i.e. at the time of speaking, which is either shown by an adverbial (at the moment, now, at present, just now, right now) or is made clear by the situation: The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off?
2) actions in progress happening around the present moment, i.e. when the action does not coincide directly with the moment of speaking: David is collecting material for his new book now.
3) changing and developing situations: The climate is getting warmer. His handwriting is improving.
4) to express criticism, annoyance, impatience or irritation (with adverbials always, constantly, never, again): Mr. Stone is always grumbling. You are constantly looking for faults.
5) personal arrangements: I’m leaving at the end of the week.
The Present Continuous is used with the following time expressions: now, at the moment, these days, at present, tonight, nowadays, still and etc.
Present Simple – Present Continuous Compared
Present Simple |
Present Continuous |
1. habitual actions |
1. actions happening now |
2. permanent situations and states |
2. temporary situations |
3. stative verbs |
3. some stative verbs may be used, but they change their meaning |
4. schedules, itineraries, official plans |
4. personal arrangements |