PRESENT TENSES

1. PRESENT TENSES A brief overview

2. PRESENT SIMPLE • It is formed with the base form of the verb =>try, explain, play, arrive, phone • We add -s or -es to the base form of the verb in the third person singular => plays, arrives, explains, tries • Some verbs are irregular => have, be • I/you/we/they have, she/he/ithas • I am, you/we/theyare, he/she/itis

3. Spelling of the third person singular • We usually add only -s to form the 3rd person singular of the present simple => plays, gets, snows, loves • We add -es to form the 3rd person singular when the verb ends in -o => does, -s => misses, -x => mixes, -ch => catches, -sh => wishes • In verbs ending in a consonant + -y, we change -y to -ibefore adding -es. • try => tries; cry => cries BUT play => plays; buy => buys

4. Pronunciation of -s/-es ending • “-s ending” is pronounced [s] after a voiceless sound => [f], [p], [k], [t] => laughs, hopes, kicks, fits • “-s ending” is pronounced [z] after a voiced sound => [v], [b], [g], [d], [l], [m], [n], vowels, etc. => loves, robs, digs, adds, fills, dreams, runs, sees • “-es ending” is pronounced [iz] after [z], [dʒ], [s], [ʃ], [tʃ], [ks] => loses, manages, kisses, pushes, watches, relaxes

5. PRESENT SIMPLE - negatives • We form negatives with do not/don’t+the base form of the verb => I/You/We/Theydo not/don’tbelieve him. • In the third person singular we use does not/doesn’t+the base form of the verb => He/Shedoes not/doesn’tspeak French. Itdoes not/doesn’ttake long. • We use contracted forms (don’t/doesn’t) in speech and informal writing.

6. PRESENT SIMPLE - questions • Questions are formed with do + the base form of the verb => Do you think so? What do they think of her? • In the third person singular we use does+ the base form of the verb => Does she/he live in London? How long does it take to get there?

7. PRESENT SIMPLEis used: • to describe habits, things that happen repeatedly (I go jogging every morning. She doesn’toftenstay up late. How oftendo you go out?) • to describe facts that are always true (The Moon goes round the Earth. Spring follows winter.) • to describe a present state which may continue indefinitely (I like chocolate. My brother works in a bank. She wears glasses.)

8. PRESENT SIMPLEis used: • to talk about FUTURE events based on timetables, programmes or events in the calendar. (My plane takesoff at 7:30 tomorrow. Does the film start at 4.30?) • after if, unless, in case, assoon as, before, after, by the time, the next time, till, until, when,etc. where we may expect a simple future (Wait, until you’re called.If it rains, I’ll stay at home.) • to make a summary of the events in a film or a book (They see each other at the ball for the first time and fall in love.)

9. always often frequently usually normally sometimes occasionally ever/never rarely/seldom hardly ever every day/week/month... once/twice a year... on Saturday(s)... How often...? in the morning(s)... at seven o’clock... ... Typical time expressions used withPRESENT SIMPLE

10. PRESENT CONTINUOUS • Form: be (am/is/are) + -ing form of the verb +I’m/amleaving next Sunday. +It’s/isgetting late. - I’m not/amnotworking this week. - Theyaren’t/are not enjoyingthe party. ?Is it snowing? ?Why are you looking at me like that?

11. Spelling of the “-ing” form • We add only -ing to most verbs without changing the spelling of the base forms => playing, drinking, waiting, eating, catching, enjoying,opening • Verbs ending in -e drop the -e before adding -ing => come => coming, make => making, use => using • Verbs ending in -ie change -ie to -y=> lie => lying, die => dying, tie => tying

12. Spelling of the “-ing” form • One-syllable verbs with a single vowel followed by asingle consonant double the final consonant. • stop => stopping;beg => begging;sit=>sitting;run=>running • We do not double the final consonant when: • the verb ends in -w, -x => snow => snowing; box => boxing • there are two consonants together => help => helping • there are two vowels together => sleep => sleeping

13. Spelling of the “-ing” form • Two-syllable verbs double the final consonant when there is a single vowel followed by a single consonant in the last syllable and the last syllable is stressed. • be´gin => be´ginning; for´get => for´getting; • We do not double the final consonant when the last syllable is not stressed • ´open => ´opening; ´profit => ´profiting • !EXCEPTIONS! to the rule: • ´label => ´labelling; ´quarrel => ´quarelling; ´signal => ´signalling; ´travel => ´travelling

14. PRESENT CONTINUOUS is used: • to describe actions which are in progress at the moment of speaking (They can’t come they’rejusthaving breakfast.) • to describe actions happening “around now” not necessarily at the moment of speaking (I’mreading an excellent book at the moment.) • to describe actions which are temporary (My cousin’sliving with me until she finds her own flat.)

15. PRESENT CONTINUOUS is used: • to talk about things that are changing or developing over a period of time (It’sgetting late. He’sbalding.) • when we are exaggerating or complaining, especially with “always” (You’realwayslosing your keys.) • to refer to activities planned for the FUTURE. We usually need a time adverbial. => “personal arrangements or appointments” which may be written in a diary (I’mtravelling to Dublin on Saturday. What are you doingtonight?)

16. now at the moment for the moment at present just still this week these days nowadays ... Typical time expressions used withPRESENT CONTINUOUS

17. PRESENT SIMPLE describes something that is permanent describes something that is repeated (habits, routines) describes facts that are always true describes general situations PRESENT CONTINUOUS describes something that is temporary not finished yet describes something that is in progress now describes events happening at the moment describes a particular situation PRESENT SIMPLEorCONTINUOUS?

18. I live in Prague. (It is my permanent home.) Do you usually work a lot? (Is it your habit?) What do you do? (What’s your job?) The water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (a fact) I’mliving in Prague.(Just for a month. My home is in Paris.) Are you working a lot now? (What’s happening now?) What are you doing here? (right now) The kettle is boiling. Turn it off, please. (right now) Compare:

19. State verbs • State verbs describe states and are not usually used in continuous tenses. • examples of state verbs are: • thinking: admit, agree, believe, consider, forget, know, mean, prefer, realise, remember, suppose, seem, think, understand • feeling: adore, admire, like, dislike, love, hate, hope, want • having: belong to, contain, have, include, own, possess • being: appear, disappear, be, exist • senses: feel, hear, look, see, smell, sound, taste • other: cost, depend on, mean, need

20. State verbs • Some state verbs can also refer to activity. In this meaning they can be used in a continuous tense: • I think it’s a great idea. (think = believe > state) • What are you thinking about. (think = consider > activity) • We have a second-hand car. (have = possess > state) • She is having some tea. (have = drink > activity) • The soup tastes great. (state) • I’mtasting the soup to see if it needs more salt. (action)

21. DON’T FORGET that: • some verbs are used only in simple tenses => state verbs (know, want, need...) • when describing a picture/a photo we usually describe the scene using the PRESENT CONTINUOUS • PRESENT SIMPLE and PRESENT CONTINUOUS can also refer to future • where some languages use PRESENT TENSES, English uses PRESENT PERFECT

22. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE Form: have/has + thepast participle of the verb +I’veburnt/haveburnt myself. + Fred’sbeen/hasbeen ill a lot recently. - I haven’t seen/havenotseen Tom this morning. -She hasn’ttold/has nottold them about the accident yet. ? Haveyou read Hamlet? ? How long has she known you?

23. PAST PARTICIPLE (regular verbs) • Regular verbs add -edtothe base form of the verb. • open => opened; explain => explained • Verbs ending in -e add-dtothe base form of the verb. • arrive => arrived; phone => phoned • In verbs ending in a consonant + -y, we change -y to -ibefore adding -ed. • try => tried; cry => cried BUT play => played; obey => obeyed

24. PAST PARTICIPLE (regular verbs) • One-syllable verbs with a single vowel followed by a single consonant double the final consonant. • stop=> stopped; beg => begged • Two-syllable verbs double the final consonant when there is a single vowel followed by a single consonant in the last syllable and the last syllable is stressed. • pre´fer=> pre´ferred; ad´mit=> ad´mitted • !EXCEPTIONS! to the rule: • ´label => ´labelled; ´quarrel => ´quarelled; ´signal => ´signalled; ´travel => ´travelled

25. PAST PARTICIPLE (irregular verbs) • There are about 150 irregular verbs in English. Their past participle forms must be studied and remembered. • put-put => put; cut-cut => cut; cost-cost => cost • ring-rang => rung; sing-sang => sung; sink-sank => sunk • know-knew => known; blow-blew => blown; grow-grew => grown • learn-learnt => learnt; mean-meant => meant • write-wrote => written; drive-drove => driven • buy-bought => bought; bring-brought => brought • go-went => gone; be-was/were => been

26. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEis used: TO DESCRIBE PAST EVENTS WHICH ARE CONNECTED TO THE PRESENT • to talk about experiences in our life up to now (I have neversmoked. Haveyou everriddena horse?This is the first time he has driven a car.Have you been to Italy?) NOTE: If we want to say when the events happened we use the past simple.

27. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEis used: • to talk about a situation that began in the past and continues until the present => unfinished past (He’sbeen ill for a month. I haven’t seen him since Monday.) NOTE: We often use SINCE and FOR when we refer to “unfinished past”. SINCE + point of time FOR + period of time 2015 seven years Sunday ages I was born half an hour

28. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEis used: • to express a past event with a result in the present => present result I’velost my keys. => I haven’t got them now. They’vealready eaten.=> They aren’t hungry. He hasn’t got up yet. => He’s still in his bed. NOTE: We focus on the present. It is not important when the actions happened. If we want to express when the actions happened, we use the past simple.

29. ever/never yet (questions, negatives) so far (up to now) already just recently lately still before today this year/month/week ... for weeks/years/ages ... since 2007/Monday ... This is the first / second / third time… It’s the first / second / third time… ... Typical time expressions used withPRESENT PERFECT

30. PRESENT PERFECT connects a past event to the present I’ve broken my wrist. => it is broken now She’s worked for him for two years. => she still does Have you talked to John this morning? => it is still morning How long have you had your cat? => you still have it PAST SIMPLE describes a past event in a completed time period I broke my wrist last year. => it happened last year She worked for him for two years. => then she left Did you talk to John this morning? => it is now afternoon/evening When did you buy your cat? => I ask about the definite past PRESENT PERFECT or PAST SIMPLE

31. PRESENT PERFECT describes the time until the present I’ve worked as an actor for a year. => I started last year and I still do it PRESENT SIMPLE describes habits and states in the present I work as an actor. => a permanent state, it is my job PRESENT PERFECT or PRESENT SIMPLE

32. HAVE BEEN TO Sarah has been to Greece. => she was there but now she is back home HAVE GONE TO Sarah has gone to Greece. => she is in Greece now or she is on her way there have been toandhave gone to

33. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS Form: have/has +been +-ing form of the verb +They’ve/havebeenwaiting here for over an hour. + She’s/hasbeenworking very hard. - I haven’t/havenotbeenreadingmuch recently. - He hasn’t/hasnot beenwaiting long. ? You’re out of breath. Haveyoubeenrunning? ? How long hasJane beenlearning French?

34. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used: • to talk about a repeated or continuous activity that started in the past and hasn’t been finished => unfinished past She’s been doing her geography project for about two months. => she is still working on it How long have you beenwaiting for him? => you are still waiting  NOTE: We often use SINCE, FOR, ALL DAY, RECENTLY, LATELY, etc. with the present perfect continuous

35. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used: • to talk about an activity from the recent past which has consequences in the present => present result It’s beenraining all morning. => That’s why the streets are wet now. Why are you so dirty?What have you been doing? Your eyes are red. Have you been crying?

36. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE describes a finished activity (achievement) I’ve read King Lear. => I finished reading it. They’ve painted the bedroom. => They started and finished painting it. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS describes an unfinished activity I’ve been reading King Lear. => I haven’t finished reading it. They’ve been painting the bedroom. => That’s why their clothes are dirty. We don’t know whether they finished or not. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEorCONTINUOUS?

37. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE is used when we focus on a result of an activity especially when we give a number or quantity: how much we have done how many things we have done how many times we have done something PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS is used when we focus on the activity itself especially to explain visible consequences of it is used to say how long something has been happening is used to describe repeated actions PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLEorCONTINUOUS?

38. how much/how many He’s runthree miles. => focus on the result: he’s covered the distance of three miles Jill has played squash three times this week. I’ve writtentwenty emails today. How many pages of that novel have you read? how long He’sbeen runningfor an hour. => focus on the activity: this is why he is exhausted now Jillhas been playing squash since two o’clock. I’ve been writing emails all day. How longhave you been reading that novel? Compare:

39. References • ALEXANDER, L.G.: Longman English Grammar. New York: Longman, 1991. ISBN 0-582-55892-1 • MURPHY, R.: English Grammar In Use. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1992. ISBN 0-521-28723-5. • VINCE, M. and EMMERSON, P.: Intermediate Language Practice with key. Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2003. ISBN 1-405-00768-0. • VINCE, M. and EMMERSON, P.: First Certificate Language Practice with key. Oxford: Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2003. ISBN 1-405-00765-6.