Grammar

Simple Present

• The simple present says that something was true in the past , is true in the present , and will be true in the future.

a)Water consists of hydrogen and Oxygen.b)The world is round.

• The simple present is used to express habitual or everyday activities.

a)I study for two hours every night.b)I get up at seven every morning.

• The simple present with adverbs of frequency is used to talk about how often actions occur.

a) She sometimes goes shopping after school. b) I rarely go to the movies.

• The simple present is used to talk about actions in the future.

a) Math Class starts at 8:00 A.M.

Present Progressive

• The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It began in the past, is continuing at present, and will probably end at some point in the future.

a) John is sleeping right now. b)The students are sitting at their desks right

now.

• The present progressive is used for actions that are in progress this week, this month, this year.

a)Susan is writing another book this year.

• The present progressive in negative sentences with anymore is used to talk about an action that has stopped.

a)I’m not following fashion anymore.

• The present progressive is used to talk about planned actions in the future.

a) I’m painting my bedroom tomorrow.

Stative Verbs

• Some English verbs have stative meanings: They describe states : condition or situation that exists.

When verbs have stative meanings,they are usually not used in progressive tenses.

a) Yum! This food tastes good . I like it very much.

b) INCORRECT : This food is tasting good. I am liking it very much.

• Taste has progressive meaning too.

a)The chef is in his kitchen. He is tasting the sauce.

Common verbs that have stative meaningsverbs with have both stative and progressive meanings

1) Mental State

know believe imagine want realize feel doubt need understand suppose remember desire recognize think forget mean

2) Emotional State

love hate mind astonish like dislike care amaze appreciate fear surprise please envy prefer

3)possession

possess have own belong

4)Sense Perceptions

taste hear see smell feel

5)Other Existing States seem cost be consist of look owe exist contain appear weigh matter include sound equal resemble look like

Present Perfect

• The present perfect expresses the idea thatsomething happened (or never happened)before now, at an unspecified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important.

a) They have moved into a new apartment. Time???

• The adverbs ever, never, already, yet, still, and just are frequently used with the present perfect.

a)Alex feels bad . He has just heard some bad news.

Time???

• The present perfect also expresses the repetition of an activity before now.The exact time of each repetition is not important.

• So far is frequently used with the present perfect.

a)We have had four tests so far this semester.

• The present perfect, when used with for or since , expresses a situation that began in the past and continues to the present.

since + a particular time for + a duration of time a)I have been here since seven o’clock. b)He has known me for many years.

Present Perfect Progressive

• The present perfect progressive is used toindicate the duration of an activity that began inthe past and continues to the present .

when the tense has this meaning, it is used withtime words, such as for, since, all morning, allday, all week.a)I have been sitting here since seven o’clock.

• With certain verbs (live,work, teach)there islittle or no difference in meaning between thetwo tenses when since or for is used.

a)I have lived here since 1995. b)I have been living here since 1995.