Talking about the present
English has two main ways of talking about present time: the simple present and the present progressive. THE SIMPLE PRESENT You make the simple present by using the verb in its basic form. You add -s or -es to the verb in the third person singular. The simple present is used in the following ways: 1. You use the simple present to talk about something which is happening now, and which will continue to happen in the future. You often use the simple present in this meaning to talk about things that are true about your life, for example where you live, your ob, or the kinds of things you like. !artin lives in "anada. # work in a hospital. $%hat kind of books do you read&' (# mostly read science fiction.$ 2. You use the simple present when you talk about something which happens again and again, or when you say that something happens regularly at a particular time. )se words such as always, often, sometimes, occasionally, and never, or phrases such as on Tuesdays or every day with the simple present in this meaning. They often go out to restaurants. # travel to *ondon twice a month. +e gets up at , o-clock. .he goes to church every .unday. 3. You use the simple present to talk about something which stays the same for ever - such as a scientific fact. /il floats on water. Two and two make four. 4. You use the simple present when you are describing what is happening at the exact moment when you are speaking. This meaning of the simple present is used for example in sports commentaries. .hearer gets the ball from 0ascoigne. +e shoots - and scores1 2or descriptions of actions that are happening now, you usually use the present progressive rather than the present simple. 2or example: (%hat are you doing&$ $#3m making a poster.$ 4/T $%hat do you do&$ (# make a poster.' THE PRESENT PR !RESSI"E You make the present progressive by using a form of the verb be in the present tense, followed by the main verb with an -ing ending, for example l am waiting, she is coming. The present progressive is used in the following ways: 1. You use the present progressive to talk about something which is happening now at the time you are speaking or writing. You often use this meaning with words and phrases that express present time, such as now, at the moment, and currently. (%hat-s 5ob doing&$ $+e-s watching television.$
#t-s raining again. #3m looking for my glasses. 2. You use the present progressive to say that something is happening now, but will only continue for a limited period of time. "ompare these pairs of sentences: %e live in 2rance. 67$2rance$ is our permanent home8 %e-re living in 2rance. 67$we$ are living there for a limited period of time8 +e cooks his own meals. 67$he$ always does it8 +e-s cooking his own meals. 67$he$ does not usually do it8 #f you want to talk about the sub ects you are studying at school or university, you usually use the present progressive. .he-s studying law at +arvard. 4/T .he studies law at +arvard. #3m studying English. 4/T # study English. #re$uen%& '()erbs The following list shows the most common adverbs of fre9uency, with the one that refers to things that happen most often at the top, and least often at the bottom: :lways )sually 2re9uently /ften .ometimes /ccasionally ;arely .eldom +ardly ever 4ever # always brush my teeth before # go to bed. 67every night8 # usually have toast for breakfast. 67happens most days8 # fre9uently watch the news before dinner. 67it-s common8 # often go to the park with my dog. 67many times8 # sometimes see him down at the shops. 67at particular occasions but not all the time8 # occasionally visit the capital. 67not happening often or regularly8 # rarely smoke cigars. 67it is not common8 # seldom have a chance to go to the theatre. 67almost never8 # hardly ever travel abroad. 67almost never8 # never work on the weekend. 67not at any time or not on any occasion8 :dverbs of fre9uency can occupy different positions in the sentence. %ith most verbs, the normal position is between the sub ect and the verb. %ith the verb $to be$, the adverb normally comes after the verb: <edro occasionally visits us on .undays. .he is often ill in winter.
