THE USES OF THE PRESENT AND PAST TENSES THE PRESENT
Simple Present Tense
v The Simple Present is Used:-
(1) To express a habitual action: as
He drinks tea every morning
I get up every day a five O’clock
My watch keeps good time.
(2) To express general truths: as
The sun rises in the east.
Honey is sweet
Fortune favors the brave.
(3) In exclamatory sentences beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present; as,
Here comes the bus!
There she goes!
(4) In vivid narrative, as substitute for the Simple Past; as,
Ann now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Sam.
Immediately the Sultan hurries to his capital
(5) To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed programme.
The next flight is at 9.00 tomorrow morning
The match starts at 9 O’clock
The train leaves at 6.20
When does the coffee house reopen?
v The other uses of the Simple Present Tense.
(1) It is used to introduce quotations; as
Ann says ‘A thing of beauty is a joy forever’
(2) It is used, instead of the Simple Future Tense, in clauses of time and of condition: as,
I shall wait till you finish your lunch
If it rains we shall get wet.
(3) As in broadcast commentaries on sporting events, the Simple Present is used, instead of the Present Continuous. to describe activities in progress where there is stress on the succession of happenings rather than on the duration.
(4) The Simple Present is used, instead of the Present Continuous.
Present Continuous Tense
v Present Continuous Tense is used
(1) For an action going on at the time of speaking : as,
She is singing (now).
The boys are playing hockey.
(2) For a temporary action which may not be actually happening at the time of speaking : as,
I am reading ‘David Copperfield’ (but I am not reading at this moment)
(3) For an action that has already been arranged to take place in the near future :as,
I am going to the cinema tonight.
My uncle is arriving tomorrow.
It has been pointed out before that the simple present used for a habitual action. However, when the reference is to a particularly obstinate habit-something which persists, for example, in spite of advice or warning- we use the Present Continuous with an adverb like always, continually, constantly.
My dog is very silly; he is always running out into the road.
v The following verbs, on account of their meaning, are not normally used in the continuous form:
(1) Verbs of perception, e.g., see, hear, smell, notice, recognize.
(2) Verbs of appearing, e.g., appear, look, seem
(3) Verbs of emotion, e.g., want, desire, feel, like, love, hate, hope, refuse, prefer.
(4) Verbs of thinking, e.g., think, suppose, believe, agree, consider, trust, remember, forget, know, understand, imagine, mean, mind.
(5) Have (=possess0, own, possess, belong to, contain, consist of, be
(except when used in the passive)
e.g. Wrong Right
These grapes are tasting sour. These grapes taste sour.
I am thinking you are wrong. I think you are wrong.
She is looking sad. She looks sad.
He is having a cellular phone. He has a cellular phone.
However, the verbs listed above can be used in the continuous tenses with a change of meaning:
She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
(taste = test the flavor of)
I am thinking of going to Malaysia.
(think of + consider the idea of)
They are having lunch. (have = eat)
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