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Simple Aand Progressive Tenses
Simple Aand Progressive Tenses
SIMPLE PRESENT
FORM: For the simple present of all verbs except BE and HAVE, the verb
WALK will serve as our model:
Singular
Plural
I
walk
We walk
You walk
You walk
He
walks*
They walk
She walks*
It
walks*
* Note that the only change is in the third-person singular where it is necessary to
add an -s to the root infinitive. 1
USE:
EXAMPLE SENTENCES:
(1) He smokes cigarettes.
(MEANING: It is the case that he smokes cigarettes. This is a general fact
about him that is true, even if he is not smoking a cigarette right now.)
(2) It rains a great deal during the spring.
(MEANING: It is the case that it rains a great deal during the spring. This is a
general fact that is true, even if it is the spring right now and it is not raining.)
(3) Catherine teaches German.
(MEANING: It is the case that Catherine teaches German. This is a general
fact about her that is true, even if she is not in a classroom teaching German
right now.)
(4) John drives a blue Chevrolet.
(MEANING: It is the case that John drives a blue Chevrolet. This is a general fact
about him that is true, even if he is not in his blue Chevrolet driving right now.)
(5) He studies at the University of Toronto.
(MEANING: It is the case the he studies at the University of Toronto. This is a
general fact about him that is true even if he is not at the University of Toronto
right now this very minute studying.)
1
For all verbs that end in -ch, -sh, -s, -x, or -z, you must add -es in the third person singular. For example: "I
watch"/"He watches," "I wish"/"She wishes," "I pass"/"He passes," "I mix"/She mixes," "I buzz"/"It buzzes," The
verbs GO and DO also take -es in the third person singular: "I go"/"He goes," "I do"/"He does." All verbs ending in
a consonant and a -y drop the -y and take -ies in the third person singular: "I fly"/"He flies," "I study"/"She
studies," "I try"/"She tries."
This is the most common use of the simple present. However, the simple present is also used with nonprogressive verbs to describe stative events in immediately present contexts: "I have a cold right now." See THE
SIMPLE PRESENT AND THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE (9). In addition, the simple present is sometimes
used to describe future and past events and activities.
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am walking
are walking
is walking
is walking
is walking
Plural
We are walking
You are walking
They are walking
EXAMPLE SENTENCES:
(1) He is smoking a cigarette.
(MEANING: He is smoking a cigarette right now. His smoking a cigarette is a
temporary action that is going on at the present instant.)
(2) Look outside. It is raining.
(MEANING: It is raining outside right now. The raining is a temporary event
that is going on outside at the present instant.)
(3) This year he is teaching German in Montreal.
(MEANING: He is teaching German in Montreal right now.* His teaching in
Montreal is an action that is going on this year, a temporary period of present
time.)
(4) John is studying at the University of Toronto this semester.
(MEANING: John is studying at the University of Toronto right now.* Johns
studying at the University of Toronto is an action that is going on this
semester, a temporary period of present time.)
(5) Susan Jennings is smiling at Peter Dashwood.
(MEANING: Susan Jennings is smiling at Peter Dashwood right now. Susans
smiling is a temporary action that is going on at the present instant.)
* Note that in examples (3) and (4) right now is a period of present time that
extends well beyond the present instant. Nevertheless, the actions described in
examples (3) and (4) are still considered as temporary.
1
The present participle is the ing form of a verb used as an adjective or as part of a progressive verb tense.
This is the most common use of the present progressive. However, the present progressive is sometimes used to
describe future and past actions and events.
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