I. SIMPLE PRESENT

II . PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

II I . NON-ACTION VERBS

Present Tenseby Holly Cin

Summer 2013

Simple present: When do we use it?

A. Facts and laws of nature (because they don’t change) 1. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius and freezes at 0. 2. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.

B. General truths (they’re true now but the situation can change in the future.)

1. I work at the LCC.2. I live in Texas.3. I have three sons.

Simple present: When do we use it?

C. Events that happen with frequency

1. Habits

Waleed smokes two packs a day.

2. Routines

Nimsi wakes up every morning at 7 a.m.

3. Events that happen on a schedule

The lecture begins at 8 p.m.

The plane departs at 7 a.m.

Class ends at noon.

Simple present: When do we use it?

D. To narrate events as they happen

We see this in stories, novels, songs, and in sports reporting.

E. To narrate events of the past

We do this to make the story seem more real. It engages the listener.

We often use the simple present when telling jokes.

Present Progressive: When do we use it?

1. Events that are in progress right now.

I’m speaking about verbs now.

Some of you are not listening to me.

A few of you guys are texting your friends.

Is anybody paying attention?

Present Progressive: When do we use it?

2. Events that are in progress in general, but not right now. I’m writing a book about cell phones (but not at this

moment).

I’m studying at the LCC this year (but I’m not studying right now. Right now I’m hanging out with my friends).

I’m trying to lose weight (but not right now because it’s my birthday and I want to eat the cake).

Present Progressive: When do we use it?

3. To express general tendencies and trends

Some nations are getting richer while others are getting poorer.

Smart phones are becoming ubiquitous.

The universe is expanding.

The world’s population is increasing.

Present Progressive

4. To express irritation, annoyance, or anger with the following frequency adverbs: always, forever, constantly.

The phone is constantly ringing.

Her husband is forever forgetting to clean up his mess.

The baby is constantly crying.

You are forever not listening to what I say!

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

Some verbs are not normally used in the progressive form. They describe states that stay the same rather than actions or events that change.

These verbs can be categorized into 7 groups:1. appearances2. emotions3. mental states4. senses and perceptions5. possession6. wants and preferences7. other

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

1. AppearancesAppear, be, concern, look, mean, seem,

represent

I am the teacher in room 12.

Abdullah seems sad right now

You look worried.

What does that word mean?

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

2. Mental states (know, see (understand), believe, feel (believe), remember, realize, suspect, suppose, understand, think, care, hope, wonder, agree, consider, assume)

I suppose I could have stayed home and baked cookies.

Do you believe in miracles?

I don’t remember what you told me yesterday!

I think that’s a great idea.

I wonder what the world will be like in the future.

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

3. Emotions: like, love, hate, trust, doubt, appreciate, admire, envy, fear, regret

She doesn't like to admit to mistakes.

That husband doesn’t trust his wife.

Lissi hates sitting in traffic.

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

4. Senses and perception: smell, hear, see, feel, taste, sound, notice, hurt, look

I smell something burning.

Do you see that fly on the wall?

Do you hear that noise?

The milk tastes sour. Don’t drink it.

Tubing down the Guadalupe River looks and sounds like fun.

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

Look, sound, feel, smell, and taste use adjectives instead of adverbs.

You sound really excited!(not: You sound really excitedly!)

The bride looks beautiful.(not: The bride looks beautifully.)(We say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder!”)

The soup tastes great.(not: The soup tastes greatly.)

This perfume smells intoxicating.(not: This perfume smells intoxicatingly.)

Nouf feels bad about what she said.(not: She feels badly.)

State Verbs/Non-Action Verbs

5. Possession: belong, have, own, possess(I own a home; Yosef has 3 cars; this ipad

belongs to Ender.)

6. Wants and preferences: desire, need, prefer, want, wish

7. Other: cost, include, lack, owe, matter, weigh

Non-Action Verb Exceptions

When you see non-action verbs used in the progressive form, it is because the verb has a different meaning.

1. McDonald’s slogan “I’m lovin’ it” is not the same love we have for our parents, spouses, and children. I’m lovin’ it means I’m enjoying it. Enjoy is action.

2. Have—when it means possession—is non-progressive. Have—when used in different expressions—can be progressive. a. I’m having a good time (enjoying). b. I’m having a difficult time/problem/hard time (struggling). c. I’m having a baby (I’m pregnant/the baby is in progress). d. I’m having a heart attack (it’s in progress). e. I’m having a party (hosting). f. I’m having breakfast/lunch/dinner (eating).

Non-Action Verb Exceptions

3. See I’m seeing an eye-doctor about my vision problem (meeting). Joyce has been seeing a really great guy lately (dating).

4. BeWhen we use “be” in the progressive form, it describes a temporary behavior. It means behaving or acting. You’re being ridiculous. You’re being foolish. You’re being unreasonable. You’re being silly.

5. Think I think green is a beautiful color (beliefs and opinions are non-action).

What are you thinking about right now? I’m thinking about what I’ll eat for lunch (temporary thoughts are progressive because they don’t

last).