A Quick Review of the Tenses

[SEPINOOD 22]

Present continues (I am doing)

 

We use the present continues when we talk about something that is happening at the time of speaking, around the time of speaking, but not necessarily exactly at the time of speaking, a period around the present such as: today, this week, and we use the present continues when we talk about changing situations. Now read these examples and if you would like, you can give us your own examples:

 

1) Please don’t make so much noise. I am studying.

2) “Where’s Peggy?” She’s taking a bath.

3) Maria is studying English at a language school.

4) Is your English getting better?

5) The population of the world is rising very fast.

 

 

 

 

Simple present (I do)

 

We use the simple present to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about the present. We use to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking. We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences. We use the simple present when we say how often we do things.

Note that we say “where do you come from?” (= where are you from?)

Now read these examples and if you would like, you can give us your own examples:

 

1) The earth goes around the sun.

2) Nurses take care of patients in hospitals.

3) Excuse me, do you speak English?

4) “Would you like a cigarette?” “No, thanks. I don’t smoke.”

5) What does this word mean? (Not what means this word?)

6) I get up at 6:30 every morning.

7) How often do you go to go to the dentists?

8) Where do you come from? (Not where are you coming from?)

9) He comes from Japan. (Not he is coming from Japan.)

 

 

Present tenses (I am doing/ I do) with a future meaning

 

When you are talking about what you have already arranged to do, use the present continuous (I am doing). Do not use the simple present (I do). It is also possible to use going to (do).Do not use will to talk about what you have already arranged to do.

 

1) What are you doing tomorrow evening? (Not what do you do?)

2) I am going to the theater.

3) Are you playing tennis tomorrow?

4) What are you going to do tomorrow evening?

5) Alex is getting married next month.( not Alex will get married.)

 

We use the simple present when we are talking about timetables, schedules, etc. (for example, public transportation, movies):

 

1) What time does the move begin?

2) The football match starts at 2:00.

3) Tomorrow is Wednesday.

 

 

 

Going to (I am going to do)

 

We use going to (do) when we say what we have already decided to do, or what was intended to do in the future. We prefer to use the present continues ( I am doing) when we say what someone has arranged to do- for example , arranged to meet someone, arranged to travel somewhere. We use was/were going to say what someone intended to do in the past (but didn’t do).

Going to has another meaning. We use going to when we say what we think will happen. Usually there is something in the present situation (the man walking toward the hole) that makes the speaker sure about what will happen.

 

1) There is a movie on TV tonight. Are you going to watch it?

2) What time are you meeting Kim?

3) We were going to take the train but, then we decided to go by car.

4) Look at those black clouds! It is going to rain.