English Grammar 1 Ferenczy Judit Handout 1

The Present Simple and Continuous

The Present Simple the present simple is used for expressing:

habitual actions: e.g. We have a grammar class once a week. this usage goes along with the use of frequency adverbs (in order of frequency): on Mondays rarely occasionally ... times often seldom every ... daily, weekly ... normally usually generally regularly always

never hardly ever

be careful with the word order (between the subject and the verb, or between the auxiliary and the verb): e.g. He never gives me flowers. She can usually do this.

general truths: e.g. A year is 52 weeks long. Dogs bark. states: e.g. She lives in a block of flats. He likes beer. general characteristics: e.g. She is nice. speech acts: i.e. verbs which express actions by saying sg; e.g. I promise everything will be OK. (offer, accept, apologise, congratulate, agree, declare, suggest) commentaries and self-commentaries: e.g. sports events: Smith kicks the ball to Cook, who runs, runs runs, and scores a goal! cooking programmes: I break the eggs, separate the yolks from the whites, mix the yolks with sugar ...

What tense do we usually use when something happens in the moment of speaking? the expressions here comes/ there goes; I hear/ I see

Which of the previously mentioned usages are the above expressions similar to?

conditionals and time clauses: e.g. If you love me, come with me. When he arrives, I'll ask him about his new job.

Which subclause is the present simple used in?

narrative present: in storytelling e.g. Yesterday this guy comes up to me and says:...

Which tense do we normally use in storytelling?

The Present Continuous

the present continuous is used for expressing:

actions going on in the moment of speaking: e.g. He is smoking right now. I am just talking to Robert Redford. actions going on around the moment of speaking: e.g. I am reading a book on astrology these days. People are getting more and more irritated nowadays.

How come we use this tense here, although it may be a habit to read ten pages from the book every evening? unusual behaviour: e.g. (I normally have cereals for breakfast, but) Today I am having a sandwich. irritating habits (of self or other): e.g. I am constantly losing things. He is always smoking.

What tense do we use to express normal habits?

changes, processes: e.g. We are getting older and older with each moment.

 with the conjunction while (sometimes when): e.g. While I am talking on the phone, he is watching TV.

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bath?

How can both these verb forms be correct: I always read while I have/am having a

Verbs not normally used in the continuous

verbs of emotion

: e.g. like, hate, want, regret, prefer, love, hope, need; : e.g. believe, understand, remember, forget, think, consider; etc: see, hear, smell, taste, feel (=touch);

verbs of cognition verbs of relation

~: e.g. have, belong, cost, contain, own, resemble, hold, fit, match, suit;

verbs of perception

'no matter' verbs: feel (=physically or emotionally), hurt, ache, look forward. BUT! We have to be careful! Compare the following sentences: She is smelling the perfume. I am tasting the coffee. He is feeling her skin. I am seeing a doctor tomorrow. The judge is hearing the witness. I am thinking about yesterday's film. He is considering changing his job. It smells perfect. It tastes salty. It feels soft. I see the sun. I hear music. I think it was good. He considers his present job tedious.

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How can you relate the tense to the idea of intentionality? What is the difference in meaning between the following sentences?

Where do you come from? They don't talk? He is silly.

Where are you coning from? They are not talking. He is being silly.

He always brings me flowers. How do you do? What do you do?

He is always bringing me flowers. How are you doing? What are you doing?