Questions tagged [present-tense]
Present Tense uses the base form of a verb to describe current actions, events and states-of-being. Ex: I answer to no one.
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Why using the past tense when one parent is dead but the children and the other parent are alive?
John met Mary in 2000. He died in 2023. They had three children.
Marc met Ann in 2001. He is alive. They have two children.
What are the grammatical reasons for the last verbs to be in past and ...
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I don't trust vs I'm not trusting
What's the difference between
I don't trust and I'm not trusting (anymore)
The present simple vs present continuous is obvious.
I just lack experience to build a number of examples with the continuous ...
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what tense to use when summarizing an episode of a TV show [closed]
I don't know whether to use present tense or past tense to make a summary of a TV show episode. MasterChef is an example
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Past Tense or Present Perfect [duplicate]
He placed an order OR He has placed an order. He has now be waiting for three weeks but no goods have arrived.
My question is: Does the first sentence denote the starting point of the following ...
Franziska
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If he loves God, he will sacrifice his son. - is this correct usage in a review article?
How do we use conditionals in a review of a story?
Example 1
God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son to test him. If Abraham loves God, he will sacrifice his son. And he is going to, so he loves God.
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What Is the Scope of the Past Perfect?
(Post copied, with minor alterations, from English Language & Usage on suggestion from a user.)
Recently, I’ve been editing a piece of writing written in first-person present tense. The narrator ...
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Present Continuous+never for emotional tone
As we know Present Continuous is used with always / constantly to express some emotional nuance (often negative).
e.g. My sister is always borrowing my clothes without asking!
Can we similarly use ...
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Difference between "I'm the one who..." and "I was the one who..."
Let's say I collected my mummy's money two hours ago and she asked this question:
"Who collected my money?"
Which would be the proper way to respond:
"I'm the one who collected the ...
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they thought it is or was important for the US to elect a woman president
Most Democratic voters in the state, 72 per cent, said they thought it is(was) important for the US to elect a woman president in their lifetimes, and that included roughly two-thirds of men.
What's ...
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Present Continuous expressing future
One of my grammar books says:
The future use of the present progressive is limited to actions brought about by human endeavour.
Therefore sentences such as "It's raining tomorrow" or "...
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When/After I am scolded by my mother, I go to bed and fall asleep late, usually past 10 p.m. - differences in meaning?
I understand "after" can express habitual or repetitive events, but I still feel like "after" is different from "whenever."
When "after" is used, it makes me ...
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Can we use “had” in present tense
I’ve got confused by this sentence from “A Study in Scarlet” by Arthur Conan Doyle:
“You had better clean it and load it. He will be a desperate man, and though I
shall take him unawares, it is as ...
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Is it correct to use the word 'made' in the present continuous or simple present tense?
I am studying the English tenses and came across the following quiz:
Fill in the correct verb form: PRESENT SIMPLE or PRESENT PROGRESSIVE.
The delicious chocolate is ____ by a firm in Switzerland. (...
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Combinig past and present tenses together
I've made a discovery that a phrase to be out of the question is an idiom, meaning to be an event that cannot possibly happen.
In a book (Charlotte Bronte - "Jane Eyre") I approached the ...
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use other tenses when talking about general truth? [duplicate]
I know that we should use present simple when talking about general truth like
The Sun rises in the east. However, if I add a time frame for it, will it still be used for present simple?
For example:
...
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When to use past tense after reported speech and when to use present tense after it? [duplicate]
He said that he had visited Paris last year.
She said that she is currently working on a new project.
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See and seeing with different implications
I am seeing my guitar teacher this Monday. (means that I have an
appointment)
What if I do it regularly. Should it be
I see my guitar teacher on Mondays. OR I am seeing my guitar
teacher on Mondays.
...
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Is "studying" correct in "The students studying the hardest…"?
I am an ESL teacher online and had this question from a student. She said she researched it and found one grammar site that said it was correct.
The students studying the hardest have the best ...
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Are the tenses well chosen?
Question to a seller over the phone 1
Could you let me know when this book will be in stock?
Answer
It will be in stock next Monday
So I will order it on Monday when it is in stock
Question to a ...
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"I (will) send the book on Monday so you (will) get it on Tuesday."
my sentences:
(1) I will send the book on Monday so you will get it on Tuesday.
(2) I will send the book on Monday so you get it on Tuesday.
(3) I send the book on Monday so you will get it on Tuesday....
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I live in Beijing and I live in Beijing now?
I'm learning English about present simple tense. I wonder if the "now" can be added to the present simple tense and change meaning.
I live in Beijing (relative permanently?). I live in ...
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stative verb + now?
In the present tense, I know that stative verbs usually don't work with present progressive. But what about stative verbs + now ?
For example, I'm hungry and I'm hungry now. I love you and I love you ...
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so that + Present / Future
wordreference.com:
(1a) I’ll post the CD today so that you get it by the weekend.
(1b) I’ll post the CD today so that you will get it by the weekend.
wordreference.com:
(2a) How do I transform a ...
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Why do we use "make sense" rather than "making sense"?
What is the difference between
This plan makes sense.
You aren't making any sense.
Why do we use "make sense" with present simple?
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"I'll see that the problem <is> <will be> dealt with."
thefreedictionary.com:
(1) I'll see that the problem is dealt with.
my variant:
(2) I'll see that the problem will be dealt with.
To me, (1) is wrong because, as far as I understand its meaning, ...
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Simple present or progressive present wiht "say"?
What tense and aspect should be used in both these cases, and why?
"What does the book say" vs "What is the book saying"
"What does your intuition say" vs " What is ...
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sets or set in news
In the following passage, does the present-simple "sets" work? This is not really a story but news, and I don't think historical present is a good explanation here. Why wasn't present ...
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Mrs. Johnson tell me that it (will take/ takes / must take / has taken) two more months to complete the project
This is a question from the entrance exam of a certain university in Tokyo. You are supposed to choose the most appropriate phrase out of the four, but it confuses me.
Mrs. Johnson tells me that it (...
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How does the present perfect link the present with the past?
How can I determine the meaning of a sentence written in the present perfect?
For example,
I have played football for the national team.
Does this sentence necessarily imply that I am still playing ...
Ezz Abu Hijleh
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Why does Ash say "I choose you" instead of "I chose you" or "I'll choose you"?
In the Pokémon anime, Ash says "I choose you!" when he starts a battle. Why does he use the present tense instead of "I chose you" or "I'll choose you"? In the original ...
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past and present tense confusion: recounting a past event, of which something is still relevant in the present
The mix in use of Past and Present tense confuses me.
An excerpt from a complaint to an online shopping platform:
… Upon receiving my Bluetooth mouse, I discovered that the product was a counterfeit.
...
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It was the best ever vs it is the best ever?
What is the meaning of ‘It was the best ever?’ Is it different to ‘It is the best ever?’
I am just confused by simple past and it last ever. ( It was the best ever)
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The government has declared/declared a state of emergency. (present perfect vs. past)
The government has declared a state of emergency.
The government declared a state of emergency.
Is there any difference between the two sentences?
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The simple past tense confusion (II) : Old connection, with a working exchange from the 1940s, shows or showed?
In the following sentence:
Old Connections, a telecommunications museum in Seattle, with a working exchange from the 1940s, shows/showed how telephones brought us together, but also tore us apart.
I ...
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The simple past tense confusion, why use "was" instead of "is" here, "the classic 1984 was a broader critique of totalitarianism ..."?
I watched this ted talk "How to recognize a dystopia - Alex Gendler" and saw this sentence, "the classic "1984" was a broader critique of totalitarianism, media, and language&...
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present for a habit that was not true at the time of writing
I have always been a fan of soap operas for years . I always watch my favorite show three times a week. In fact, until about a week ago, I had never missed an episode.
Why using a present " ...
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Presnt Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous? [duplicate]
Source:
https://english.elpais.com/economy-and-business/2023-03-16/blackrocks-larry-fink-does-not-rule-out-a-liquidity-crisis-after-svb-collapse.html
Fink states that since the 2008 financial crisis, ...
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What is the difference between "I'm not something" and "I'm no something" [duplicate]
In the Star Wars: The Clone Wars tv series, when the character Ahsoka Tano is leaving the Jedi Order, she says:
I'm no Jedi.
Would the phrase "I´m not a Jedi any more" be the correct one?
...
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Is "I am given" wrong in this sentence?
I am given by Jesus Christ forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Is "I am given" wrong in this sentence? Could you please also explain why it is wrong? What is the difference between that ...
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Why update is in the present after was?
Sentence: The only thing I did today was update the PDF file.
Can someone explain to me why the verb to update in the present after was?
Is this kind of grammar common?
I appreciate any help you can ...
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present simple or progressive in this case
In fact, every day I check the Royal Mail and read the latest info on the cyber incident because I am waiting for other parcels coming from the UK. Yes submit a claim
Could I use present progressive ...
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what do you do these days or what are you doing these days
I haven't seen my friend for a year. When I stumble on him I say
(1)"what are you doing these days" and it's apparently the default choice.
But what if I said: (2) "what do you do these ...
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present progressive vs present simple
1.If your dog is wagging its tail when they're playing with another dog, that's a sign of a happy dog.
2.If a dog is wagging its tail when encountering an unfamiliar child, it is safe for the child to ...
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How to use the present continuous with performative verbs?
My textbook says:
Some verbs used as performatives with the present simple in affirmative (= positive) sentences (apologize, deny, guarantee, promise) have a similar meaning with either the present ...
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Let me know once/when/after you got/get/bought/buy the laptop
Let me know once/when/after you got/get/bought/buy the laptop.
Which choice of words should I use, and what are the differences?
I am always confused about the tenses, and don't know which kind of ...
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study vs studying at a university
study vs studying at a university
Many say that both version are correct but to me the progressive aspect doesn't sit right here.
I wouldn't object using it in an example such as "I normally ...
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He is one of the people to find out what happened or he was one of the people to find out what happened? Which one is grammatically correct?
He is one of the people to find out what happened.
He was one of the people to find out what happened.
If we talked about what already happened it seems like I should use "he was" but then ...
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Why is the present simple not possible here? (cost)
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
This weekend costs / is costing me a fortune — but it’s worth it.
It is asked to choose the correct or more natural form of cost.
The correct answer is ...
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Why is the present continuous not possible here? (cost)
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
Flights always cost / are always costing a fortune during school holidays.
It is asked to choose the correct or more natural form of cost.
The correct ...
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Why is the present continuous possible here? (run)
I have the following exercise in my textbook:
I can’t complain. I (run) my own consultancy business.
The context is “. . . conversation between two ex-colleagues who have not seen each other for ...
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