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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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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usage of present perfect tense
My question is about the use of present perfect tense. To my knowledge this tense is used for the actions that have started in the past and continues up until now. I have questions about different ...
Girelieto
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Place of a time expression in a negative sentence
Is it possible to put the time expressions before or after the negative word?
Or is there only one way?
For example :
The students usually don't like eating fish
The students don't usually like eating ...
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By the time and When
By the time I arrived at the scene, the meeting had been over.
When I arrived at the scene, the meeting had been over.
Are the two sentences correct?
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What is the tense of this word and why?
The sentence:
You see, I have dumped my iPhone and bought myself an old-style, internet-free dumb phone (or “feature phone”, as the new branding would call it).
What is the tense of the word "...
Jaroslav Tavgen
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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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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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"So that he will do" (future tense) or "so that he does" (present tense)
You must be sure to tell him this so that he will do it.
You must be sure to tell him this so that he does it.
Do these two sentences mean same?
I am getting problem use of tenses after so that or ...
user467240
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Verbs in the simple present vs. perfect present
Please help me and tell me, which one of these sentences should I use?
Until they have prepared our room, we will wait in the hotel lobby.
Until they prepare our room, we will wait in the hotel lobby....
Amir
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Pointing out for direction - should I use present continuous or simple present
My friend was looking for a lighter and I pointed him toward a guy who had stood with a citrate (not the best example, but, hey, it is a real situation). I said "This guy smokes"while ...
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"It is/was" in cleft sentences
I don't know which tense should be used in the following cleft sentence. In the non-clefted version, the past-tense is used, but in the clefted version, which tense is okay? If both are okay, what's ...
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was/is a great invention of
Which tense should be used in the following? If both are okay, what's the difference in their use?
The light bulb was/is a great invention of Thomas Edison.
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Past and present in one sentence
Is it correct to use both past and present tenses in sentences where experiments lead to the discovery of general truth about smth, like this:
"Experiments demonstrated that in this solution ...
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..to confirm that X is employed as an ABC since XZ. Why not "has been employed"?
I would like to write a confirmation letter for an employee. I found a template that states the following:
We hereby confirm that [name, born on, where], is employed as [role]
since [date]
Why it is ...
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How to use future perfect tense with present or future tense
I would like to ask the difference between the usage of future perfect tense with present tense and the future prefect tense with future tense.
We will have eaten food when they come.
We will have ...
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Using the past perfect of 'to walk' and simple present of 'to be' in one sentence
I have looked everywhere but can't find a clear answer to this question. I found this site:https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/6372/when-is-the-past-perfect-exactly-needed
that says:
The past ...
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What are the differences between these sentences? (to do / to have done)
Do you feel any difference between these two in each pair?
(1)
(a) Maria was happy to have passed the exam.
(b) Maria was happy to pass the exam.
(2)
(a) Maria is happy to have passed the exam.
(b) ...
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Present simple and present progressive to describe current action, limited duration, temprary state
Are the simple present and the progressive interchangeable in the sentences below?
For example, 1. "They live/are living in poverty" (a current state-is expressed by the progressive but with ...
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difference between present perfect continuous and simple with negative sentences
I have not met her very often lately I have not been meeting her very often lately.
Is the only difference between these 2 sentences the continuity of the action
the first means a recently finished ...
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Converting "My travel ban was lifted" to present tense
I'm a English learner, and I'm trying to convert the following sentence to present tense.
My travel ban was lifted.
When we convert this to present tense, is the following correct?
My travel ban ...
Bathiudeen
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present vs past tense
I told her to light the lamp when it gets dark.
I told her to light the lamp when it got dark.
Which sentence is correct? If both are correct then what is the difference in meaning between them and ...
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Can we use the past tense followed by present tense to describe videos or movies we've seen before?
For example:This video talks about the importance of giving affection to your pets, they were mentioning how you should make enough time for your pets to ensure their happiness in the long run, it was ...
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Some doubts about the usage of Past Perfect in these context
I am encountering some problems filling these space in this exercises:
A: Have you seen Matt recently?
B: Matt? He’s in Canada.
A: Really? How long has he been in Canada?
B: About a year now. ...
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Usage of present tense in a past tense sentence
I read that if sentence is in past tense then all clauses of the sentence should be in past, except if it is a universal truth.
Now, I want to create a sentence and situation is this - I watched ...
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Does the present fit in this case
January 1st is on Saturday next year or january will be on Saturday next year
I think present fits because it is something that can't be changed . So what is the better solution, is it only a point ...
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"...many patients are seeking out transplants in other countries" -- what if "seek out" were used?
I was reading an article on HowStuffWorks and came across this:
The shortage of donated organs in the United States is so severe that many patients are seeking out transplants in other countries. ...
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If it was not for vs If it hadn't been for
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If it was not for Vivian, the conference wouldn't be going ahead.
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If it hadn't been for Dad, I wouldn't have gone to college.
I know the second sentence indicates a time in the past ...
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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 present simple for a temporary state
Many students are not going to school at the moment . They are practising and studying at in their houses . Their teachers send them videos and activities every day.
Why "send" is not ...
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"is changed" vs "has changed"
In the following podcast at 1:57 the reporter appears to say: "How is your life changed in the last few years?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DFyqiS-ZCY#t=126
I'd like to understand why not "has ...
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Can we use Present Perfect Tense for actions that happened years ago, but I want the listener to focus on the result that is still relevant?
Can we use Present Perfect Tense for actions that happened years ago, but I want the listener to focus on the result that is still relevant?
for the context, let’s say, I created a website a year ago....
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How to use if clause with present perfect
If you have drunk too much milk, you might have been taller.
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
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anyone could guess you write/wrote/had written it
In a classroom, one student (A) to another (B):
A: I'm surprised! How did you know I wrote it on the board? (The writing is still there on the board)
B: It's pretty simple. Looking at the handwriting, ...
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"it turns out" in the narration of a past event
Very often I see "it turns out" used in the description of a past event. One veteran user said "it turns out" is okay when we are describing a recent event. But can't it be used ...
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Is it natural to say "my electric bill is paid" when you are reporting a bill's status?
Can you please tell me if it's natura and correct to say my electric bill is paid when you are telling someone it's current status, not that it's regularly paid.
If doesn't sound natural, I would like ...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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While with the present simple meaning an on-going action
I was told that this is grammatically correct.
(A conversation over the phone)
What are you doing now?
I am having a good time while I go to my granny's.
I was told that "while I go to my ...
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The correct use of "for the first time/the first time"
With what tense should we use "for the first time" and "the first time"?
I am confused, because some native speakers told me that I had to always use Present Perfect. But others ...
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Joe was fighting with Mary
Dad got home and saw his son Joe and his daughter, Mary, were taking a time-out (punishment).
He asked Mom, "What's the matter?"
I know it is OK for Mom to say "Joe fought with Mary&...
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rule about using present perfect with present simple
I can't find on internet the rule.
To you native speakers, if the second part of the sentence uses present simple, does it involve using the present perfect tense in the first part because of the ...
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How to refer to the deceased
In referring to a dead person, do you say, his/her name "is" or "was" David/Lisa?
It doesn't sound incorrect to me when I say "his name is David" but does when I say &...
Skot Lapo
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can I use "own" in progressive?
I ...... this car for more than ten years.
a) have owned
b) have been owning
c) owned
d) will own
So what's the difference between a,b and c
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would the native says: From the very first day he shows us that he is a man who takes no lip off nobody
Is the use of the simple present correct in the example bel:
**From the very first day he shows us that he is a man who takes no lip off nobody **
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