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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1answer
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It (is/has been) four years since our family has had a vacation
It is four years since our family has had a vacation.
It has been four years since our family has had a vacation.
What is the difference between these two sentences? And why is sentence 1 even ...
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1answer
38 views
“This is the tent I had when I was a little boy.” VS “This is the tent I have had since I was a little boy.”
Daddy Pig says:"This is the tent I had when I was a little boy." If he said :"This is the tent I have had since I was a little boy". Are there any subtle differences between the ...
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3answers
35 views
“Do you know” vs. “Did you know”
I know the difference in general, but it still confuses me when it comes to certain contexts, including the following:
I love a girl and I'm wondering if she knows that I love her. I'm talking about ...
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2answers
31 views
already faced said reprisal and came back for more
It seems to me that "came back for more" refers to "already faced said reprisal and came back for more (reprisal)". But then the grammar is inconsistent: The present perfect (have ...
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0answers
29 views
I don't know who {had stolen/stole/has stolen} your book
I gave my students a test with the following task:
I don't know who ___ your book.
and 3 response options:
a) had stolen
b) stole
c) has stolen
The key states that c) is correct, but I have a ...
0
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0answers
12 views
Ambiguous use of present prefect and present tenses
I want to know whether which usage of present prefect and present tenses are used correctly between these two sentences shown below.
Sentence one: He always passes all his exams even after he has ...
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25 views
Different tense in one sentence
I have been trying to use the 'past perfect' tense and other related grammars in my sentence.
I want to make sure if the sentences below are grammatically correct. I would also like to know if these ...
0
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1answer
23 views
Can I freely combine the present perfect simple tense with the present perfect progressive tense within the same sentence or is it bad grammar?
Jim talks to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina watch him.
Jim talks to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina are watching him.
Jim is talking to Fran on Finn's phone while Finn and Gina ...
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1answer
31 views
I have just got vs. I just got
Is it non-grammatical / incorrect to say:
I just received a call from my friend.
I just got your email.
I just read your email.
I just came from a store.
Compared to:
I have just received a call ...
0
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1answer
53 views
Use of right tense
Can we say:
Now it's 05:05 pm. We haven't finished the work yet when they have already arrived.
Is it a correct sentence? Is there any problem about it?
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1answer
37 views
When(Where) + past or present?
I don't know whether to choose to use past simple or present simple after when(where).
For example:
I like the part where he kills the villain.
I like the part where he killed the villain.
1 and 2 ...
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1answer
29 views
what are the appropriate tense forms to be used in these sentences and why?
She promised me that she (to ring up) me as soon as she (to return) from London.
She (to tell) me that the plane (to take off) at exactly 5 o'clock.
I learned that she (to get) a parcel from her ...
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2answers
119 views
Confusion in tenses
Well, I was learning present perfect tenses today and I am confused between present perfect and present perfect continuous. I have grasped majority of the uses of these sentences but I am confused ...
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0answers
22 views
difference between present simple and future simple [duplicate]
What is the difference between the following two sentences?
The first one is in present simple tense and
second one is in future simple tense but the difference in the meaning is not clear.
We fly to ...
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2answers
73 views
Why can't I use Present Perfect Continuous or vice versa Present Perfect forms in these sentences?
He has traveled so much recently that we have not managed to see each other much and I have met someone else. (why not "has been traveling")
I have been eating
fish and fruit since I got here. (...
3
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4answers
5k views
“are you wanting” vs. “do you want”
What are your motivations for doing this course? What do you want to achieve? Are you wanting a practical outcome, are you just browsing, or do you want to further develop your understanding of a ...
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0answers
25 views
Choosing between Present Continuous and Present Simple for an action taking place right now
Is there any rule in English regulating how I should choose between Present Continuous and Present Simple when I refer to the things happening at the moment?
For example:
(interrogation scene, a ...
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2answers
22 views
Present progressive for facts
I read on one of the forums that a native speaker may use both the present simple and the progressive interchangeably in a sentence like "I am living in Dublin" instead of "I live in ...
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0answers
17 views
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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0answers
34 views
“I am living in Berlin” (it's been 30 years)
Would a native speaker say "I am living in Berlin" instead of "I live in Berlin" if it's not their hometown and they have been living there for 30 years and they are still living ...
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0answers
20 views
“How does he get on at school?” instead of “How is getting on at school”?
Is the sentence "How does he do at school?" and "How does he get on at school?" correct and can be used instead of "How is he doing and getting on at school?" if we are ...
2
votes
1answer
30 views
As If/As though - Which sentence should I use?
I comprehend As Though/if can take the present and past tense. The problem is that sometimes I don't know what are the nuances among those 3.
For instance:
He looks as if *he knows it"
He ...
0
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1answer
30 views
Limited duration, temporary action and current trend
What's the difference between a limited duration, a temporary action and the current trend?
"She is learning English." (Limited and temporary)
"She is working in a bank." (...
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2answers
481 views
Present tense passive (The moon is made of the same material as earth.)
The moon is made of the same material as earth.
I got this sentence from a grammar book as an example of present tense. However, the past participle made is confusing to me. Is this also an example ...
3
votes
1answer
90 views
Enjoy or enjoying, come or are coming
The sentences are from "English Grammar Practice" by L.G. Alexaner.
In this exercise according to the book's answer key only "are coming" and "are asking" are correct in #...
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1answer
61 views
Present Progressive or Simple Present
I have a question about using present tenses;
would it be said that:
Robots are being developed
Robots are developed
I would say it is present progressive because the process is not ...
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1answer
21 views
Which tense should I use with so far in the following sentences?
How many ice creams did you eat/have you eaten in the morning so far?
2
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2answers
2k views
'Is' vs 'has been'
"It is/has been 40 years since I left college"
Which one of 'is' and 'has been' should be preferred in above sentence and why?
1
vote
1answer
186 views
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 ...
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1answer
48 views
present continuous in this case
I am flying to Spain tomorrow and am staying/will stay there one week.
What is the best solution I think both are valid.
0
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1answer
19 views
present or past tense when referring books [duplicate]
You should read the book and see what he means/meant by......
Question: Do we use present or past tense for a book? And does it matter if it's fictional books (Shakespeare) or fact (political/religion)...
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3answers
8k views
“Have you ever worked in a …” vs. “Have you ever been working in a …”
Which one of these sentences is right, the perfect simple or the perfect continuous?
A: Have you ever worked in a factory?
B: No, never!
or
A: Have you ever been working in a factory?
B: No,...
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1answer
563 views
How to identify that it is progressive verb or temporary activity
She is smelling a black rose.
(Progressive verb)
She is looking at the sky.
(Temporary activity)
We say that first sentence is a progressive verb but second is a temporary activity. I believe both ...
2
votes
1answer
136 views
Use of “Would be” vs. “Is”
What is the difference between these two sentences:
If you do this exercise badly, that would be a violation.
Versus:
If you do this exercise badly, it is a violation.
0
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2answers
38 views
Embarrassing or Embarrassed which is more suitable? is + verb (ing) or is + verb (ed)
This applies equally to the 14 year old who fails to attend school because a parent is terminally ill, the overweight 11 year old who fails to attend because he is ________ about changing for PE in ...
0
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1answer
167 views
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 ...
3
votes
3answers
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Is it possible to use the present simple tense after the conjunction 'while'?
I have come across the following pair of sentences on an iTool to the course book which prepares students for Cambridge Key English Test.
There must be a mistake in the second pair of sentences ...
0
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1answer
58 views
Using a past tense “mingled” in present tense writing
The sentence is:
"As I mingled with the crowd, I keep an eye out for my friend."
Is that grammatically correct?
I'm writing something in present tense instead of past tense for the first time, ...
0
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1answer
57 views
What tense is better to use
Please help me understand which tense it is better to use in the following situation: Alan meets Steve by chance. Steve doesn't recognise Alan, but Alan does recognise Steve. Alan is Steve's sister's ...
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1answer
91 views
What will be acceptable
"Melanie starts school tomorrow."
or
"Melanie will start school from tomorrow".
1st sentence is simple present tense and the 2nd one is simple future tense, so my question instead of simple ...
0
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2answers
49 views
This question is related to present perfect tense and the uses of never in it
They have never returned from that city.
This is a single time event ,can we use never in this sentence.
Instead of this can we use
They have not returned from that city
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votes
3answers
9k views
“I have been sent” or “I am sent”?
I was asked to work with my friend's friend whom I don't know. As I enter his room, he asks me:
Who is this?
I reply:
This is James. I have been/am sent here by Ory.
Which one is appropriate, ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Difference between “Have Thought”, “Have Just Thought” and “Just Thought”?
I was told that use of present perfect is incorrect in the context below as thinking action is discrete event and there isn't any relevance with the current situation. (Context is a situation where I'...
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0answers
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“I have not been seeing her very often lately”
I have not met her very often lately (that means that I only have seen her once or twice)
BUT if I have seen may be 5 or 6 times can I use
I have not been seeing her very often lately
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0answers
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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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vote
1answer
30 views
Can we use came for feature
The other day, me and my friend argued about something we both not sure if it’s correct or not, he answered my phone call and spoke to my cousin, my cousin asked about me, “where is mouhanad”, my ...
3
votes
2answers
116 views
This restaurant has become popular in recent years. (event or process?)
Does the sentence
This restaurant has become popular in recent years.
imply an ongoing, continuous process (becoming popular) that has been happening during the recent years? Or does it mean that ...
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0answers
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“I did not complain and tell/told myself to calm down and try to solve this difficult problem.”
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
I did not complain and tell myself to calm down and try to solve this difficult problem.
Or:
I did not complain and told myself to calm down and try to ...
27
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5answers
5k views
Why do native speakers use the present continuous tense when talking about people in a picture? Why not the past continuous tense?
This is some sentences in a flyer test.
I took this photo by the lake last Saturday, Grandma. It looks lovely.
Do you know any of these people?
Yes, I do. The man who’s reading the newspaper ...
3
votes
1answer
130 views
Present tense referring to general facts
You know the sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening, and it's a general fact. Then, If I say just 'the sun rises' to describe the general fact, is it wrong? Must the verb modified because ...
