Module for Week # 5
Objective:
Review of and practice with present tense verbs
Directions:
Read the explanations and examples of each verb tense carefully. Then
do the exercises 1--5. The following websites are also useful. Copy and
paste the links into your web browser. Refer to these websites, as
needed.
Verb Tenses:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/601/01
Irregular Verbs
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/605/01/
HOW DO WE USE THE PRESENT TENSES?
Let’s look at the verbs that are in the “present tense family.” They are simple
present, present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous, simple
future, and future perfect. Any sentence that expresses an idea that is about the
present time or related to the present time must take the form of one of these tenses.
Writers establish the time frame of their ideas with the verbs they use. For example, a
writer needs to use the present tenses in a cause/effect essay about the current state of
the environment for a paper about climate change. On the other hand, a writer needs to
use the past tenses in a narrative essay about his or her past experience. Correct use of
verb tenses is very important because verbs indicate the time in which an action
happened (or) happens (or) will happen.
The Simple Present Tense
The simple present tense is formed with either of the two present forms of a verb, -s
or no -s. The simple present tense is used in three situations.
1. It is used to express general, non-specific present time. Generalizations, facts, habits
and abilities, and frequently repeated actions are expressed with the simple present
tense. Adverbs of time such as usually, always, never, often, every day, and sometimes
are often used with this tense.
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. (a fact)
She plays piano very well. (a habit or ability)
We study English verbs every night. (a frequently repeated action)
2. It is used with stative verbs to indicate both general present time (as explained
above) and specific present time (right now). A stative verb is a verb that doesn’t
really show an action, but rather a state of being or condition. Some common stative
verbs are like, love, hate, feel, want, know, need, understand, believe, and doubt. Think of
stative verbs as words that indicate what your heart and mind do when you feel and
think; in other words, these verbs express "invisible actions." (We will look a little bit
more at stative verbs when we discuss the present continuous tense.)
I want to go to bed now. (stative verb, specific present time)
He always feels refreshed after soaking in the hot tub. (stative verb, habit)
Americans love fast food. (stative verb, generalization)
3. It is used to express the future time when referring to a certain event which is
happening at a scheduled time in the near future.
The train leaves tomorrow at 9 a.m.
(scheduled event, near future time)
I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow afternoon.
(scheduled event, near future time)
Notice how the simple present tense works in the following paragraph, which
describes the purpose of the U.S. Census Bureau:
The United States Bureau of the Census is responsible for gathering
statistics about the people who live in America. This government agency orders
several kinds of censuses at different intervals. There are censuses for
population, housing, agriculture, business and industry. The census that affects
most people is the population census, which occurs every 10 years. This census
comes in the mail or online, and it asks every family to answer questions about
age, education, employment, income, and residency status. The population
census is important because it helps the government determine how many
representatives in Congress each state receives. It also shows population
density, ethnic background, and marital status of the people in different parts of
the country. This information helps the government plan special programs to
assist different groups of people. Once the government knows about the
population, it is able keep accurate records on births and deaths, demographic
trends, standards of living, and economic changes. The next census arrives in
the year 2020, and everyone who receives one should complete it.
Exercise 1
Write 10 sentences about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an
American organization in Atlanta, Georgia. Use the paragraph above about the U.S.
Census Bureau as a model. Include the verbs and details in the lists below to compose
your sentences. The first sentence has been done for you as an example. Complete the
second sentence and add eight more sentences. Source:
http://www.cdc.gov/about/organization/mission.htm
educate
monitor
health problems
health threats
promote
inform
prevention strategies
risky behavior
implement
investigate
health policies
scientific data
provide
develop
healthy lifestyle
epidemics
lead
research
training
health professions
1.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) educates the general public about diseases and injuries.
2.
This agency _________________________________________________________________________
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Exercise 2
Copy and paste the following website into your Internet browser:
http://explorethecanyon.com/explore-learn/grand-canyon-facts/
Find 10 facts about the Grand Canyon and write 10 sentences about that natural
landmark in the United States.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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The Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense is formed with a present form of the auxiliary be (am,
are, is) followed by the -ing form of the main verb. The present continuous tense has
three major uses.
1. It is used to express actions in the specific present time; that is, actions that are
happening right now.
What are you doing in the kitchen? (specific present/now)
I’m making a sandwich. (specific present/now)
2. It is used to express an action that is continuing in the present at the same time as
another action, which is just beginning. The two actions may also be happening at
the same time. The present continuous tense is frequently used with the word while.
While you’re filling the car with gas, I’m going to buy some food.
(two present actions, one continuing, one beginning)
The students are laughing while the teacher is explaining the lesson.
(two simultaneous continuing actions)
3. It is used to express the future time, especially events which are planned for the
future.
Tomorrow, we’re visiting the zoo. (future planned event)
We are going to the next Olympics.
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Stative verbs, which we looked at briefly in the lesson about the simple present tense,
are almost never used in the present continuous tense. These verbs show a state of being
or condition. A state or condition, by definition, is always going on in the present time.
Look at these examples (the * asterisk indicates an error in standard English usage):
I want to go to bed now.
*I am wanting to go to bed now.
He always feels refreshed after soaking in the hot tub.
*He is always feeling refreshed after soaking in the hot tub.
I love my wife and children.
*I am loving my wife and children.
The * sentences in the examples above are incorrect. The verbs want, feel, and love
are stative verbs, so they are generally not used in the present continuous tense. Other
verbs that fall into this category are: realize, mean, remember, appreciate, prefer, suppose,
recognize.
Notice how the present continuous tense works in the following paragraph, which
describes actions that are going on right now:
While you are reading this paragraph, your blood is circulating through
the arteries, veins and capillaries of your body. Your heart is pumping the blood
in a continuous cycle. The blood is entering the right side of your heart, and it is
flowing through your lungs, where it is picking up oxygen. From your lungs
the blood is moving into the left side of your heart, where it is carrying oxygen
and other waste products out of your system. This circulatory system is also
distributing vitamins, minerals and enzymes to the cells in your body that use
them. In addition, your blood is transporting hormones to parts of your body.
These hormones are doing many different things. For example, they are helping
you see the words on this page. Your blood is keeping you healthy in other
ways because it is defending you against diseases and regulating your body
temperature.
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Exercise 3
Pick up a newspaper or scan the news headlines on the Internet. Find out what
reporters are writing in the local, national, and international news. Use the present
continuous and simple present tenses to answer the questions below about the news
for a specific day. Write complete sentences. The first one has been done as an example.
DATE:____________________
1. What are politicians talking about in the news today?
Politicians are talking about the civil war in Syria.
2. Who is making news in Houston/in Texas/ in your country now?
______________________________________________________
3. Which countries are fighting with each other right now? What are they fighting
about?
______________________________________________________
4. Which government official is traveling now? Where is she/he visiting?
______________________________________________________
5. Who is getting a lot of press coverage right now? Why?
______________________________________________________
6. Which special events are going on in the sports world right now?
______________________________________________________
7. Which President, Minister, or leader is making the news today?
______________________________________________________
8. What is that world leader doing?
______________________________________________________
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The Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
The present perfect tense is formed with a present form of the auxiliary have or has
and the past participle of the main verb. The present perfect tense has two main uses.
1. It is used to indicate an action which happened at an indefinite time in the past, but it
is being viewed from the point of view of the present. In other words, the action
occurred at some time between the present and an indefinite time in the past, but the
exact time is not important.
I have visited Thailand twice. (indefinite past time)
He has already done his homework. (indefinite past
time)
2. It is used to indicate an action or state of being which began in the past and has a
connection to the present.
I have just finished reading your letter.
(action that started in the past and just recently ended)
Often we want to show that an action started in the past, continued up to the
present, and will probably continue into the future. To do this, we use the present
perfect continuous. The present perfect continuous is formed with the present form of
the auxiliary have or has, the past participle of the auxiliary be (been), and the -ing form
of the main verb.
I have been studying at Houston Community College for three years.
(action started in the past, is occurring now, and will go into the future)
We have been watching TV since early this morning.
(action started in the past, is occurring now, and will go into the future)
Certain time signals often occur with the present perfect and present perfect
continuous tenses.
Time Signal
Example Sentence
for + a period of time
I have been studying math for 10 years.
since + a specific time
I have been studying math since 2002.
until now/up to now/up till now
I haven't had any tests up till now.
yet (with questions + negative)
Has she eaten dinner yet?
already
She has eaten three tacos already.
so far
So far, he has read two chapters.
Remember: The present perfect and the present perfect continuous
tenses are NOT past tenses. We use them in the present established
time when we want to look at an event that happened in the past and
that has a clear relationship to the present.
Notice how the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses work in the
following paragraph, which describes a recent trend in American culture.
For many years, health-conscious Americans have worried about the risk of
getting cancer. Some activists among them have protested the use of a food
coloring called Red Dye #3. Food and cosmetics companies have been using the
dye to color cake mixes, maraschino cherries, lipsticks, and rouges. Scientists
have recently confirmed that Red Dye #3 causes cancer in mice that have
received large doses of the artificial coloring.
The Food and Drug
Administration (a government agency) has already begun to regulate the dye.
Because food and cosmetics industries have been using Red Dye #3 for a long
time, many companies have had to invest money to change the manufacturing of
their products.
Exercise 4
Complete the following sentences with the simple present, present continuous, present
perfect, or present perfect continuous tense. Hint: pay attention to the time signals!
1. The boys _____are playing_____ soccer right now. They
(play)
____have been playing_____ for almost two hours.
(play)
2. I _____have________ a test tomorrow. I ____have been trying____ to
(have)
(try)
study for the last hour, but the dog next door ____has been barking__ , and I
(bark)
can't concentrate. I ____guess____ I will go to the library.
(guess)
3. Deborah ____has been preparing___ for her party for two weeks. She
(prepare)
has made (or has been making)___ all kinds of delicious and fattening food. The
(make)
party _______is__________ this weekend. People always
(be)
______have________ a lot of fun at her parties.
(have)
4. It is 4 a.m., and the baby ____is crying___ . He ___has been crying
(cry)
(cry)
since 2:00 this morning. I ____haven’t had_ a good night’s sleep
(have - neg)
since he was born.
5. I ___am waiting___ for my friend. I __have been waiting for
(wait)
(wait)
over half an hour. We usually _try_ to eat lunch together.
(try)
She always ___comes_____ late for our dates. In fact, she
(come)
__has stood_ me up many times. I ___have spent_
(stand)
(spend)
enough time waiting for her. I ___am leaving__ now.
(leave)
The Future Tenses
The simple future tense is formed by using the modal will followed by the base form
of the main verb. It can also be formed by using the present form of the auxiliary be
(am, are, is) followed by going to and the base form of the main verb. It has one major
use.
1. It is used to tell about an event that will happen after the present established time.
I will pass ENGL 0346 with a very high grade.
(event later than present established time = after now)
She is going to arrive tomorrow.
(event later than present established time)
Notice how the simple future is used in this paragraph.
How will technology change the future? Over the next 50 years, we will
probably live to see computers alter every facet of our daily lives. Robots will
cook, clean, and cut the grass for us. Our clothes will tell us when they are dirty
or worn out. Cars are going to drive themselves and find their way when we get
lost. Before long, a computer will also suggest how to spend all of our spare
time. We will not be able to live without them.
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It is possible to combine the simple future with the present continuous. This gives us
the future continuous tense. It is formed by using the modal will followed by the base
form of the auxiliary be and the -ing form of the main verb. It has one major use.
1. It is used to show that an event will start at a time later than the present
established time and the event will take place over a period of time.
Next week, I will be enjoying the sun in the south of France.
(future event, continuing over a period of time)
Don’t call me this evening because I will be watching TV.
(future event, continuing over a period of time)
It is also possible to use the be going to form of the future with the future continuous,
but be careful that your sentence doesn’t repeat unnecessarily.
Repetitious: I’m going to be going to school next week.
Better: I’m going to school next week.
It is also possible to combine the simple future with the present perfect. This gives
us the future perfect tense. It is formed with the modal will followed by the base form
of the auxiliary have and the past participle of the main verb. It is used only in very
specific circumstances.
1. It is used to tell about an event that will occur at a future time which is before some
other time in the future.
By the end of the semester, you will have studied all the English verb tenses.
(two future events, one of them [study tenses]
occurring before the other [end of semester])
This tense is almost always used with a phrase or clause that starts with the time
signals by or by the time and the simple present tense.
By the time he finishes his assignment, we will have completed
the next lesson.
By dinner time, we will have eaten all the cookies.
We do not use the be going to form of the present with the future perfect tense.
There is one more type of future tense that we will look at, but it is very rarely used.
It is possible to combine the simple future with the present perfect and the present
continuous. This gives us the future perfect continuous. It is formed by using the
modal will followed by the base form of the auxiliary have, the past participle of the
auxiliary be (been), and the -ing form of the main verb. It is used exactly in the same
situation as the future perfect tense, but it gives the idea that the future event will
continue over a period of time.
By the end of the year, I will have been studying English for six years.
(future continuing event [will have been studying], happening before another
future event [end of the year])
Notice how the future continuous and future perfect tenses work in this paragraph.
By the turn of the next century, what will have happened? It’s impossible
to say, but we can predict that astronauts will have colonized another planet in
our solar system. We might hope for things that will make life better on Earth,
too. Perhaps all the inhumane governments in the world will have changed,
and they will be practicing more democratic principles in their countries.
Maybe all countries will have solved their problems of famine, homelessness,
crime and injustice, and people will be living better lives. Scientists will have
found cures for diseases such as cancer, AIDS, arthritis, and diabetes. Drug
kingpins will have lost their power because the demand for drugs will have
decreased significantly. Hopefully, every person on the globe will be enjoying a
life of peace and harmony.
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Exercise 5
Look over the Instructor's Syllabus for a college English class below. Use notebook
paper and write 10 sentences to summarize the course requirements and policies.
ENGLISH 1301 COURSE SYLLABUS
Instructor:
Professor Matador
Office hours: Mon/Wed 1-2 p.m.
Course Objectives:
To improve students' critical reading and writing skills. Students will write
essays for personal and academic purposes. This course includes an introduction to
argumentation and critical analysis.
Writing Assignments:
Students write 6 essays, a journal, daily quizzes, and a final exam.
Attendance Policy:
Regular attendance is required. The college policy states that a student who is
absent more than 12.5% of class may be dropped by the instructor. Students who want
to stop coming to class must withdraw by the official day to drop in order to receive the
W final grade
Classroom Policies:
Students must come to class on time and be prepared.
All homework must be finished outside of class.
If you must leave early, please tell the instructor before class starts.
Please do not put books and supplies away before class is dismissed.
Do not: chat while the teacher is talking, comb your hair, answer a cell phone,
pass notes, chew tobacco, or eat in class.
The out-of-class essays must be typed.
The in-class essay must be written in a Blue Examination Book.
A late essay will lose 10 points each day after the due date.
There are no late journals or make-up quizzes.
Scholastic Dishonesty:
The Student Handbook (p. 35) for the college states that certain things are NOT
allowed. The penalty for any of the following is an F grade:
* cheating on a test = copying from someone else's paper during a test
*plagiarism = using another person's words, information, or ideas as your own
without giving credit the other person
*collusion = "unauthorized collaboration," or getting someone else to do your
work for you
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Use the following verbs in the present tense to summarize Professor Matador's English
1301 Syllabus: require, permit, allow, submit, ask, prefer, want, accept, assign, drop, expect,
give. Use both affirmative and negative verbs.
Examples:
Professor Matador expects students to come to class on time.
He doesn't permit food in class.