Language Desk 7. Tenses
We have different tenses in English. We will focus on the different forms of the present tense, past tense and future tense. Te present tense deals with what happens now - not yesterday (past tense) or tomorrow (future tense).
PRESENT TENSE In English we show when something happened (time) in the VERB. We call this verb a tense. Tere are two ways of talking about the present.
1. Simple present Tom wants to see a film. Lend me your text book. He is really happy today. Te CD costs R99.95. I have a new cell phone.
We use this to describe an action in the present: Form by adding -s to the simple verb and use with the verb to be. See table below.
We use this form mostly to talk about: Actions that happen again and again, e.g. I work on Saturdays. We listen to the news every evening.
Facts and things that stay the same for a long time, e.g. I live in a flat. I have a part-time job.
Feelings, e.g. I like, I want, I wish, I love, I dislike
2. Present continuous Vusi is talking to the facilitator. Is it raining now? Where are you going aſter college? I am reading. Lonwabo Tsotsobe is not playing cricket today.
We use this form to talk about things that are happening right now, e.g. I am talking on the phone.
Simple Present Tips
Use present time words (adverbs).
Remember to use time words such as now, immediately, at the moment, right now, this instant.
Regular: plain form or –s form run
I run. You/we/they run. He/she/it runs.
Note the spelling rules when adding -ing Te present tense of to be
I am You are He/she/it is
we are you are they are
Present Continuous (-ing form called Present Participle)
Regular: am, is, are plus -ing run
I am running. You/we/they/ are running. He/she/it is running.
Te present tense of to have I have
You have He/she/it has
we have you have they have
FutureManagers
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