Questions tagged [present-tense]
The present tense is a grammatical tense that locates a situation or event in present time.
525
questions
3
votes
1
answer
327
views
Present Simple instead of Present Perfect in colloquial speech
I was recently watching " The Last of Us" series and was pretty perplexed when Ellie asked Joel "You ever play this one?" pointing to the old Mortal Combat arcade. It was so ...
- 53
1
vote
1
answer
40
views
Using "since" + year/date with the present simple [closed]
Is it ever acceptable to use the present simple in a sentence with "since [year/date]"?
For example:
"Since 2012, environmental regulations have to be evaluated every three years."...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
28
views
Is it idiomatic to shift from present progressive to present simple within single sentence? [duplicate]
One of my friends while writing a passage wrote the following sentence that contained both present progressive and present simple tense within a single sentence:
Road accidents are happening because ...
- 4,641
2
votes
0
answers
53
views
Can we use adverbs of frequency with "will"? [closed]
I’ve seen this text in which "sometimes" has been used with "will". I assume the sentence is explaining a habit, and I wonder why it’s been said with "will".
Sometimes I'...
- 31
0
votes
1
answer
28
views
I am not going to school => Amn't I going to school? [closed]
You are not going to school => Aren't you going to school? // this is correct, right?
I am not going to school => Amn't I going to school? // something's wrong here.
How to build the correct ...
- 217
2
votes
1
answer
92
views
Present tense or past tense
I was doing a grammar practice question where we are to spot the mistakes in the sentences and I came across this sentence:
It was only when I came closer to it that I realized it wouldn’t be as easy ...
- 391
0
votes
2
answers
58
views
What is correct: "did you do smth and do smth" or "Did you do smth and did smth"?
I'm trying to figure out which form is correct when composing such a question:
"Did you go there and forget to eat?"
"Did you go there and forgot to eat?"
Not the most creative ...
1
vote
1
answer
44
views
talking about general things - choice of tense to "set the scene"
This is a question that I've been struggling with for quite a long time. I have asked a similar question in the ELL forum already but I didn't get an answer there and it is difficult to find ...
- 11
1
vote
3
answers
82
views
"It's not true what they said. They're lying." Why are we using Present Continuous here? They have already lied, so why?
I don't understand why we use Present Continous there, because the action has already ended, "they have already lied".
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
392
views
Use of present simple tense in sports commentaries
Given that the present continuous is used for something happening now, e.g. "I am eating", and the present simple is used for general facts, e,g. "Lions eat meat", why does sports ...
- 11
-2
votes
1
answer
74
views
"I wonder" when we're thinking out loud [duplicate]
The phone's ringing. Who's it for, I wonder?
Or:
I wonder what time the store opens.
There are some materials I have made acquaintance with:
https://youtu.be/BdaQ55-JlPg
https://grammarhow.com/i-was-...
- 105
0
votes
0
answers
33
views
Does this excerpt from a textbook describes the Present Indefinite in case of performatives?
The examples are from the book "A Grammar of Present-day English" by I. Krylova and E. Gordon.
"I repeat, the girl has been extremely impertinent," he said.
You leave me no choice.
...
- 105
0
votes
0
answers
35
views
What is this "Style" called ? And How do i use it? [duplicate]
Example :
Hahaha, I was just joking ...[stops], or was I ?
He Sounds very familiar, or does he ?
Sorry for the bad explanation but I think you got the point here ...
0
votes
0
answers
52
views
Do we have always to use the simple past with the verb "to wish"?
My question revolves around the verb "wish".
I am currently studying present continuous vs simple present, and there a section amongst the instructions entitled "verbs rarely used in ...
- 3
0
votes
2
answers
33
views
I would like to know which option is the right one: Why did... or Why has...? [closed]
Why did the dog make so much noise this night?
Why has the dog made so much noise this night?
- 1
2
votes
2
answers
150
views
What is finished the verb or the object?
Is it correct to say?
A: What did you do yesterday?
B: I woke up, had a shower, wrote a book and then went to work. (I didn't write the whole book) 1:03 --- 1:10 a teacher from YouTube, please have a ...
0
votes
1
answer
65
views
Use of present simple in "I wonder what he does all day long?"
Consider the sentence (which may in speech either be modulated to indicate an invitation to reply, signified here by the question mark, or not):
"I wonder what he does all day long?"
The ...
- 143
0
votes
4
answers
54
views
Use simple past or present? [duplicate]
Between these sentences:
Ten years ago he showed me the location of the stations. There was a bridge that connected them.
Ten years ago he showed me the location of the stations. There is a bridge ...
- 1
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
I had a girlfriend. She (was/is) an american. Which one is correct and doesn't sound odd? [duplicate]
Which one doesn't sound odd and is correct?
"I had a girlfriend. She was an american."
Or
"I had a girlfriend. She is an american."
- 15
0
votes
2
answers
115
views
"A letter is written to inform" vs "A letter is written to be informed" [closed]
I write a letter to inform him
I want to convert this sentence into the passive voice. But then wrote down these three sentences. I can't understand the difference between these sentences. Can anyone ...
- 3
0
votes
2
answers
56
views
Is it "The only thing my father taught me (was/is) how to respect women? [duplicate]
Which one should be used? Was or is? Which is more likely to sound odd?
- 15
0
votes
0
answers
45
views
"The only thing they forgot to teach us is/was how to be a student." Which is right? "Is" or "was"?
Which sounds correct?
The only thing they forgot to teach is how to be a student.
Or
The only thing they forgot to teach was how to be a student.
- 15
0
votes
0
answers
82
views
's ending in English simple present tense
I was wondering whether someone would be able to explain the origin of the -s form as used to bind a predicate with a third person subject (he,she,it) to express a "simple " present ...
0
votes
1
answer
79
views
the entire film/book
If I say:
"I read the book." or "I watched the film."
Does it mean that I read the entire book or that I watched the entire film?
If it does, how should I say to emphasise that I ...
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Two different verb tenses that involve “must have.”
Mom must have noticed me tense up as she hugs me tighter and redoubles her soothing.
Mom must have noticed me tense up as she hugged me tighter and redoubled her shooting.
Are both correct? ...
user440675
0
votes
2
answers
47
views
Does this sentence imply 2 meanings? Present Perfect
"I have loved you for many years". As I understand it, this sentence can have 2 different meanings.
I still love her. It started a long time ago.
I don't love her anymore.
Am I correct?
6
votes
4
answers
379
views
In what regions is "Do you work tonight?" clear and acceptable usage?
In my answer at ELL regarding a question of whether someone is working that evening, I suggested the alternative:
Do you work tonight?
There was a comment about this being incorrect usage, because &...
- 231
0
votes
0
answers
26
views
is the first vs was the first [duplicate]
Which is correct?
George Washington was the first president of the United States.
or
George Washington is the first president of the United States.
(He will always be the first president of the United ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
53
views
Why did you ask me if they have any allergies?
In this sentence, the person is referring to a question that was asked in the past but a condition that is current. Can the past and present tense be used in this case or should it be "Why did ...
- 1
1
vote
0
answers
165
views
To present or to give a presentation [closed]
As part of a recruitment process, Bob was asked to 'present a finished product'. Bob took that literal and gave them a finished/packaged product as he thought this was the requirement. Instead, they ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
Present simple or present continuous - I'm on the bus [duplicate]
Present simple or present continuous? What tense are the following sentences? " I have a headache","he is on the bus",she is at work",he is tired",she is at the shop"...
0
votes
1
answer
87
views
Correct tenses for history book
I’m reading and hearing conflicting advice on this topic. I’m writing a history book and I am getting tripped up on tenses when the time period shifts when referencing the same topic. Some are telling ...
0
votes
1
answer
90
views
Present Perfect in main clause
I cannot determine whether both of these instances are appropriate uses of present perfect.
Scenario: We just pull up to a restaurant and notice we are the first/last ones there, and someone utters:
&...
- 141
0
votes
1
answer
41
views
What is are the distinct names for these verbs: 'Display' and 'Displays' [closed]
Given the statement Click this button to display your presentation and Clicking this button displays your presentation.
I assume both the words display and displays are verbs but what is the name of ...
- 137
1
vote
1
answer
51
views
Is it okay to say "Do you know there is" [closed]
I've come across this sentence below.
"Do you know there is an air purification system that will destroy viruses and bacteria floating through the air?"
Does this sound natural?
It might ...
- 21
1
vote
0
answers
54
views
Why is present simple used here?
We had a sentence in an exam, and we were asked to choose the right tense of the verb, the sentence goes as follows
They are having dinner; they (haven't had, don't have) any problems at all.
Now ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
50
views
Rhetorical effects of future tense when describing past event
Just before 2 a.m., as it prepared for its return to Earth, the Crew
Dragon jettisoned what SpaceX calls the “trunk” section of the
spacecraft — the cylindrical compartment below the gumpdrop-shaped
...
- 255
0
votes
0
answers
105
views
Using present tense in past tense narration
Is it grammatically correct to use the present tense in fiction that's narrated in the past tense? Sometimes, as a writer, you add "general statements" into your narrative. Example:
But ...
0
votes
0
answers
41
views
Are These Sentences Equivalent or is One More Appropriate than the Others? (Present Progressive Tense)
These all seem equally "valid" to me:
"I have recently been reading some research papers about..."
"I recently have been reading some research papers about..."
"I ...
- 101
0
votes
1
answer
258
views
What is a complex/difficult example of English tenses? [closed]
I'm a native English speaker, and while learning other languages, I've learned that English has more complex tenses than other languages. I don't know what all of the English tenses are, but the most ...
- 109
0
votes
0
answers
651
views
"Is / was / has been / had been used" in a statement
I'm confused whether I should use are or were or have been or had been in the following statement when describing the use of language in a passage
In paragraph 6, detailed adjectives ____ used to ...
0
votes
4
answers
86
views
“You go and dry yourselves while I polish the car.” or "You go and dry yourselves while I'm polishing the car." [closed]
context
i/Cleaning_the_Car/Transcript
Oxford Dictionary says: "while-at the same time as sth else is happening
eg: You can go swimming while I'm having lunch."
so I am confused. Why doesn't ...
- 5
2
votes
2
answers
546
views
If clause with a past tense about future for hypothetical condition
Is there any case in English were a future condition is represented with past tense?
E.g. "If I saw you tomorrow, I will do ..."
In some languages, it casts more doubt for the condition to ...
- 183
1
vote
0
answers
946
views
being removed vs gets removed?
Question I: Which one is grammatically correct?
1. Does order A remain effective after object B gets removed?
or
2. Does order A remain effective after object B is being removed?
Question II: What ...
- 111
0
votes
1
answer
121
views
Present Tense and Past tense in context
Present Tense and Past tense in context
There is a text/ paragraph as follows:
If I have a description at the start, say "I visited Thailand. There were a lot of nice restaurants.", then if ...
- 69
1
vote
0
answers
21
views
Is it possible to use the past and present tenses in the same sentence? [closed]
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 ...
- 11
-1
votes
1
answer
46
views
What kind of verb phrase is it when “is” in the present tense is immediately followed by another verb that’s itself in the past tense?
Please consider this example of three sentences in sequence:
The building is destroyed.
The rubble is then removed.
The rubble is broken into smaller pieces.
What kind of verb phrase is ...
-1
votes
1
answer
74
views
The meaning of the sentence "Fortunately/Wisely, she consults her lawyer regularly."
In Quirk's A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language Section 8.128 (page 624): it says
Fortunately/Wisely, she consults her lawyer regularly. [1]
= It is fortunate/wise that she consult(s)/...
- 117
0
votes
2
answers
101
views
A sentence without a predicate in the middle of narrative given in past tense
From William Gibson’s debut 1984 science-fiction novel, Neuromancer:
Crossing the arcade to stand beside her, high on the deal he’d made, he saw her glance up. Gray eyes rimmed with smudged black ...
2
votes
2
answers
105
views
Mixing Past & Present Tense
Original:
"These two peers would later become an advantageous support system for me personally, assisting as I struggled with the structural engineering portion of my internship project at the ...
