Questions tagged [present-tense]
The present tense is a grammatical tense that locates a situation or event in present time.
72 questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
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Were the verb forms / structures named after their most typical / common use?
A verb form like "went" is called a "past tense". However, it is not only used to talk about past events (e.g. We went to Morocco last January), but also about unreal or uncertain present or future ...
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Future simple or present simple with "when"
-When will you arrive in this city again? - In a month.
I was always taught that we don't use the future simple after "with", but I came across with this sentence in my textbooks. So i'm confused why ...
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In present-tense narrative, does "I spend the NEXT few hours..." make sense?
I'm writing a novel in present-tense. If all the actions are in the present-tense, e.g. as the character is experiencing them, does the phrase, "I spend the next few hours pondering about it" make ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Using the present tense or past tense for a fact
I know that we should use the present tense when talking about facts. However, in some instances I cannot decide which tense to use.
For example,
"The analysis assumes that a and b are ...
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I've studied vs I've been studying
What's the difference from these two phrases? How would I know if keep studying or if I did it in the past?
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Using Past Simple versus Present Simple in a commentary for a documentary
I've been translating a commentary to a history documentary and I'm not sure if my choice of tenses is optimal. In Polish, just like in English, the Present Simple tense is occasionally used for ...
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The Present Simple tense use
I would like to know why this tense is used instead of the present continuous in the following examples:
As we speak (instead of - as we are speaking) something is taking place
He joins us from (...
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Which one would fit better in this context between present continuous and present perfect continuous?
It is from official standard English test. The question is like below.
Fitness enthusiasts may feel that their workouts are no longer as effective as they were. When an individual ______________ for ...
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A specific example about past tense in subordinate clause
I've read several posts about "main clause past tense, can I use simple present tense in the subordinate clause?" and I think I get the basic idea.
General truth can use present.
He didn't know ...
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have been hurt vs. have been hurt in the past
A traditional explanation of Present Perfect usage is that it is not used when a certain past reference to the action is present either in the text or it is implied by the context.
Usually, the wrong ...
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"has" versus "have" after the preposition "of"
In the sentences
A copy of your documents has been emailed to [email protected].
A copy of your documents have been emailed to [email protected].
I believe the subject is "copy", and since "...
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Anything wrong with bar girl english?
I find teaching a new (young Thai) english conversation learner something like "he no like teacher" vastly easier than "he doesn't like his teacher" because that click of understanding and ...
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Writing a personal narrative and wondering if this application of present tense mixes with most of the sentence, which is in past tense
This sentence doesn't sound all that right, but at the same time I think it is.
I grabbed underwear, a tee with red sleeves and khaki shorts and
headed for the master bathroom, which houses the ...
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'talking about' vs 'talk about'
I came across the following sentence on the internet:
"When we are talking about possession, relationships, illnesses and characteristics of people or things we can use either have or have got."
Is ...
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Which is commoner here: Past Simple or Past Perfect?
For a native speaker of English, which construction is commoner ?
1- The interviewer asked me which university l went to.
2- The interviewer asked me which university l had been to.
Thanks.
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Present or Past when talking about a book's content
I came across an English exercise yesterday and I wasn't sure about the answer. Any help would be greatly appreciated, thank you. The sentence is as follows:
I borrowed a book from the library last ...
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Using present tense modal verbs to refer to a possibility that never happened?
Let's say you're at a crossroad; two paths. You walk the one and then think:
If I had walked that other route then I would probably have been in a worse situation now.
My problem with the above is ...
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Present Tense and Past Tense In the Same Sentence
Is there anything wrong with this phase: "I had to get my hair cut last week, since it was getting too long."
Thanks for the help!
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"I have been busy" past vs present
When someone asks me during a phone call " where have you been " then I answer as follow : I have been busy
1-Does it necessarily means that I was busy and I am still busy or could it means that I ...
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using "if" - when to use present tense, and when to use past tense?
As a native speaker of English, these two sentences sound acceptable to me:
A full refund can be claimed if the school fails to provide a
textbook.
A full refund could be claimed if the ...
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Present simple or future conditional
While writing a research proposal, I encountered the following issue. Consider the following two variants:
Present simple:
I would like to measure X. Finding evidence that X is large is helpful to ...
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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.
...
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"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.
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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
...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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"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 ...
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"Hasn't been as bad as they had feared" or "hasn't been as bad as they feared"
I can't find other questions and/or information about the forms / tense I'm using in this sentence as most questions seem to be about the difference between "hasn't" or "hadn't".
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using which in relative cause as an object
For example, is this sentence correct?
“If your friend isn’t reliable, he/she can use the things which your friend knows about you against you.”
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Which one I should use? Infinitive or present participle?
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
I think it is good for students to have cellphones.
I think having cellphones is good for students.
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usage of present perfect and past tense when it comes to people who passed away
If the persons I am referring to are no more, in that case which of these is right?
a) He has met them (they are no more) many times, or
b) He met them many times.
( Here I get confused whether the ...
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If You Look vs. If You're Looking: When advertising a Product
Is it correct to use "if you look for" instead of "if you're looking for" when promoting a product?
"If you look for creamy peanut butter spread, you may message me."
I ...
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Question concerning tenses
Lauren has coaxed her brother many times to go cinema with her but he never listens
Lauren has coaxed her brother many times to go cinema with her but he never listened
Which sentence is correct?
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How do you differentiate the use of "When I asked..." and "When I have asked..."
This might be a very basic question for native speakers of English, but I'd really appreciate if you could help me to understand the difference between "When I asked" and "When I have ...
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What is the correct way to ask about something that happened some time ago?
When I took one test I had to choose between four options:
a) Did you hear that he has been assigned to a new project last week?
b) Have you heard that he has been assigned to a new project last week?
...
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What’s a matter-of-fact tone?
I was wondering if a matter-of-fact tone was the same as a straightforward tone, and if these terms all mean “simple” or “without emotions”. (I am not a native speaker for that matter).
If I speak or ...
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What are the verbs that need a gerund after “to”?
So could someone tell me what the verbs are that must have “ing” (gerund) after “to”? (a small list)
I know we have : “look forward to”, “admit to”, “be opposed to”... but are there other verbs?
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The present vs the past (when it comes to a range of possibilities covering dead and living people and if the answer is someone who has died)
Suppose there is a list of people who have been named as the candidates for being the best president ever. On the list are the incumbent and some ex-presidents, some of whom have died. How would we ...
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"The solution would be that he go and talk."
Just need to confirm if this construction is correct.
Would also really appreciate it if it could be broken down too from a grammatical perspective.
Many thanks!
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Is try to vs is trying to
I was taking a quiz at Coursera and there was a sentence
What kitchen counter may be a better environment to help someone who is try to manage their weight?
I was confused – shouldn't this be "is ...
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Present participle, gerund, or modifier
Which one of the following is right?
1) I am a doctor working in a hospital.
2) I am, a doctor, working in a hospital.
3) I am a doctor, working in a hospital.
Does "working" modify "doctor" in ...
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Is this sentence a simple sentence or a compound sentence?
You can either come with me now or walk home.
Some people say it's compound because there are two clauses, but I think there aren't two clauses: there is one subject and a compound verb. Are there ...
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Confusion in the selection of Verb/Auxiliary Verb
Below are the sentences 1) from scientific Journal 2) from a book. Since both are published text, however, my confined knowledge makes me ask this question. In 1) sentence two things are mentioned "...
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Consistency in Present Tense Sentences
Which is correct/more appropriate?
She has knocked over the vase before I can stop her.
OR
She knocks over the vase before I can stop her.
Thanks in advance for your help!
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Present Simple or Present Progressive?
I've got a sentence which claims to use the Present Simple. The source of the sentence is https://en.puzzle-english.com/directory/present-simple-markers where the use of the Present Simple is ...
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Confused between Simple Present and Present Progressive
I know that the Present Progressive is used for current events (the action is happening right now) and Simple Present is for express habits.
But, i'm still having trouble to distinguish them.
For ...
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Can you use Present Continuous for non-habitual actions with exact time?
I'm already aware of the difference between these two sentences:
I work for this company.
I'm working for this company.
However, I'm not very sure if this is the same for actions with specific time. ...
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An author 'teaches' or 'taught' us in his book
Some time ago I posted the following sentence on an online forum:
Adam Smith, in his "Wealth of Nations", taught us that...
Now I am wondering whether I should have used the word 'teaches' rather ...
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