I2CI

Grammar
Review

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present Simple: Form

The present simple is formed with the infinitive form

of the verb. We add s for the third person singular
he/she/it:
I/you/we/they work here
He/she/it works here

Negatives are formed with do/does not. In speech and

informal writing we use contractions:
I/you/we/they do not (dont) work here
He/she/it does not (doesnt) work here

Questions are formed with the auxiliary verb do/does

and the infinitive. Short answers to yes/no questions
repeat the auxiliary:
Do you work here? / Does she work here?
Yes I do / No, I dont / Yes, she does / No, she doesnt

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present Simple: Uses

We use the present simple for permanent facts:

This machine cuts metal
In finance, p/e stands for price/earnings ratio

We use the present simple for actions and situations

that are generally true:
We offer a full range of products
Liz works in the Marketing department

We use the present simple for actions which are

repeated regularly over a long period of time, for
example habits and routine:
At Union Investment, a large Frankfurt fund manager,
about half of the customers invest a regular amount
every month (Wall Street Journal Europe Website)

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present Simple: Time Expressions

We often use frequency adverbs with the present simple:

always, often, usually, normally, sometimes, occasionally,
rarely, not often, hardly ever, etc.
The Chief executive Office of the company usually rises at 6 am. He
takes the train to London and arrives at his office by 8 am. Lunch is
normally a sandwich with some tea.

Note the position of frequency adverbs:

Before the main verb: I often take (I dont often take) the public
transport
After the verb BE: Im usually (Im not usually) the first to finish the
tasks

Adverb phrases like everyday, once a year, most of the time,

from time to time, now and then, etc. come at the beginning or
end of a sentence:
Terry Smith travels to his New York office once a month

We also use the present simple after these future time

expressions: when, after before, unless, in case, as soon as,

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present continuous: Form

The Present Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb

BE and the ing form of the main verb
Many important chain stores are setting up online stores,
handling product delivery and even administering internet
customers.

In speech and informal writing we use contractions.

Negatives are formed with the verb BE + NOT:
I am (Im) working here / I am not (Im not) working here
She is (Shes) working here / She is not (Shes not/ She
isnt) working here

Notice that there are two alternatives for the negatives

of you/he/she/it/we/they

Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the

auxiliary BE. Short answers to yes/no questions repeat
the auxiliary:
Are you working here? / Is he working here?

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present continuous: Uses

We use the Present Continuous to talk about temporary

actions and situations that are happening now.

The action or situation may be in progress now, at the

moment of speaking:
Sorry, Mr Clark cant see you at the moment. Hes talking
to a customer

The action or situation may be happening around now,

even if it is not happening exactly at the moment of
speaking:
Americas powerful online merchants are moving eastward,
to the new markets in Europe. Theyre opening offices in
London and buying properties in Barcelona.

The action or situation may be a current trend:

Computer games are getting better every year

I2CI: Present Time 1

Present continuous: Time
Expressions
The

present continuous is often

used with these time expressions:
Now, at the moment, nowadays,
currently, these days, right now
Franchising in the USA has been
growing steadily since the 1950s, and
this concept is now providing business
opportunities in more than 75

I2CI: Present Time 2

Present Simple or Continuous?
Compare the features:

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Permanent

Temporary

Habits and routines

In progress now

Facts that are always true

Events happening at the

moment

General situations

A particular situation

Im

live in Budapest (all the time)

This

living in Budapest (for a few

months)

plane lands in Madrid

(routine)

Look!

CNN

dominates the USA cableTV market (general situation)

CNN

Canada

continues to be the
most popular country for

We are landing! (progress

now)
is doing very well in the rest of
Europe, too (at the moment)
but the world of franchise is
changing now (trend in progress)

I2CI: Present Time 2

Present Continuous or Present Perfect Continuous?

The present continuous is used for a temporary action

happening now:
Sue is working on the new design (in progress now,
and will continue)

The Present Perfect Continuous describes an action in

progress from the past up to the present
Sue has been working on the new design (in
progress up to now, and may or may not continue)

Other uses of Present tenses: Present Simple

The present simple can be used to refer to timetables

and schedules. When we speak about timetables, we
are often thinking about the future:
Iberia flight IB324 leaves Madrid at 08:00 and arrives
in Geneva at 10:30

I2CI: Present Time 2

Other uses of Present tenses: Present Simple

The present simple can be used to make a story appear

more immediate and interesting. This is common in
journalism:

On a grey November day in London, the mood inside

ITM headquarters is sunny and bright. Executives see
no limits to the expansion of the company. (Business
OtherWeek
usesWebsite)
of Present tenses: Present Continuous

The present continuous can be used to describe a fixed

future arrangement. There is usually a future time
expression:
IBM are/is moving to new premises in Europe next
year.

We can use always with the present continuous. This is

often used for exaggerating or complaining. We
emphasise always in speech in this case:
This photocopier is always breaking down!

I2CI: Present Time 2

State Verbs

Some verbs describe states, not actions.

Nothing happens. Verbs like these are not
normally used in the continuous form of any
tense:
I notice that youve moved your desk (NOT
Im noticing)
Sorry, I dont understand (NOT Im not
understanding)
How much does it cost? (NOT How much is
it costing?)
It weights 4kg (NOT it is weighting)

These examples are in the present simple even

though we are talking about temporary
situations, So they are exceptions to the
general rule.

I2CI: Present Time 2

State Verbs

State verbs include:

The
senses

Appear, hear, look like, notice, see, seem, sound, taste

(=have a flavour)

Feelings

Dislike, fear, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

Thinking

Agree, believe,, doubt, expect, (=believe), feel (=believe),

forget, imagine, know, realise, recognise, suppose, suspect,
think (=believe), understand

Possessio
n

belong, to, contain, have (=possess), include, own, possess

Being

Be, consist of, exist

Other
Verbs

Cost, depend on, fit, involve, matter, measure (=have

length), mean, need, satisfy, susprise, weight

Analysts expect that shares will trade

initially at about 400p a share, which means
that the company is currently undervalued.

I2CI: Present Time 2

State Verbs

Some verbs in the previous list can have a

state meaning and an action meaning.
Examples include be, have, taste, think:
Our suppliers are usually very helpful (state)
Our suppliers are being very helpful at the
moment (action)
I have two sisters (state)
Im having problems with the computer (action)
I think you are right (state)
Im thinking about changing my job (action)
This soup tastes salty (state)
Im tasting the soup to see if needs more salt
(action)

State verbs are not normally used in the

Imperative.

I2CI: Present Time 1 and

2

Grammar

exercises
on present time:
Pages 12, 13, 16,
17