🔵more about present tenses

1: repeated 

Repeated actions just around the moment of speaking: present progressive. 

Other repeated actions: simple present. 

Why is he hitting the dog? 

lake's seeing a lot of Felicity these days. 

I go to the mountains about twice a year. 

Water boils at 100" Celsius.

2: changes 

We use the present progressive for changing and developing situations, even if these are not just around the moment of speaking. 

The political situation is getting worse. 

Children are growing up faster. 

Scientists say the universe is expanding, and has been since the beginning of time.

3: not around the moment of speaking 

The simple present and present progressive can be used together even when we are talking about things going on around other moments, not the moment of speaking. 

This is common with when (meaning'whenever'). 

You look lovely when you're smiling. 

When the post comes I'm usually having breakfast.

⭕more about present tenses (continued) 

1: progressive with always 

We can use a progressive form with always and similar words to talk about repeated but unpredictable or unplanned events. 

She's always turning up with little presents for the children. 

I'm always running into loanna in the supermarket. 

2: The structure is often used to make complaints and criticisms. 

This computer's continually crashing at the most inconvenient moments. 

She's forever taking days of because of one little illness or another. 

🔘NOTES 

1: I hear/see; it says 

We often use I hear or I see in the sense of 'I have heard/seen to introduce pieces of information. 

I hear Karen's getting married. I see they're closing High Street again. 

◾️Note also the similar use of It says. 

It says in the paper there's a rail strike tomorrow. 

Where does it say that I need a visa? 

2: here comes; there goes 

We use the simple present in these two expressions. 

Here comes the postman. 

This wind! There goes my hat! 

3: performatives

 Sometimes we do something by saying something. 

Verbs used like this are called performatives: they are normally simple present. 

I won't do it again - I promise.

 I hereby declare you man and wife. 

I swear to teII the truth.

 I name this ship 'Spirit of Adventure'. 

3:informal progressives

Progressives can sometimes make statements sound more friendly and informal, Compare: 

We lookforward to further discussions in due course. 

I'm really lookingforward to our week with you and the kids in JuIy. 

4:duration

 Remember that we use a present perfect, not a present tense, to say how long things have continued up to the present. 

I've been waiting since six o'clock. 

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