Verbs that change meaning according to tense and sometimes are used in progressive tenses.
The Simple Present vs the Present Progressive
The Simple Present expresses
(a)daily habits or usual activities:
1. Ann takes shower every day.
2. I usually eat lunch at the cafeteria
(b) general statements of factorevents and situations that always exist :
1. The Earth revolves around the Sun.
2. A square has four equal sides
The Simple Present Active
Statement:
{I-you-we-they} listen
{he-she-it} listens
Negative:
{I-you-we-they} do not listen
{he-she-it} does not listen
Question:
Do{I-you-we-they} listen?Does {he-she-it} listen?
The Simple Present Passive
Statement:
I am listened (to)
{ you-we-they}are listened (to)
{he-she-it} is listened (to)
Negative:
I am not listened (to)
{you-we-they}are not listened (to)
{he-she-it} is not listened (to)
Question:
Am I listened (to)?
Are{you-we-they} listened (to)?
Is {he-she-it} listened (to)?
The Present Progressive expresses
(a) an activity that is in progress right now:
1. Ann can’t come to the phone right now because she is having a bath
2. I am at the cafeteria now. I am eating lunch.
(b) an action that is planned for future:
1.We are going to Spain next year.
2. I am taking lots of credits this term.
Present Progressive Active
Statement:
I am listening
{you-we-they}are listening
{he-she-it} is listening
Negative:
I am not listening
{you-we-they} are not listening
{he-she-it} is not listening
Question:
Am I listening?Are {you-we-they}listening?Is {he-she-it} listening?
The Present Progressive Passive
Statement:
I am being listened (to)
{you-we-they}are being listened (to)
{he-she-it}is being listened (to)
Negative:
I am not being listened (to) {you/we/they}are not being listened (to)
{he-she-it} is not being listened (to)
Question:
Am I being listened (to)?
Are{you-we-they} being listened (to)?
Is {he-she-it} being listened (to)?
Spelling: Final –Svs –ES
(a) visit + s = visits answer + s = answers
(b) hope + s = hopeswrite + s=writes
Final –s is added to most verbs
Final –s is simply added to the verbs that end in -e
(c) catch + s = catches teach + s = teaches
wash + s = washesbuzz + s = buzzes
pass + s = passes fix + s = fixes
Final –es is added to the verbs that end in
–ch, –tch,–sh, –s, –x,or–z
(d) do + s = does go + s = goes
Final –es is added to do and go
(e) study +s = studiestry + s = tries
(f) pay + s = pays buy + s = buys
If the verb ends in a consonant+–y,change the–yto –iandadd –es
If a verb ends in a vowel + –y,simply add–s
Nonprogressive (Stative) verbs (describe possession, sense perceptions, mental or emotional states etc.)
hear be* own need (dis)like fear doubt forget suppose cost
see* exist have* want love envy believe remember imagine include
feel(*) possess prefer hate think* understand realize contain
smell * look* belong appreciate care recognize know seem consist of
taste * weigh* owe value mind mean conclude appear* sound*
Verbs that change meaning according to tense and sometimes are used in progressive tenses.
Compare: I think that grammar is easy (opinion) I am thinking about grammar right now (thoughts)
Tom has a car (possession) I am having trouble with this. I am having a party.(Idiomatic expression)
Joan feels sick. (health) Joan is feeling the cat’s fur. (action – touching)
I see a car. (perception) I am seeing a lawyer. (consulting/visiting) I am seeing Bob. (dating)
That sounds like a bunch of nonsense to me. (opinion) A doctor is sounding a patient. (action)
This soup tastes wonderful. (perception) The chef is tasting the dish. (action)
This rose smells great! (perception) Look at John! He is smelling the roses. (action)
He weighs too much. (state – condition) He is weighing the vegetables. (action)
You appear to be ill. You look like you’re ill. (perception) He is appearing on stage in Vegas. (action)
He is a kind person. (state – condition) He is being kind.(action = behaving; a temporary characteristic)
Here are some of the most common expressions:
He is being foolish, nice, kind, lazy, careful, patient, silly, rude, polite, impolite.
