http://www.englishforums.com/English/FrequentlyAskedEnglishQuestions-AnswersArchivedPosts/Forum31.htmArea designed to store the most commonly asked questions and their accepted answers.enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/2/ndcr/Post.htm#65456Fri, 22 May 2009 05:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:65456taiwandave0http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/2/ndcr/Post.htm#65456http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-65456.xmlThe present simple tense is commonly used as follows: 1. When talking about habits. 2. What talking about facts. 3. With certain verbs called non-action (or stative) verbs. Habits are usually repeated actions. They can also include permanent (or semi-permanent) states. Examples: She does her homework every night. He smokes a lot. I work at a bank. She teaches French. He lives in Japan. That shop fixes motorcycles. My mother doesn’t work. She stays at home. The present simple is used to express general truths: The sky is blue. Water freezes at zero degrees. The earth orbits the sun. It is also used for schedules and timetables: The train leaves at 9:00. The movie starts in two hours. Non-action verbs (also...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65385Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:65385Casi1http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65385http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-65385.xmlI see you've found a new home, jack.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65347Thu, 22 Jan 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:65347jack1122http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65347http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-65347.xmlAre these correct? If not, why? What do these mean? 1. I knew it is here. 2. I knew it was here. 3. I thought it was here 4. I thought it is here 5. I told you we have it. (If this is incorrect, how come #4 is not?) 6. I told you we had it. Thanks.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65236Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:65236Klavier3http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#65236http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-65236.xmlMrM, All are incorrect verb tenses, Jack. The 'simple present' tense is NOT used for events which occur at the moment of speaking-- for 'now' we use the present continuous... I have a book that says that it's possible to use the simple present at the moment of speaking for ex. when a commentator is reporting a football game live: "Beckam kicks the ball and scores".http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64987Wed, 22 Apr 2009 05:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64987Mister Micawber4http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64987http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64987.xml"Stereotype No. 3: Women are more passive. She is working with the 'same title and salary while filling in for her male boss,' the implication being that he was paid more, but she's 'not bitter.' " Jack, I think that the writer uses 'was' because he 'was paid more' before she 'filled in for her male boss'. Certainly either 'is' or 'was' would work here: using 'is', on the other hand, the writer would be thinking of the male boss's salary as a continuing item.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64974Fri, 22 May 2009 05:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64974jack1125http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64974http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64974.xmlThanks. WorkingWounded What do these mean? How come they used 'was' instead of 'is'? What is the point of using 'was' vs' 'is' and vice versa? 1. "Stereotype No. 3: Women are more passive. She is working with the 'same title and salary while filling in for her male boss,' the implication being that he was paid more. 2. "Stereotype No. 3: Women are more passive. She is working with the 'same title and salary while filling in for her male boss,' the implication being that he is paid more.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64854Sun, 22 Mar 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64854Mister Micawber6http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64854http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64854.xmlAll are incorrect verb tenses, Jack. The 'simple present' tense is NOT used for events which occur at the moment of speaking-- for 'now' we use the present continuous , just as you did in your explanation: 'He is looking for the ticket right now', 'He is getting an answer for you'-- 'Right now I am having a bath, smoking a cigarette and watching TV. I am really enjoying myself.' This is true for almost all verbs, although there is the exception of a few verbs which do not normally take this form but use the simple present, like 'have' (= possess), 'be' (= exist), 'know', and verbs of the senses: 'Right now I smell smoke, and I have an idea that the house is on fire. The house is old, you know.' The simple present is not a...http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64832Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64832jack1127http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64832http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64832.xml(2) is wrong. Simple present is incorrect here for the present moment. If the speaker were on the phone in the midst of a conversation, and I asked him: 1. I just find out about it right now . (So this is wrong no matter what?) Scenario: We need the lottery ticket right now! I just thought about the meaning for the sentence above, could it also be right? For eg.: 2. He finds s the lottery ticket right now . (He is looking for the ticket right now?) Scenario: Could you guys get me the answer for the question right away? 3. Yes, someone is on it. He gets the answer for you right now . (He is getting a question for you.) If they are incorrect, why? I still don't really understand.http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64772Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64772Mister Micawber8http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htm#64772http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64772.xml(1) is correct because 'right now' is a tiny bit in the past, by the time the speaker speaks. He probably should have said 'just a moment ago', but a native speaker might easily say it this way also. (2) is wrong. Simple present is incorrect here for the present moment. If the speaker were on the phone in the midst of a conversation, and I asked him: 'Have you found out about your flight to Seattle yet?" Then he might answer, ' I'm just finding out about it right now .'http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htmThu, 22 Jan 2009 06:41:46 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:64770jack1129http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentTense/ndcr/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments31-64770.xmlAre these correct? What do they mean? 1. I just found out about it right now . (If this is correct, why?) 2. I just find out about it right now .