Grammar EXPRESSING PRESENT TIME IN ENGLISH TIME INDICATORS USE PRESENT SIMPLE ! PRESENT CONTINUOUS General truth and facts That oil field produces thousands of barrels of crude oil every year. Actions or events happening at the moment That oil field is producing hundreds of barrels of crude oil these days. Routines and habits We usually burn seasoned wood in the fireplace of our country house. Temporary events or situations Owing to this week s unusual weather situation, we are also burning unseasoned wood in the fireplace of our country house. Describing places and attractions The Montreal Zoo houses polar bears. Actions or events happening in a limited period of time At present the Montreal Zoo is housing a couple of Polar bears which were found on a floating iceberg in the Artic Sea. Telling plots of books or plays In the first scene of the film, a terrible storm hits the little village. Describing pictures or images In that Romantic painting a terrible storm is hitting a little village Future scheduled events (not dependent on our will) The train to Seattle leaves from platform 18. Future events which are already planned and organised Tomorrow we are leaving for Seattle to attend the International Conference on Sea Pollution. frequency adverbs: always, often, generally, usually, sometimes, rarely, seldom, never, hardly ever expressions that indicate temporariness: at the moment, at present, now, today, while, this + time expression, these + time expression frequency expressions: every day/month/ , twice a day/ month/ expressions that indicate habits: on Sunday/ , at Halloween/ , in winter/ Stative verbs can only have the simple form: possession: belong, own, have, possess, status: consist, contain, include, matter, needs and wants: need, want, wish, Action verbs can have either the simple or the continuous form. Every year I observe fruit trees blooming in spring. At the moment I am observing a peach tree blooming in my garden. activities of the mind: believe, forget, know, mean, realise, remember, think, understand, preference (the verbs that follow require the -ing form): enjoy, love, like, don t mind, hate, prefer He loves studying nature. 38 Module 1 BRICKS AND MORTAR Yosemite Nationale Park, California (US)