Page 204 - Basic English Usage

261 206

2 ‘General time’
We can use the simple present to talk about actions and situations in
‘general time’ — things which happen at any time, or repeatedly, or aif
the time.
1 [go] to London about three times a week.
My parents [live] near Dover.
Water | freezes]| at 0° Centigrade.

|

T 1
>
—o—
PAST FUTURE
NOW
3 ‘Momentary’ actions
We can also use the simple present to talk about ‘momentary’ present
actions — things which take a very short time to happen. This tense is
often used in sports commentaries.
Lydiard passes to Taylor, Taylor to Morrison, Morrison back to Taylor
. and Taylor shoots — and it’s a goal!!!

4 Actions ‘around now’ (present progressive)
We do not usually use the simple present to talk about longer actions
and situations which are going on around now. In this case, we prefer
the present progressive. (See 262.)
‘What are you doing?’ ‘I’m reading. (NOT .. . Hread-)
There are a few exceptions: verbs which are not used in progressive
forms (see 225).
| like this wine. (NOT FaHtiking-thiswire.)

5 Future
We can use the simple present to talk about the future. We do this:
a. after conjunctions: (see 343):
I'll phone you when I come back.
She won't come if you don’t ask her.
|| always love you whatever you do.

b. when we talk about programmes and timetables.
The train arrives at 7.46. | start work tomorrow.
{In other cases, we do not use the simple present to talk about the future.
We prefer the present progressive (see 262).
Are you going out tonight?
(NOT De-yege-cuttenight?)