Present Tense - General Truth

General Truths

Referring to occurrences in nature

Fact vs. Observation

GENERAL TRUTH – FACT	OBSERVATION – AT THE MOMENT
The simple present tense is used to state fact, how things exist or behave. Few if any adverbs are used.	The present progressive tense is used to state an observation such as an action happening at the moment or a temporary change from the usual.
The earth turns 360º every day. (fact) The earth changes because of the surrounding solar system. (permanent)	The earth is turning right now as we speak. (observation - happening now) The earth is changing due to "global warming". (a change from the usual)
The oceans are deep and cold. The Pacific Ocean rises because of the pull of the moon. The oceans move in circular currents.	The oceans are warming. (a change from the usual temperatures) The oceans are rising due to melting polar ice. (a change from the usual levels) The currents are moving farther north. (a change from the usual position)
The land moves on plates. Land is important for its resources. Earthquakes occur often.	The plates are constantly moving. Land is becoming more expensive. Earthquakes are occurring more frequently in the San Francisco area.
The north and south poles are covered with ice. Snow falls from October to March.	The polar ice is melting at a surprising rate. Ice is falling into the ocean.
Wind blows across the land. Wind comes from differences in air pressure. Winds shape landforms.	The wind is blowing leaves off the trees today. The wind is coming from the north. The wind is constantly shaping the sand on the beach.
Rain gives water to plants. Rain falls in the winter.	This rain is giving us the water we need in our lakes. Rain is falling on the the freeway and making it slippery. slippery - difficult to drive on
Plants grow in soil. Plants give us food. Plants use sunlight to get energy.	The plants in my garden are growing well. These plants are giving me a lot of trouble. My pumpkin plants are using the entire yard to grow. use - occupy
People depend on earth's resources. depend on - need People use its resources. resources - land, water, energy People enjoy warm weather.	People are depending on an endless supply of oil. (recently) People are using wind to generate energy. generate - make, give off People are enjoying the weather right now.
Time passes quickly. Daylight Savings time begins in spring.	Time is passing slowly as I do my homework right now. Daylight Savings Time is ending this weekend.

GENERAL TRUTH – FACT

OBSERVATION – AT THE MOMENT

The simple present tense is used to state fact, how things exist or behave. Few if any adverbs are used.

The present progressive tense is used to state an observation such as an action happening at the moment or a temporary change from the usual.

earth The earth turns 360º every day. (fact)

The earth changes because of the surrounding solar system. (permanent)

The earth is turning right now as we speak. (observation - happening now)

The earth is changing due to "global warming". (a change from the usual)

ocean The oceans are deep and cold.

The Pacific Ocean rises because of the pull of the moon.

The oceans move in circular currents.

The oceans are warming. (a change from the usual temperatures)

The oceans are rising due to melting polar ice. (a change from the usual levels)

The currents are moving farther north. (a change from the usual position)

land The land moves on plates.

Land is important for its resources.

Earthquakes occur often.

The plates are constantly moving.

Land is becoming more expensive.

Earthquakes are occurring more frequently in the San Francisco area.

Poles The north and south poles are covered with ice.

Snow falls from October to March.

The polar ice is melting at a surprising rate.

Ice is falling into the ocean.

wind Wind blows across the land.

Wind comes from differences in air pressure.

Winds shape landforms.

The wind is blowing leaves off the trees today.

The wind is coming from the north.

The wind is constantly shaping the sand on the beach.

rain Rain gives water to plants.

Rain falls in the winter.

This rain is giving us the water we need in our lakes.

Rain is falling on the the freeway and making it slippery. slippery - difficult to drive on

plants Plants grow in soil.

Plants give us food.

Plants use sunlight to get energy.

The plants in my garden are growing well.

These plants are giving me a lot of trouble.

My pumpkin plants are using the entire yard to grow. use - occupy

people People depend on earth's resources. depend on - need

People use its resources. resources - land, water, energy

People enjoy warm weather.

People are depending on an endless supply of oil. (recently)

People are using wind to generate energy. generate - make, give off

People are enjoying the weather right now.

time Time passes quickly.

Daylight Savings time begins in spring.

Time is passing slowly as I do my homework right now.

Daylight Savings Time is ending this weekend.

Present Adverbs

PRESENT – ADVERBS	PRESENT PROGRESSIVE – ADVERBS
Present tense uses more permanent time words (adverbs).	Present progressive uses more temporary, happening-now time words (adverbs).
We plant tomatoes in May in general.	We are planting tomatoes today.
As a rule, we put the plants in four-inch holes in the ground.	We are putting the tomato plants in the ground now.
We normally water the garden every other day.	We are watering the garden currently.
We usually pick the tomatoes first.	We are picking the tomatoes this week.

Common Mistakes

ERRORS	FIXES
The wind is blowing during the winter.	The wind blows during the winter. ( The progressive verb is not used with during.)
The earth is spinning faster than Mars.	The earth spins faster than Mars. (The progressive verb is not used for a permanent state.)

Sentence Types

Word Order

AUXILIARY VERB	SUBJECT	AUXILIARY VERB	MAIN VERB	ADVERB	CLAUSE
STATEMENT	He (She)		plants	in the spring.
	They (I, We, You)		plant	in the spring.
QUESTION Does	he (she)		plant	in the spring?
Do	they (I, we, you)		plant	in the spring?
* TAG QUESTION	He (She)		plants	in the spring,	doesn't he?
	They (I, We, You)		plant	in the spring,	don't they?
NEGATIVE	He (She)	doesn't	plant	in the spring.
	They (I, We, You)	don't	plant	in the spring.
EMPHASIS	He (She)	does	plant	in the spring!
	They (I, We, You)	do	plant	in the spring!

*A tag question can also occur with a negative main sentence and a positive final question: They don't plant in the spring, do they? See And so / too.
Use emphasis word order when contradicting or stating that the opposite is true: "I think they don't plant in the spring." "No, they do plant in the spring."

Related page: 3rd Person Agreement

Sentence Structure

Diagrams

Optional: For some language learners, it is helpful to see the parts of a sentence.

Traditional vs. Modern Sentence Diagramming

TRADITIONAL SYSTEM	CURRENT LINGUISTIC SYSTEM
The Reed-Kellogg system diagrams a sentence on a horizontal line. Subject: article: the, noun: wind \| Predicate: verb: is \ adjective: strong	The tree diagram (linguistics) separates the parts of a sentence with brackets /\ . Clause; Subject / Predicate; NP –noun phrase; N – noun; VP – verb phrase; V – verb; Det – determiner
	Click diagram to enlarge.

The Reed-Kellogg system was useful for simple sentences. The linguistic tree is better for complex sentences..

Practice

Fact vs. Observation

Present Tense – nonprogressive vs. progressive

Select the verb form from the menu that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

#	YOUR RESPONSE	ANSWERS AND FEEDBACK
1	The sun every morning. The sun over the mountains now.
2	Look! The moon the face of my watch. The moon the night sky .
3	Plants in my garden. I'm watering them now. Plants without water.
4	Children a little each year. Their children fat because of their junk-food diets.
5	Hurricane winds from 90 to 150 miles per hour. Hurricane winds in the gulf today.
6	Foxes chickens. Foxes the chickens in my yard!
7	Polar ice under the feet of polar bears because of recent global climate changes. Polar ice during hot summers.
8	The weather warm in the summertime. The weather warmer this week. turn (v.) – become