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Habits & Customs

Referring to routine activities

 

 

 

Descriptions of customs or routines tend to use the present non-progressive tense.

 

Greek Easter

easter breadEaster, in my country, is the most sacred and celebrated of all the Greek holidays. The Gregorian calendar determines the date.  This year, we are celebrating Orthodox Easter a month later than the western Easter.  Orthodox Easter begins with a 40-day fast. We only eat "natural" products, no beef, pork, lamb or chicken. On Palm Sunday, we serve only fish courses. 

biography


On Saturday before Easter, we take the food we will serve on Easter to the church where the priest blesses it.  On Easter Sunday, roast lamb is the centerpiece of the table. In the early morning, the spits turn in backyards and courtyards as the lamb is slowly cooked. We color eggs bright red and bake them into bread, "tsoureki".  This tradition bonds one generation to the next and always is the highlight of the year.

 

 

Present vs. Present Progressive
PRESENT PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

 For an activity, celebration, habit or custom that is: 

  • ongoing or more permanent
  • exists usually, habitually or is repeated
  • exists now, has existed in the past and will probably exist in the future

 

For an activity that is: 

  • short-term
  • not the usual state, a temporary change
  • happening just now

We only eat "natural" products.

This week, I am not eating fish, olive oil or dairy products.

The priest blesses the food.

This year, we are celebrating Orthodox Easter a month later.

We color eggs bright red.

Today, we are dying eggs red.

This tradition bonds one generation to the next.

This morning, we are preparing  special dishes.

 

 

 

Adverbs that tell us – When
PRESENT – (MORE) PERMANENT PRESENT PROGRESSIVE – TEMPORARY

Adverbs for the present tense indicate a more permanent state and tell howoften an activity occurs or is repeated.

Adverbs for the present progressive indicate  a more temporary state, at the moment of speaking. With a larger range of time, for example this month, the focus is still on the present time period not any amount of time that has passed.

GENERAL TRUTH

general truth (Adverbs are rarely used.)   

FREQUENCY

always (routinely, customarily, normally, as a rule, in general)

NOW

at the moment

THIS ...

today / tonight

 

usually (most of the time)

now (for now, just now)

this morning

EVERY ...

often (frequently, half of the time)

currently

this week

every day  (night, week, month, year, etc.)

sometimes (occasionally, on occasion)

presently

this month

each day  (night, week, month, year, etc.)

rarely (seldom, hardly ever)

for a little while

this semester

every other day  (night, week, year, etc.)

never (not ever)

as we speak

this year

most weekends (nights, weeks, months, etc.)

*See  Adverbs of Frequency      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Word Order

Emphasizing Time with Adverbs of Frequency

 

Select one position for the adverb:

 

 

Three Positions for Adverbs
INITIAL SUBJECT MEDIAL VERB OBJECT PHRASE FINAL

For emphasis, use an adverb at the beginnning of the sentence with a comma after it.

Use most adverbs before the main verb. Place longer expressions at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Use longer expressions after the object.

  Most of the time,
  Usually,
  Normally
  Sometimes,
  Often,
  Frequently,
  Occasionally,
 

my family

always
usually
sometimes
often
frequently
occasionally
rarely
seldom
hardly ever
never

eats

dinner together

most of the time.
half of the time.
usually.
normally.
often.
usually.
frequently.
occasionally.

*See  Adverbs of Frequency  for sentence examples.   

 

 

Negative Adverbs in Initial Position
INITIAL POSITION FIXES

When a negative adverb – never, rarely, seldon, hardly ever – is placed at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis, the auxiliary of the verb is moved in front of the subject.

After a negative adverb, place the  auxiliary verb (do, does, is, are, am, have, has) before the subject and main verb.  Initial placement of the adverb is for emphasis.

Seldom we are home in the day time. / We seldom are at home in the daytime.

Seldom are we home in the day time. (be verb)
                move auxiliary left

Never we have much time together.  / We never have much time together.

Never do we have much time together. (other verbs)
            move auxiliary left

 

 

 

Two people eatingPractice 1

Habits & Temporary Changes

 

 

  1. Select the correct verb tense.  Pay attention to the adverbs.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.
 
# YOUR RESPONSE REVEAL ANSWER


1.    


Today, we're eating dinner at 5:00 because we're going to a movie.

 


2.

 

3.

This week, I'm not driving to work because my car is being repaired. Instead, I'm taking the train to work. 

 

4.

Just for now, during dinner, I'm not answering my phone.

 

5.  

Usually, ABC shows the news at 6:00p.m.   

 

6.

 
More often, I work the day shift.

 

7.

     
 Usually, we get half as much rain.  

 

8.       

I usually feel energetic .  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

birthdayPractice 2

Adverb Placement

 

 

  1. Select the correct verb tense.  Pay attention to the adverbs.
  2. Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button to the right.

 

# YOUR RESPONSE REVEAL ANSWER
9.  
10. (6 month anniversaries)
11.
12.
   

 

Additional practice: Present vs. Present Progressive