Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

INTRODUCTION

338

Present time is seen either as the moment of speaking or writing, or as ‘time

around now’, or as the more general, permanent time relating to truths and

general facts. 

References to present time are most typically indicated in the verb phrase

through the simple and progressive forms of the present tense. 

Forms of the present tense

form

structure

examples

present simple

present tense forms of lexical 

I/you/we/they 

eat three meals a day.

verbs or of auxiliary do

He/she/it/one 

eats three meals a day.

I 

don’t eat three meals a day.

Does she eat three meals a day?

present progressive

present tense forms of be + lexical 

I 

am eating right now.

verb in -ing form

He/she/it/one 

is eating right now.

We/you/they 

are eating right now.

The present tense is the most common way of referring to present time, and in 

this chapter (338–345) we deal principally with the present simple and present

progressive. Past tense forms may occasionally refer to present time, often for

reasons of politeness or indirectness. These and the perfect forms (present perfect

simple and progressive, formed with have and the -ed participle) are dealt with in

346–360 Past time

.