Present tenses (reviews)

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Present tenses

What does 'present' mean?

Review

Do you know what sentences mean?

Choose the correct answer for the upcoming 5 sentences.

I'm still sitting here writing this article.

1. facts and giving opinions
2. happening around the time of speaking
3. Actions in the past that are still happening
4. Actions in an unspecified past

I've also tried to get fitter for four weeks now.

1. facts and giving opinions
2. happening around the time of speaking
3. Actions in the past that are still happening
4. Actions in an unspecified past

I've started going to the gym.

1. facts and giving opinions
2. happening around the time of speaking
3. Actions in the past that are still happening
4. Actions in an unspecified past

I'm not feeling any fitter, just a little unhappier.

1. facts and giving opinions
2. happening around the time of speaking
3. Actions in the past that are still happening
4. Actions in an unspecified past

The brain sees the 'future you' as a different person to the 'present you'.

1. facts and giving opinions
2. happening around the time of speaking
3. Actions in the past that are still happening
4. Actions in an unspecified past

Recap

am sitting/feeling = happening at the time of speaking (present continuous)

have tried = past actions that are still happening (present perfect)

have started = past actions with unspecified time

sees = facts and giving opinion

Let's practice

Fill in the correct form of the verbs in the blanks.

It's 2 am and I _____ (lie) in bed.

1. lie
2. am lying
3. have lied
4. have been lying

I _________ (try) to go to sleep, but I can't.

1. try
2. am trying
3. have tried
4. have been trying

I _______ (have) trouble sleeping for about a month now.

1. have
2. am having
3. have had
4. have been having

I ______ (try) different things to help me sleep, but nothing works.

1. try
2. am trying
3. have tried
4. have been trying

My mind _____ (not want) to stop.

1. doesn't want
2. isn't wanting
3. hasn't wanted
4. hasn't been wanting

A lot _____ (happen) in my life right now.

1. happens
2. is happening
3. has happened
4. has been happening

It's exam time, so I _____ (study) at the moment.

1. study
2. am studying
3. have studied
4. have been studying

There's also the question of next year. I _____ (think) about it for ages.

1. think
2. am thinking
3. have thought
4. have been thinking

Mum and dad ____ (want) me to go to university, but I'm just not sure what to do.

1. want
2. am wanting
3. have wanted
4. have been wanting

I now understand when to use which present tense

1. Yes
2. No
3. More or less
4. ??

Let's practice again

Present tenses review 2

think/eat/send/laugh/look/decide

0. I don’t see him very often these days.
1. I ____________________ red meat anymore.
2. That top __________________ lovely on you.
3. Why ______ they __________________? What’s so funny?
4. They hardly ever ____________________ emails to each other nowadays.
5. Harry ____________________ about it. He __________ yet.

think/eat/send/laugh/look/decide

0. I don’t see him very often these days.
1. I don't eat red meat anymore.
2. That top looks lovely on you.
3. Why are they laughing? What’s so funny?
4. They hardly ever send emails to each other nowadays.
5. Harry is thinking about it. He hasn’t decided yet.

taste/play/hear/type

0. This is the first time I have ridden a motorbike.
1. She ____________________ Chinese food before.
2. I ____________________ the guitar for two years now.
3. Brian ____________________ emails all day.
4. I _________________ all their albums so far.

taste/play/hear/type

0. This is the first time I have ridden a motorbike ever.
1. She hasn't tasted Chinese food before.
2. I have played the guitar for two years now.
3. Brian has typed emails all day.
4. I have heard all their albums so far.

spend/help/think/study/

0. They always visit their son on Sundays.
1. George ____________________ in his room all day.
2. You two ________ always ____________ in class.
3. I can’t afford this. I ____________________ most of my money.
4. I _______________ David is a nice person.
5. I ____________________ Carol with her homework right now.

spend/help/think/study/talk

0. They always visit their son on Sundays.
1. George has studied in his room all day.
2. You two are always talking in class.
3. I can’t afford this. I have spent most of my money.
4. I think David is a nice person.
5. I am helping Carol with her homework right now.

More practice

Go to the following websites and practice some more!

https:

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