Definition of Grammar Types of Grammar
For example:
She seems happy.
This tastes good. It is expresses:
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a An action that is repeated habitually for example: often, sometimes, everyday,
once a week ; “He reads the news paper every morning”.
b A general truth that is repeated periodically; “The moon light in the night.”
c A condition that is not repeated but is always true; “Sesyl loves chocolate.”
2 Present Progressive Tense
The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It began in the recent past, is continuing at present, and will
probably end at some point in the future.
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For example: Didot and Ina are talking on the phone. Often the activity is of a general nature: something generally in progress this
week, this month, this year. For example: Ina is writing another poem this year.
3 Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect is used to indicate an action that happened at an indefinite time in the past. It also indicates an action that happened more than
once in the past. It also indicates an action that began in the past and still occurring in the present.
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Example: I have already seen that movie. We have had four tests so far this semester.
I have been here since seven o ’clock.
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Pamela Hartmann, et al, Tense Situations, California: IPS Publishers, Inc., 1984, p. 6.
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Betty Schrampfer Azar, Understanding and Using English Grammar, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1989, p. 11.
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Michael A. Pyle and Mary Munoz, TOEFL Preparation Guide USA: Cliffs Notes, 1995, p. 61-62.
I have known him for many years. One use of the present perfect is to express an activity happening now.
Something in the sentence or context tells us when the action began. The action may be continuous or periodic.
For example:
Radit and Jany have been happily married since their wedding day 50 years ago. continuously
He has milked the cows all his life without missing a day. periodic
Often the Present Perfect uses the words for or since. For tells the length of the action, and since indicates the point in time when the action began.
For example:
Radit has been married to the same woman for 50 years.
She has lived on the same farm since she was born.
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4 Present Perfect Progressive Tense
This tense is used to indicate the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues to the present.
For example:
I have been sitting here since seven o’clock.
I have been thinking about the best choice in my life. When the tense is used without any specific mention of time, it expresses a
general activity in progress recently, lately.
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