Tense Usage Present Tenses

Agenda Default tenses Present Tense Present Continuous Tense Present Perfect Tense Present Tenses vs. Past Tense

Default Tenses Simple Present Tense Default Tense in technical and analytical writing: Management work includes every member of the project team: every individual contributor, every functional manager, every project manager makes a vital contribution to management work. Simple Present Tense

Present Tense: Usage 1. facts and general truths; natural laws: The company produces a wide range of widgets. Conferences are usually planned, organized, led and controlled one month in advance. 2. things that happen with a certain frequency We evaluate our sales figures every month. 3. a fixed schedule in the future (train/ plane schedules). The new training program starts next Friday

Present Tense: Formation Active Voice 3rd pers. sg. + s; “do/does” in questions and negations Passive Voice am/is/are+ 3rd form 1st: I walk/draw / we walk/draw 2nd: you walk/draw / you walk/draw 3rd: he/she/it walks/draws / they walk/draw

Present Continuous Tense: Usage 1. an activity at the moment or around the time of speaking (at present, at the moment, currently). What are you doing? -- I am watching the fax machine; there is a confidential message. A better product is currently being developed. 2. an activity with a temporary nature. I am working in Paris at the moment (but I normally work in London). 3. a fixed arrangement in the future. We are running a training seminar next Monday.

Present Continuous Tense: Formation Active Voice am/is/are+ verb+ ing Passive Voice am/is/are+being+ 3rd form 1st: I am writing / we are writing 2nd: you are writing / you are writing 3rd: he/she/it is writing / they are writing

Present Perfect Tense: Usage 1. an activity at a non-specific time in the past that has an effect/ result in the present. We have completed the study and are ready to move on to the next milestone 2. an activity within a still unfinished period of time. This year, advertising has been somewhat neglected. 3. an activity that started in the past and continues to the present. Mr. Johnson has worked in our operations department since 1987/ for 7 years/ so far.

Present Perfect Tense: Formation Active Voice have/has+ 3rd form Passive Voice have/has+been+3rd form 1st: I have written / we have written 2nd: you have written / you have written 3rd: he/she/it has written / they have written

Present Tenses: Remember All analytical technical writing is in one of these Present Tenses. Use Past Tense only to describe things that have no meaning for the present. In his article on new developments in the PLL, Smith writes that European research is years ahead of American research.

Tenses Overview http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/tenses.htm

Present Tenses: Quiz Please take the Present Tenses Quiz on WebCT now.