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Present Diagnostic

Present Tense Diagnostic Quiz: a tool to help you identify specific points that need review

• Quiz 1: beginning – intermediate
• Quiz 2: intermediate – advanced 

General Truth

General Truth:  referring to occurrences in nature

• facts vs. observations
• permanent vs. temporary
• adverbs
• sentence forms – word order

The earth turns 360 degrees every day.

The earth is turning right now. 

GenTruth Prac

General Truth Practice: talking about weather

• identifying present tense in sentences
• present vs. present progressive
• paragraph practice

El Nino is an unusual warming of ocean water.

This weather pattern comes about the time of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Child – Christmas

At the Moment

At the Moment:  indicating temporary activities

• present progressive vs. present
• adverbs: temporary vs. permanent
  • now, currently, today, this week
  • usually, often, sometimes, in general
• sentence forms
  • statement
  • question
  • negative
  • emphais
• word order: auxiliary verbs

My name is Isabela. (100% permanent)
I am a mother.  (99% permanent)
I am married. (50% permanent)
I work at Children's Hospital in Oakland. (?% permanent)
I am working to get my nursing certification. (temporary)
I am having difficulty.  (temporary)

Habits & Customs

Habits, Customs and Routines:  referring to current activities – temporary vs. permanent

• present vs. present progressive
• adverbs: temporary vs. permanent
  • now, currently, today, this week
  • usually, often, sometimes, in general
• adverb placement (word order)
  • initial
  • medial
  • final
• auxiliary verbs with: seldown, rarely, never

I usually work 9 to 5. He often plays golf on Saturday. We always eat dinner together. Frequently, we have lunch out. We never eat breakfast together.

Present Progressive

Present Progressive: temporary habit or at the moment of speaking

• permanent habit
• temporary habit
• moment of communication
• adverbs
  • today
  • this morning
  • this week
  • tonight
  • this weekend
  • this month
  • right now
  • as we speak

Helen is jogging around the park right now.

Helen is jogging around the park this morning.

Scheduled Events

Scheduled Events: indicating planned acitivites and events

• contextual example
• present – present progressive – will
• adverbs used with future events and activities
  • at noon
  • this week
  • next Tuesday
  • in a second
  • soon

I am working at the preschool on Wednesday. (scheduled)

On Thursday, I assist the librarian at the Public Library. (routine)

I will get there around noon. (scheduled/ estimated)

States of Being

States of Being:  indicating existence and changes in states of existence

• is
• looks
• seems
• appears
• resembles
• becomes
• gets
• acts

He is tired.

He seems tired.

He appears tired.

 (No action involved.)

Sensory States

Sensory States: indicating sensations and perceptions

• hear
• see
• sound
• taste
• feel

The skunk smells bad. He stinks!

Sandpaper feels rough.

The soup tastes salty.

The skunk is smelling bad.  (Use nonprogressive.)

Mental States

Mental States: indicating thinking, cognition and attitude

I think you are correct.

I believe you know what you are talking about.

I like living here.

How are you liking living here?   (Use nonprogressive.)

I am thinking that . . .   (Use nonprogressive.)
 

Possession States

Possessive States: indicating possession or ownership

• having – fun, a drink, a party, a ball
• belong
• possess

I have a car.

We own our home.

 (No action involved.)

Emotion States

Emotional States: indicating emotional states

• surprise
• impress
• please
• astonish
• amaze

The price of oil surprises people.
Fuel efficient cars impress   buyers.
Low gas prices pleases drivers.
Bad energy policies depress citizens.

 (No action involved.)

Other States

Other States:  meaurement, weight, distance, height and count

• measure
• reach
• weigh
• cost
• owe
• equal
• consist of
• include
• contain

The Golden Gate bridge measures 8,981 ft / 2,737 m. long.
The bridge weighs 887,000 tons / 804,700,00 kg.
The towers reach 746 ft / 227 m high.
The bridge originally cost 35 million dollars in 1927.
Currently, it costs more than twice that to maintain.

 (No action involved.)

Adv of Sequence

Tense Sequence:  comparing near and future events

• after / afterward
• before
• until
• as soon as
• by the time

After I make tea, we will watch a movie on TV .
I will make tea. Afterward, we'lll watch a movie on TV

I will make some tea before we watch a movie on TV.

Narration

Present Tense Narration: story telling

• telling a joke
• telling a story
• telling an anecdote

This man goes into a bar and he has a couple of drinks. Then, he asks the bartender to play a game of billiards.

Indirect Objects

Verbs with Indirect Objects: indicating receivers of actions

• me
• to me
• for me

My friend is bringing me a letter.
My friend is bringing a letter to me.
My friend is bringing me it.

Present Context

Present In Context: identifying present tense verbs

• identifying use in an paragraph
• distinguishing present tense from similar verb forms

A year ago, people weren't much thinking about cell phones but now the voices are getting louder about it,'' . .

After / Before

After / Before: adverbs used in mixed time frames

Adverbs introducing clauses with mixed time frames: 

• after – before
• when, as soon as
• since, until
• as, while
• first, second 
• omitting will in adverb clauses
   

When I call the dog, she comes.
After I call the dog, she comes.
Before I call the dog, I open the door.
After I make popcorn, we'll watch a movie.

When / While

When / While: introducing clauses of same-time activity

• when
• while

    same-time = simultaneous

While he is baby-sitting , I am napping.

When you call, you wake up the baby. (everytime)