 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
22
as, before, after, while, if, unless, in case, on condition that, provided, etc.:
When she comes, ring me up, please.
Do it as soon as you are through with your duties.
I promise not to tell her anything if you help me to get out of here.
However in object clauses introduced by the conjunctions when and if it is the future indefinite that is used
to denote future actions:
I don’t know when she will come.
I’m not sure if she will come at all.
8. To denote past actions:
a) in newspaper headlines, in the outlines of novels, plays., films, etc.:
Dog Saves Its Master.
Students Say No to New Weapon.
Then Fleur meets Little Jon. They fall in love with each other.
b) in narratives or stories to express past actions more vividly (the so-called historic present):
It was all so unexpected. You see, I came home late last night, turned on the light and - whom do you
think I see? Jack, old Jack, sleeping in the chair. I give a cry, rush to him and shake him by the shoulder.
9. To denote completed actions with the meaning of the present perfect (with the verbs to forget, to hear,
to be told).
I forget your telephone number.
I hear you are leaving for England?
I am told she returned from France last week.
The present continuous
§ 20. Meaning. The present continuous* denotes an action which is in progress at the moment of speaking.
* Nowadays it is sometimes called "the present progressive".
§ 21. Formation. All the forms of the present continuous are analytic. They are formed by means of the
present indefinite of the auxiliary to be and participle I of the notional verb.
In the interrogative the corresponding form of the auxiliary to be is placed before the subject and participle
I follows it.
In the negative the negation ‘not’ is placed after the auxiliary.
The paradigm of the verb in the present continuous
Affirmative
Interrogative
Negative
I am speaking
He (she, it) is speaking
We are speaking
You are speaking
They are speaking
Am I speaking?
Is he (she, it) speaking?
Are we speaking?
Are you speaking?
Are they speaking?
I am not (I’m not) speaking
He (she, it) is not (isn’t) speaking
We are not (aren’t) speaking
You are not (aren’t) speaking
They are not (aren’t) speaking
Negative-interrogative
a)
Am I not speaking?
b)
Aren’t I speaking?