UNIT FIVE
The present tense of regular (and some
irregular) verbs
Use of the present tense
1 The present tense (or simply ‘the present’) is used to state that an action is
occurring at the present time. It corresponds basically to the English simple
present (‘I eat’) and present continuous (‘I am eating’):
2 The present can also be used to refer to the future, either the near future or
one that is considered fairly certain:
3 The present is also used to refer to an action which started in the past and is
still going on; here, it corresponds to the English present perfect:
Mio padre lavora per la BBC.
Mio padre lavora in giardino.
Di solito guardo la televisione.
Stasera guardo la televisione.
Non guardo la televisione.
Perché non guardi la televisione?
Stasera non guardo la televisione.
Perché non guardi la televisione
stasera?My father works for the BBC.
My father’s working in the garden.
Normally I watch TV.
I’m watching TV this evening.
I don’t watch TV.
Why don’t you watch TV?
I’m not watching TV this evening.
Why aren’t you watching TV this
evening?Il treno parte fra cinque minuti.Parto domani.
Domani mattina porto Luca alla
stazione.
L’estate prossima lavoro con mio
zio.The train leaves/is leaving in five
minutes.
I leave/I am leaving tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning I’ll take/I’m taking/-
I’m going to take Luca to the station.
Next summer I’ll work/I’m working/-
going to work with my uncle.Lavoriamo qui da un mese. We’ve been working here for a month.