Read the comic strip. What tenses are the verbs in bold? Find examples of: a permanent state, expressing anger or irritation at a repeated action, an action which started in the past and continues up to the present with emphasis on the duration, an action that happened at an unstated time in the past. What other uses of these tenses can you think of? Give examples.
1 “Hey! Are you really a talking dog?” 2 “I certainly am, sir.” 3 “Not only that. I know how to do Maths, too ...” 4 “... and I’ve been studying literature for the last two years.” 5 “I’ve learnt the works of Shakespeare by heart.” 6 “I don’t believe it. Why do you want to give away a dog like that, madam?” 7 “He’s always lying to people.”
«I am», «I know», «I don’t believe», «do you want» — Present Simple: речь о состоянии, знании и отношении, а не о действии в процессе. Для постоянного состояния подходит «I know how to do Maths». «I’ve been studying ... for the last two years» — Present Perfect Continuous: учёба началась два года назад и всё ещё продолжается; for указывает длительность. «I’ve learnt the works ...» — Present Perfect: результат уже есть, точное время не названо. «He’s always lying» — Present Continuous с always: хозяйка раздражена повторяющейся ложью собаки.
Ещё Present Simple описывает привычку: «I walk to school every day». Present Continuous описывает действие сейчас: «I am reading now». Present Perfect может обозначать жизненный опыт без указанной даты: «I have visited London». Present Perfect Continuous может описывать длительное ожидание до настоящего момента: «I have been waiting for an hour».
Permanent state — “I know how to do Maths” (Present Simple). Irritation at a repeated action — “He’s always lying to people” (Present Continuous). Action continuing with emphasis on duration — “I’ve been studying literature for the last two years” (Present Perfect Continuous). Action at an unstated past time — “I’ve learnt the works of Shakespeare by heart” (Present Perfect). Other uses: “I walk to school every day” (Present Simple, habit); “I am reading now” (Present Continuous, action happening now); “I have visited London” (Present Perfect, experience); “I have been waiting for an hour” (Present Perfect Continuous, action continuing up to now).
