Teacher Discussion Forums

Hi Everyone,

I have to give a presentation to my classmates about present progressive versus simple present. I would like to talk about languages that do not use present progressive. Does any one know of any? If so, could you please give me an example sentence in that language and explain how they would indicate that something is happening in the present moment?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Best,

Juliana

To say “I am working” also indicates my present state, even if technically speaking “working” is the present participle, not an adjective. Interestingly, in French there is no present progressive tense, they use an adjectival phrase which translates, “I am in the process of to work”. A fine line indeed between adjectives and participles!

http://apprendre-anglais.blogspot.com/2 ... esent.html

German has no present progressive tense ("am going"/"are buying"). The German Präsens "ich kaufe" can be translated into English as "I buy" or "I am buying," depending on the context.

http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang04b.htm

These are very helpful examples! I appreciate it.

Considering that the main use of the present progtressive in English is to talk about the future, I am not at all sure that the basis of your presentation is correct.

Considering that the main use of the present progtressive in English is to talk about the future

Where or what do you base on to say so?

José

Where or what do you base on to say so?

José

I don't have a study or some numbers to back it up, but it certainly seems that way to me:

"I'm going to Texas on Friday"
"I'm playing baseball tomorrow"
"I'm giving a speech at the assembly"
"I'm teaching the ESOL class next semester"

Three of Jimbob's examples contain time references, while the third is unlikely to refer to the present unless the speaker were called on their mobile in the middle of the speech. What about these:

I'm going to Texas (said in an airport lounge)
I'm teaching the ESOL class this semester

The bottom line is that in English you need to look at contextual clues to be sure about time - verb forms just don't provide enough of the right kind of information.

The reason why I will focus on present progressive to describe the present moment is because I teach beginning ESL students who would not necessarily be ready for the future tense.

However, these are interesting ideas. Maybe I will also mention them during my presentation. Thanks!

Why are you teachng the present progressive to beginning ESL students. In what kind of situations would you expect them to use it?

Because, that's the way it's ordered in the textbook.

Good question...

Stephen Jones wrote:Why are you teachng the present progressive to beginning ESL students. In what kind of situations would you expect them to use it?

In the situations where they might feel they need it. What do you need it for?

NS in my dialect use the present progressive all the time - it definately needs to be taught - we are guilty of using it for present habit, which confuses Asian students who have memorized the whole present-tense-for-habitual-action thing.

EX:

"Oh, you're looking great! Have you lost weight?"
"Yes, I'm walking every day. I'm also eating less."

<we are guilty of using it for present habit>

Why should we feel guilty about that?

I don't feel guilty at all; it's my dialect. I was more commenting on the accusatory attitude my students have (habit is present tense! It says so in Azar!) when I teach it. Not in an ESL class; I teach TESOL and one of the grammar units is about the relationship between tense and time. I merely point out that NS sometimes use the progressive when the 'rule' calls for present tense, and vice versa. Consider the rule that actions at the moment of speaking should be in the progressive, and think about cooking shows: "Now I take the egg and beat it with the sugar." There are tonnes of exceptions to what is traditionally taught as definitive present tense/present progressive usage.