Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. - Peter Marshall
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato
Each day is an opportunity to travel back into tomorrow's past and change it. - Robert Brault
Freedom lies in being bold. - Robert Frost
Fate leads the willing, and drags along the reluctant. - Seneca
It is terrible to speak well and be wrong. - Sophocles
Those who wish to sing always find a song. - Swedish proverb
Life is a shipwreck but we must not forget to sing in the lifeboats. - Voltaire
A barking dog is often more useful than a sleeping lion. - Washington Irving
It is the familiar that usually eludes us in life. What is before our nose is what we see last. - William Barret
In summer, the song sings itself. - William Carlos Williams
A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. - Winston Churchill
Related topics:
Zero conditional
Present simple in instructions
The present simple tense is used in instructions as an alternative to the imperative. This use implies that the actions are or should always be performed in the same way or order:
First you
roll out
the pastry, then you
cut
circles with a cup or a glass.
You
go down
this street to the supermarket, then you
turn
left.
I've pressed Ctrl+Alt+Del. What
do
I
do
now?
Present simple in commentaries
The present simple is used in commentaries on events happening at the present moment to describe actions that are completed at the time of speaking:
Torres
passes
to Fabregas... Fabregas to Iniesta...
Then the curtain
drops
and the lights
go out
.
The auxiliaries DO and DOES for emphasis
In the present simple, the auxiliaries do and does (in the third person singular) followed by the bare infinitive form of the main verb can be used in affirmative sentences to express emphasis. In speech, the auxiliary is stressed:
We
do want
to help you.
Diego
does work
hard.
But I really
do love
you, baby!
Quotes:
Flowers really do intoxicate me. - Vita Sackville-West
Related topics:
Form: present simple
DO, DOES, DID + bare infinitive
Present simple with SINCE WHEN
Since when? with the present simple is used to indicate doubt or sarcasm:
Since when are
people like Geoffrey allowed to join this club?!
(How can he join this club?!)
Since when do
you
speak
Russian?
(I don't believe you speak Russian.)
Related topics:
Present perfect with FOR and SINCE
Present continuous
Form: present continuous
Present continuous for actions in progress at the time of speaking
Present continuous for gradual development
Present continuous for frequently repeated actions in the present
Present continuous for temporary habitual actions in the present
Present continuous for habitual actions in the present
Form: present continuous
AM/IS/ARE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE (VERB-ING)
The present continuous (also called the present progressive) is formed with am/is/are (the present tense forms of be) + the present participle -ing form of the verb.
Affirmative
Subject
Auxiliary
Verb (present participle)
I
am
sleeping.
He/She/It
is
You
are
We
You
They
Negative
Subject
Auxiliary
not
Verb (present participle)
I
am
not
sleeping.
He/She/It
is
You
are
We
You
They
Interrogative
(Question word)
Auxiliary
Subject
Verb (present participle)
(Where)
am
I
sleeping?
is
he/she/it
are
you
we
you
they
The following contracted forms are often used in spoken and in informal written language:
I am
»
I'm
you are
»
you're
he/she/it is
»
he's/she's/it's
we are
»
we're
you are
»
you're