Using the present simple and continuous
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Using the present simple tense | page 5 of 6 |
Past time use
The present simple tense is used to refer to past events in the following contexts.
In newspaper headlines
In newspaper headlines, events that happened in the recent past are described by verbs in the present simple tense. This has the effect of dramatising the events. Consider the headline below, which is followed by the main text of the article:
Miyazawa dismisses quit call from within party
Embattled Japanese Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa yesterday dismissed a call from within his own party to resign after tomorrow's general election, saying the request was not serious. (SCMP 17/7/93)
Notice that the headline uses the present simple verb dismisses while in the body of the newspaper report, the past tense verb dismissed is used. For more examples of the use of the present simple tense in headlines, click here.
In telling stories
In telling a story (often recounting a personal anecdote as in the following example), a narrator can describe past events as if they were happening now by using the present simple tense. This is called the historic present, and its effect is to make the story vivid and lifelike:
Well! I left the house at 9:00 this morning as usual. I had a 9:30 meeting, but it was nothing special. I went to get in my car and when I got there found that it wouldn't start! Oh, no! I thought. So, to cut a long story short, I go back inside, call the AA, they come straight away, look at the engine (and fix it right away of course - I felt like such a fool!) - and, well, I got here just a minute ago - in time for the meeting! By the way, where's John? Why isn't he here yet?
This use of the present simple tense is typically found in informal conversation.
In reporting
Reporting verbs such as say, tell, and hear are sometimes used in the present simple to stress that what was said in the past is still true at the time of speaking:
The Tobacco Institute says it is concerned about the loss of an estimated $700 million in tobacco tax each year.
In this example, what the Tobacco Institute said in the recent past is still valid at
the moment of speaking, so the verb says is in the present simple tense 
.
Reporting verbs can also be used in the present simple tense if what is reported is something that has been written down:
The report says that in the long term, land will be increasingly scarce.
(Bank of English)The Christian Bible says all people are sinful. (Bank of English)
A new book claims wearing a bra is linked to breast cancer. (Bank of English)
Introduction
Past time use
