PRESENT TENSES Part 1

English verb tenses give important information about

• timeline
• if something is over or still happening
• how often it happens!

This is very important in understanding exact patient issues.

All English verbs have

• an infinitive form
• a simple present or first form,
• a simple past or second form
• a perfect or third form.

Often the infinitive and present forms are the same… but not always!
English has TWO present tense forms.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

We use simple present for

• facts
• diagnoses
• routines
• generalisations
• things we do ‘always’, ‘usually’, ‘occasionally’, ‘sometimes’ or ‘never’

Simple present sentences

1. Positive sentences

FACT/DIAGNOSIS: I am hypertensive. OR I’m hypertensive.

ROUTINE: I usually take my medication after breakfast.

GENERALISATION: Obese people need anti-hypertension medication.

2. Negative sentences

FACT/DIAGNOSIS: I am not hypertensive. OR I’m not hypertensive

ROUTINE: I usually don’t (do not) take my medication before lunch.

GENERALISATION: Obese people sometimes don’t need anti-hypertension medication.

Simple present ‘be’ questions

For ‘be’-questions, the word order changes:

• Are you hypertensive?
• Your parents…are they still alive?
• Is anyone in your family hypertensive?

Most verbs use helping verb “do” in simple present questions.
The “do” changes but the main verb stays in root form.

• Do you take medication?
• Does your father or mother suffer from heart disease?
  (So) do they still get regular check-ups?

Simple present ‘w-word’ questions (who, what, when, where, why, which, how) 

In w-word questions, the w-word goes before the ‘do’ or ‘be’ for.:

• What do you take for your blood pressure?
• When does your GP see you at home?
• (So) why do you want to stop the medication?
• (And roughly) how often do they check your cholesterol at the clinic?

SPEAKING EXERCISE B part 1

Practice repeating ALOUD each example sentence in the lesson above. Focus on the common collocations, RUNNING THEM TOGETHER until they flow as ONE EXPRESSION.  The collocations are underlined.

 GRAMMAR LESSON B Part 2

^{PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE}

We use present progressive to discuss

• events happening right now
• events happening at a specific time in the future

present tense of be + main verb-ing

a) Present progressive sentences 

1. Positive sentences

EVENTS NOW: I’m going into the clinic now. I’ll call you later.

EVENTS IN THE FUTURE: I am getting a 24-hour BP monitor tomorrow.

2. Negative sentences 

EVENTS NOW: I am not taking this medication again. Now it is making me dizzy.

EVENTS IN THE FUTURE: I am not getting the 24-hour BP monitor tomorrow, after all. They are admitting me to hospital (tomorrow) instead.

b) Present progressive questions

In questions, the word order changes. The helping verb ‘be’ comes first; then comes the subject; then comes the ing-form of the verb.

• Are you taking any medication at present?
• Is he getting enough sleep?
• Is the home nurse visiting regularly?

c) Present progressive w-questions (who, what, when, where, why, which, how) 

In w-questions, the w-word goes before the form of ‘be’.

• What are you taking for your diabetes?
• Why aren’t you taking your hypertension medication?
• (And roughly) how long are they keeping you in hospital?

SOMETIMES SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT PROGRESSIVE MEAN THE SAME

These two mean the same thing:

• I take Ramipril for my hypertension.
• I am taking Ramipril for my hypertension.

SPEAKING EXERCISE B part 2

Practice repeating ALOUD each example sentence in the lesson above. Focus on the common collocations, RUNNING THEM TOGETHER until they flow as ONE EXPRESSION.  The collocations are underlined.

GRAMMAR EXERCISE B

Instructions: Choose the correct option.