English Tenses: I do & I am doing - All uses | English Grammar Lesson | B1-Intermediate

Welcome everyone to this presentation where  I'm going to answer a question I get from a  

lot of people. So, let me share my screen here  and this is the question I get. The question is:  

Can we use the present tense to speak about the  past? Now, let's start by reviewing when we use  

the present tense actually for present and future  before we look at it for the past tense. Right,  

so if I just now take you to the first slide.  Obviously, the present simple tense, which is I  

do, he does its main use is to speak about present  facts habits, and regular actions. So we've got  

some examples here: I work in a law firm. We don't  live in a flat. Facts! She always takes the train  

to work. Again a fact. He doesn't play tennis  every weekend. Talking about a regular habit  

or action. So, I think that's pretty clear for  everyone. Present continuous - I am doing, he is  

doing. Naturally, its main use is in the present  frame, and its actions currently in progress. For  

example: I am currently working from home. Or: He  isn't playing tennis now. Now, another question  

keeps coming up. So, I'm going to answer it now,  and that's about the word 'always'. As some of  

you have written saying that you sometimes see  this word 'always' used with the present simple  

tense and sometimes with the present continuous  tense. How come? Because 'always' is an adverb of  

frequency, and the rule says that we must use  adverbs of frequency always with the present  

simple tense. So naturally, if we use it with the  present simple tense, it's about an action that  

happens always. Every time. It's a fact. Like:  I always make the same mistake. But when we use  

this word (only this word), 'always', this adverb  not other adverbs of frequency, but just this one  

with present continuous, it's about an action that  doesn't happen every time but happens too often,  

and is usually a little annoying. You're  not happy with this happening so often. And  

then you will come up or come across sentences  like: I'm always making the same mistake. So,  

note the notice the difference between the neutral  factual intonation of: I always make the same  

mistake. And the more emotive emotional way of  saying: I'm always making the same mistake. So,  

that's an important thing to remember so that you  don't get confused when you see 'always' with the  

present continuous. Before we go to the past of  course, we need to look at the use of these two  

tenses (present continuous and present simple)  for future. And as we have revised recently,  

the present continuous is for future arrangements.  Something that you have arranged. You have a  

booking for. An appointment. A real fixed  arrangement. And that's something like: I'm taking  

the train to Paris this evening. Now within this  context, if you speak about the scheduled event,  

then we use the present simple: My train leaves  at 7:15. So, that's all about the common uses of  

the I do and I'm doing forms (tenses) for present  and future. That was a revision. So, when do we  

use this for the past events? That may be a little  new for you, and sometimes you may hear it. It's  

not very common, not like the other two situations  we've looked at. It's called narrative or historic  

present, and we use the present tenses (simple and  continuous) instead of past simple and continuous  

to bring the story, whatever happened in the past,  to life. To make it sound more exciting, more  

engaging. You would have noticed this in jokes.  It's very common when you're telling a joke to  

use this present tense narrative present. Instead  of saying: A man went into a bar and asked for a  

beer. The barman was serving him when suddenly.  So, using the past tense is quite neutral. We  

use the present instead of past simple, present  simple: A man goes into a bar and asks for a beer,  

and the barman is serving him when suddenly.  So the past continuous changes to present  

continuous. This is the most common use. You  may also sometimes hear or read about historical  

events in this tense. Instead of saying: The  French Revolution began and lasted. You can you  

can say, or you might hear or read: The French  Revolution begins in 1789 and lasts until 1794.

Now, you can use this tense yourself  if you want in describing, in relating,  

or sharing your own personal events. But make  sure that this is a really extraordinary, strange,  

and interesting event. Don't go using the present  simple tense or present continuous tense talking  

about the past in general. Please absolutely  must avoid that because you confuse people. So,  

I wouldn't overdo this tense personally in my  own speech. But, if you hear someone else use it,  

then you know they are dramatising their personal  event. So for example, you can hear or say:  

You won't believe what happened on Wednesday.  I arrive at work at 9 as usual, and I see Simon  

standing in the car park. He is screaming at  the top of his voice and kicking his car. So,  

you're bringing this extraordinary interesting  event to the present tense to make it more  

engaging for your listener. Right, that's the  revision of when we use these two forms 'I do'  

and 'I'm doing' for the present, mainly. For the  future, quite commonly, and very occasionally,  

for the past. I hope you've enjoyed  this lesson. For more on this topic,  

click here. Remember to also check  out my complete online course,  

and don't don't forget to like and subscribe.  Thank you for watching, and happy studies!