II. The use of the Present Indefinite

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

THE INDEFINITE FORM

Grammar Review

Write the short essay on why you are agree or disagree with the statement that a strong small business community is the best interest of all citizens.

5 Complete the following sentences with the correct preposition:

1. They put a lot of money … the project.

2. Companies are often unwilling to give … their independence.

The Indefinite form merely shows that the action takes place in the present, past or future. The form of the verb gives no indication as to its duration or completion.

THE PRESENT INDEFINITE

I. The formation of the Present Indefinite.

1. The Present Indefinite is formed from the infinitive without the particle to.

In the third person singular the ending -s is added. After a sibilant represented in spelling by s, ss, ch, sh, tch, x, e and after the vowel o, -es is added: he writes, he reads, he speaks; he passes, he pushes, he watches, he teaches; he goes, he does [dAz].

2. The pronunciation of the ending -s (-es) depends on the sound preceding it. It is pronounced as:

[iz] after the sibilants [s], [z], [J], [tj], [dj]: passes ['pasiz], pushes ['pujiz], teaches [ti:tjiz], judges;

[z]after voiced non-sibilants and vowels: reads [ri:dz], lives [livz], sees [si:z];

[s] after voiceless non-sibilants: works [wa:ks], wants [wonts].

3. In the third person singular we find the following orthogra­phical change:

A final у is changed into i if it is preceded by a consonant md then -es is added: to study — he studies; to try — he tries.

After a vowel у is kept unchanged: to play —he plays; to stay — he stays.

4. The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of tire Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to do and the infinitive of the notional verb without the particle to.

I work Do I work? I do not work

He works Does he work? He does not work

She works Does she work? She does not work

We work Do we work? We do not work

You work Do you work? You do not work

They work Do they work? They do not work

5. The contracted negative forms are:

I don't work.

He doesn't work.

They don't work.

6. The negative-interrogative forms are:

Do you not work?

Don't you work?

Does he not work?

Doesn't he work?

The Present Indefinite is used to denote:

1. Customary, repeated actions. This is its most characteristic use.

The Browns go to the seaside every summer.

The repeated character of the action is often shown by adverbials such as every day, often, usually, etc.

2. Actions and states characterizing a given person.

She has many accomplishments: she sings and plays the piano beautifully.

3. Universal truths, something which is eternally true.

Magnet attracts iron.

The earth rotates round its axis.

4. Actions going on at the present moment (with verbs not used in the Continuous form).

I see George in the street. Tell him to come in. I hear somebody knock. Go and open the door.

5. A future action:

(a) in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the words: when, till, until, before, after, as soon as, as long as, if, unless, on condition that, provided.

...Robert, will you mend me a pen or two before you go? (Ch. Bronte)

I promise not to try to see Robert again till he asks for me. (Ch. Bronte)

Note: It should be borne in mind that this use of the Present Indefinite occurs only in adverbial clauses of time and condition. In object and attributive clauses introduced by when the Future Indefinite is used.

I wonder when he will give us an answer.

We are impatiently waiting the day when our friends will return from their long journey.

(b) with verbs of motion, such as to go, to сотe, to leave, etc.
The future action is regarded as something fixed.

The train leaves at 10 tomorrow. We find the same phenomenon in Russian.

THE PAST INDEFINITE

III. The formation of the Past Indefinite.

1. The Past Indefinite is formed by adding -ed or -d to the stem (regular verbs), or by changing the root vowel, or in some other ways (irregular verbs).

2. The interrogative and the negative forms are formed by means of the Past Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to do (did) and the infinitive of the notional verb without the particle to.

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