What is present tense?

Definition
	Present tense is an absolute tense that refers to the moment of utterance. It often refers to events or states that do not merely coincide with the moment of utterance, such as those that are
	continuous habitual, or lawlike.

Concept module: present tense
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): P
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004