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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Present simple - "general truths" and "universal truths"

Hi there teachers,

I’ve been made confused by the different explanations on the usages of Present Simple tense by different sites. Many grammar sites that I’ve gone to state that Present simple tense is used for “universal truths” or “general truths”.
For example – The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace. (is this a general truth or a universal truth, please?)
Another example is: A dog has four legs. (is this an example of a “universal truth” or a “general truth”?)

Teachers, Is there any difference between the two terms i.e., “universal truths” and “general truths”? Could you please tell me what it is if there is any?

Also, a few grammar sites say that we use the present simple tense to express “facts” and then provide examples which are very similar to those given above. I’m having a little trouble with defining different uses of present simple tense.
I’d like you to take a look at these examples, please:

1). The President of The USA lives in The White House. (is it a “general truth”, a “fact”, or a “universal truth”, please?)
2). The adult human body contains 206 bones. (same question as above, please.)
3). It rains a lot in winter. (same question as above, please.)
4). We come from Switzerland. (same question as above, please.)

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Does it matter? What is important is to understand when the present tense is the appropriate tense to use. In looking at how various writers have used 'truth' in talking about the present tense, I found the following (sub)-classifications: Eternal (and unvarying) truths Permanent truths General truths Geographical statements, Habitual truths.

  • Does it matter?
  • What is important is to understand when the present tense is the appropriate tense to use.
  • In looking at how various writers have used 'truth' in talking about the present tense, I found the following (sub)-classifications: Eternal (and unvarying) truths Permanent truths General truths Geographical statements, Habitual truths.
  • Internal truths Mathematical and scientific truths Permanent human truths Universal truths One writer used six of these, another only one.
  • Very similar sentences were placed under different headings by different writers, but the general idea came through.
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10 Answers
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Does it matter? What is important is to understand when the present tense is the appropriate tense to use.

In looking at how various writers have used 'truth' in talking about the present tense, I found the following (sub)-classifications:

Eternal (and unvarying) truths
Permanent truths
General truths
Geographical statements,
Habitual truths.
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The terms truth and fact basically mean the same thing. The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace would be an example of a general truth, and A dog has four legs would be an example of a universal truth, since it refers to all dogs everywhere in all times of history (except those who for some strange reason have more or less than four legs).

For the sake
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OK. And thanks to both of you, fivejedjon and Elanguest, for your helpful replies!

So, we can use the present simple tense for any statement which contains a truth and it doesn't matter what sort of truth the speaker actually wants to convey or express. right, fivejedjon?

I've one more thing here to ask, please. Please, tell me what the most common usage of present simple is. And
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AnonymousPlease, tell me what the most common usage of present simple is. And how should we explain THAT usage of present simple to the learners like me? Almost every grammar page (on the usage of present simple) that I've visited so far gives or provides at least four uses of the present simple tense. Can't I have a general idea of when to use the present simple tense?
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Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius is an example of universal truth or water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at an atmospheric pressure is an example of universal truth? Please tell me in detail.
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These are all universal truths:

Water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius.
Water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius at normal atmospheric pressure.
Water boils at one hundred degrees Celsius at sea level at normal atmospheric pressure.
Water boils at sixty degrees Celsius.

It is not relevant that some statements are more precise than
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It is_ universal truth. ( use of a,an,the)
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AnonymousIt is_ universal truth. ( use of a,an,the)
a

It's always "a" when the next word starts with a "u" that is pronounced "yoo".

CJ
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I want universal examples
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I might the universal facts are related to the life, earth, sun, moon, how are they working?

Similarly, these are working according to the rule.

https://techstribe.com must have followed.

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