Tenses--Narratives

Question

Before the decade is over, David sends Mike's discovery over to researches and scientists for testing.Normal verbs such as 'to send' would normally have to be in the continuous tense to express that the action is happening now. However, I've been told and I've read from only a couple of sources that in narratives the present simple can be used with normal verbs to express something happening right now. Therefore, does this mean that the above is OK, since it appears to be a narrative style?Furthermore, can the present simple in narratives be referring to either the past (what we call the historical or narrative present) or referring to the present time?I think I may be confused about all of this. Thank you for your time.

Fandorin · Accepted Answer

English 1b3herefore, does this mean that the above is OK, since it appears to be a narrative style?

Absolutely.

Imagine the narrator relives the situation he experienced. You can take it as the story is going on right now being told by the author.

English 1b3Furthermore, can the present simple in narratives be referring to either the past (what we call the historical or narrative present) or referring to the present time?

Considering what I've said before, the story is more likely to be what has already happened or been gone through, thus the author speaks of the past.

English 1b3 · Answer

How come most sites discussing the present simple tense do not mention this?

One site said this:

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now

And another site said "If the activity does not occur all the time and is only happening now, you need the Present Progressive tense"

So they are saying we don't use the present simple to express an action happening now... But my original sentence is using the present simple...

Fandorin · Answer

First of all I can't see any additional context, judging from the sentences given. It seems to me, though, that something is begging to appear after your sentence and tell us more about what happened after the sending had taken place.

"Present tenses are often used informally to tell stories. The simple present is used for the events - the things that happen one after another. The present continuous is used for "background" - things that are already happening when the story starts, or that continue through the story. The simple present is common in summaries of plays, stories..." M. Swan, "Practical English usage", 2005.

As far as I can get it, someone sends something to whoever is supposed to receive it. And something else happens after that. "Sending" is not a continuing event.

English 1b3Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now

With stories are being narrated, I don't think that something is really happening at the very moment.

English 1b3And another site said "If the activity does not occur all the time and is only happening now, you need the Present Progressive tense"

What does it have to do with my previous statements?

English 1b3So they are saying we don't use the present simple to express an action happening now...

Yes, exactly. But " to send" is are of a single action that can't last long. I will never say, "someone is sending a message" except for the case when someone is waiting for the electronic message to be processed and some message "the delievery has been completed" to pop up or possibly for SOS messages being broadcast from a sinking vessel which is a continuing event indeed.

English 1b3Normal verbs such as 'to send' would normally have to be in the continuous tense to express that the action is happening now That's where the shoe pinches! The verb is stative unless the reasons I gave you earlier appear.

Tenses--Narratives

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