WHY Present Tense?

Question

I have a question about the dialogue in one of Friends' episodes; the salesman asks Joey,

Salesman: "Do your friends ever have a conversation and you just nod along even though you're not really sure what they're talking about?"

My question is why the salesman uses Present Tense instead of Present Perfect. If the salesman was asking Joey his experience in the past, then shouldn't it be Present Perfect instead?

Thanks in advance.

Waïti · Accepted Answer

I would say that the question the salesman asks goes to knowing whether it is a HABIT that Joey has to just nod his head while his friends are having a conversation. So he implies something like 'do you USUALLY do such a thing ?' when he asks his question. Hence the simple present...

Philip · Answer

WaïtiI would say that the question the salesman asks goes to knowing whether it is a HABIT that Joey has to just nod his head while his friends are having a conversation. So he implies something like 'do you USUALLY do such a thing ?' when he asks his question. Hence the simple present...

I agree: 'habit' is the operative word here.

Anonymous · Answer

In this situation either present perfect or present could be used, but present is more usual. If the question was PP, he'd be asked to recall any particular instances, but in PS, simply if this ever occurs Sort of like the difference between asking, "Have you ever gone skiing?" or "Do you ever go skiing?" The answer to the first one might be, "Yes, I've gone a few times. To the second, one might answer, "Yes, every month." Think of these statements: "I've been to France five times." "I go to France on holiday quite often."

WHY Present Tense?

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