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The following four categories of the present tense include those that
are used to indicate an event or occurence taking place over a long interval,
or an extended sequence of events.
3. Extending-from-Past Present (Present of Past Action Still in Progress)
The present tense may be used to describe an action that, begun in the
past, continues in the present. The emphasis is on the present time.
4. Iterative Present
The present tense may be used to describe an event that repeatedly happens.
- Matt 7:7 A sk ... seek ... knock.
5. Lifestyle (Customary, General) Present [ customarily, as a lifestyle ]
The customary present is used to signal either (1) an action that _regularly
occurs_ or (2) an ongoing state. The action is usually iterative,
or repeated, but not without interruption.
- Luke 18:12 I [customarily] fast twice a week.
- 1John 3:6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning [as a lifestyle]
6. Gnomic Present
- The present tense may be used to make a statement of a general, timeless fact. "It does not say that something is happening, but that something does happen" (Williams, 27). The action or state continues without time limits.
- 2Cor 9:7 God loves [as a general, timeless fact] a cheerful giver.
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