Il tempo PRESENTE nasconde dei segreti...

Key takeaways:

The present tense in Italian is more complex than it seems, used not only for present actions but also for future and past events.
The present tense can often be replaced by the progressive periphrasis "stare + gerund" in Italian.
Italian present tense can be used instead of progressive periphrasis in many cases, unlike other languages like English.
The present tense can be used to talk about habits, general truths, and future events, especially when combined with time indicators.

The Present Tense and Its Uses #

The present tense is used to talk about a fact occurring at the moment of enunciation.

if I say it's cold, I mean that the temperature is low right now
It can often be replaced by the progressive periphrasis "stare + gerund," with a similar meaning but emphasizing the progressive aspect.

I watch a film -> I am watching a film
In Italian, the present tense can be used instead of progressive periphrasis in many cases, unlike English.

where are you going? -> I'm going to school or I go to school

The present tense can be used to talk about habits or repeated actions over time.

I always go to play football on Thursdays
It can also be used for general truths or facts valid outside of time (a-temporal or omni-temporal present).

Paolo is a kind man (now, in the past, and presumably in the future)

In Italian, especially in spoken language, the present tense can be used to talk about future events when the clarity of speech is not affected.

I go to school (tomorrow)
To avoid ambiguity, a time signature such as "tomorrow" is often used.

I go to school tomorrow

The present tense can be used to talk about past events, especially when telling a story or summarizing a series of events.

In 1492 Europeans landed for the first time in America
It can also be mixed and alternated with actual past tenses.

We were on the highway: suddenly a motorbike comes out and almost collides with our car.

Summary for: Youtube