Presentation: Present/Past Simple?

[Tamara]

Hi

Imagine that making a presentation, you need to explain/interpret some graph that represents some kind of statistics (whatever it summarises) by using time periods.

Which tense (Part/Present Simple) would you use, for example, in the phrase:

'In 1981 the greatest number of <...blah, blah, blah...> [come/came] from Spain.'

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[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

As a general rule, I'd use the simple past to talk about finished time periods, particularly if the finished time is specifically mentioned or understood (1981 is clearly finished and also specifically mentioned):

'In 1981 the greatest number of <...blah, blah, blah...> came from Spain.'


I'd use the present perfect to talk about trends in a current time period (this year/this month up to now, for example) or possibly to make extremely general statements/comparisons.

'Last year we sold an average of 100 units per month, but that figure has dropped to 75 this year.' (This year is not finished yet.)

'We have always been able to show a profit every year.'

Amy

[Tamara]

So, even when I say something like 'As we can see from the picture [now], .... came [that time]...'.
And the time scale from the graph shown is working in our current reality.

OK.

Thanks a lot, Amy.
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[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

I'm a bit wary of saying this as I got shouted at last time in one of my tests about the weather forecast although then it concerned the future form but my inclination would be to use the Present Simple when referring to charts and pictures in a presentation. My only proviso would be to check whether it makes sense if you were to add (at least in your mind)something like: As you can see.

A
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[Tamara]

Yes, Alan...
My (internal) preference in this case is for the Present. It does make sense to me.
But I understand that Past Simpe is/would be 'more standard'. Especially for me, a non-native, Intermediate-level, speaker.

Hmm. At least, now I better understand that case with the 'Weather forecast'...
Whatever God does is for the best.
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[Yankee]

Hi Alan

I agree that you can point to a graph or chart and say what it does (simple present tense) as long as that's also what everyone can see.

But, I think a presentation should be and would be expected to be more than that. It should be an interpretation and explanation of the events the chart represents. There should be more to it than what's visible on the chart. Background and reasons are often given, for example, and that pretty much requires the past tense. I think using the present tense to describe a line or a bar on a graph or chart puts the more emphasis on the piece of paper and the here and now and less emphasis the events and their history.

One thing is certain, though: If you simply point to a graph and talk only about what everybody can already clearly see anyway, then there isn't really much need for the presentation at all. Just make copies of the chart/graph and hand them out -- or better yet, email it.

Amy

[Prezbucky]

exactly

There is nothing quite as boring as listening to someone read their presentation, when it's right in your hands (paper copy) or up on a screen.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
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[Tamara]

Hi

[Yankee]

Hi Tamara

You're right about narrating a story (e.g. the movie you saw last week) in the simple present tense. Sometimes you'll also hear the simple present tense used this way by the announcers at a sporting event as they report the blow-by-blow action:
"He aims... he shoots... GOAL!!!!"

However, this sort of usage of the simple present tense would be quite unlikely in a formal or business presentation, and I'd say if someone were to use it, it would be for a very specific, special effect. If used inappropriately, it would make the presentation sound frivolous.

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

I can't agree with the reference to 'frivolous' by using the Present in a presentation. I have sat through a mass of lectures and presentations in my life and would have welcomed a touch of lightness in most of them if they had been grounded on actuality. To take one simple example I can recall a history teacher at school who bored everyone to death by recounting events that he'd learnt off by heart and how he regurgitated the stuff in factual old past simple - you know and then and then and then .... In contrast I well remember at university a lecturer whose vibrant presentations were of the moment and relied heavily on the idea of this is and that happens and this follows. And his topic wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs. It was Kafka.

A
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[Yankee]

Hi Alan

I did say "if used inappropriately" and "special effect"...

I agree that presentations are also often too boring and need livening up. But, if a businessperson were to present two years' worth of company history in the same way a sports announcer might announce a soccer game, for example, it would indeed be for special effect and it would also take an outstanding speaker to pull it off effectively.

Generally speaking, a presentation of historical business information done entirely in the simple present tense would indeed tend to get people's attention. But what would the attention be on? The presenter's circus act or the material being presented? The presenter would run a very high risk of not being taken seriously and the presentation being seen as frivolous.

This usage of the simple present tense as spice and/or for a special effect in parts of a presentation: yes, I agree. But not for the whole thing! That would be a sideshow... a circus... frivolous.

Amy

[Alan]

Hi Amy,

Let's at least agree that the Present Simple used in moderation works as I indicated (or perhaps I should say as I indicate) above: 'My only proviso would be to check whether it makes sense if you were to add (at least in your mind) something like: As you can see'. I was also raising the tone somewhat above a sports commentary by alluding to my late lamented lecturer on Kafka. I believe it also works with presentations by highly respected presenters of history on TV.

A
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[Yankee]

.
I don't disagree with you, Alan, but I have seen too many language learners misuse the simple present tense, and sometimes it's a result of mentioning 'special', less frequent usages.

If a presenter chooses to deliver a presentation of historic events in the simple present tense, in a fashion similar to what you might hear on a TV documentary (as opposed to 'sports commentator style'), then I'd say that the entire presentation should be done that way. However, this sort of 'present' style can be just as boring as a style using any other tense. I've also been put to sleep by a dry present tense delivery.

As I'm sure you agree, the level of audience interest will ultimately depend on all of the aspects of the language used, as well as the speaker's voice, body language, visual aids, and, and, and. Tense usage is just one aspect, but misuse of tense can be detrimental.

With respect to a TV documentary, the audience usually sees many different (often dramatic) pictures and action (film) accompanying what is being narrated. In a TV documentary, the audience sees things more directly and a present tense format may be designed to make the viewer feel he or she is experiencing the whole story more directly. I see a TV documentary as fundamentally different from the presentation of a graph and statistics, which is what Tamara originally asked about.

Amy

[Tamara]

Thanks to all for the responses and highly interesting opinions!

...Amy, I didn't say a word about business presentation.

Hmm. Presentation in Present tense… to be honest, in my native language I did it and it wasn’t always failing.

For example.
Imagine that you show several distributions and charts while saying something like "… as we can see, at the turn of centuries our Mr. Average starts… "
That's OK - if you actually can do that. And have a good feeling of 'adequacy'.

But I completely agree that such a risky exercise is not for non-native speakers, at all.
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[Alan]

Hi Tamara,

I'm sure it would be well within your scope.

A
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