The present tense in English has four types: simple, progressive, perfect, and perfect continuous. Each type has a specific use, and it’s important to understand the difference between them so that your writing is accurate and coherent. In this post, we’ll go over each type of present tense with examples so you can see how they’re used.
Present Tense
The present tense is the most common tense used when writing in English. It is often used to describe current situations and ongoing actions, as well as habits and permanent states. The present simple tense is used to describe regular activities, while the present continuous tense is used to describe more temporary situations.
The present perfect tense is used to describe past actions that have a present connection, while the present perfect continuous tense describes ongoing actions that began in the past and are still continuing. As you can see, there are many different ways to use the present tense in English. By understanding how and when to use each one, you can effectively communicate your ideas in any situation.
Types of Present Tense
1- Present Simple Tense
The present simple tense is used to describe an action that is happening at the present moment, or that happens regularly.
For example, ‘I am eating breakfast’ and ‘She walks to work’.
To form the present simple, we use the base form of the verb (for example, ‘eat’ and ‘walk’). The present simple can be used with both regular and irregular verbs. With regular verbs, we add ‘-s’ in the third person singular (he, she, it): ‘He eats breakfast every day’.
With irregular verbs, the spelling changes in the third person singular: ‘She has breakfast’. The present simple is also used to describe permanent situations: ‘John lives in London’. We can use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, etc.) with the present simple to talk about how often an action happens: ‘I always eat breakfast at 7am’.
In summary, the present simple tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or that happen regularly. It is formed with the base form of the verb and is used with both regular and irregular verbs.
2- Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense is used to describe an action that is happening at the present moment, or that will happen in the future.
For example, ‘I am meeting John for lunch’ and ‘They are arriving at 3pm’.
To form the present continuous, we use the present tense of the verb ‘to be’ (‘am’, ‘is’, or ‘are’) and the present participle of the main verb (the form of the verb that ends in ‘-ing’): ‘I am eating breakfast’.
The present continuous is used to describe temporary situations: ‘I am living in London for six months’. We can use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, etc.) with the present continuous to talk about how often an action is happening at the moment: ‘I am always eating breakfast at 7am’.
In summary, the present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening now or that will happen in the future. It is formed with the present tense of the verb ‘to be’ and the present participle of the main verb.
3- Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is used to describe an action that happened in the past, but has a present connection.
For example, ‘I have finished my breakfast’ and ‘She has arrived at work’.
To form the present perfect, we use the present tense of the verb ‘to have’ and the past participle of the main verb: ‘I have eaten breakfast’.
The present perfect is used to describe past actions that have a present connection: ‘I have lived in London for six years’. We can use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, etc.) with the present perfect to talk about how often an action has happened up to now: ‘I have always eaten breakfast at 7am’.
In summary, the present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have happened in the past but have a present connection. It is formed with the present tense of the verb ‘to have’ and the past participle of the main verb.
4- Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past and is still happening.
For example, ‘I have been eating breakfast’ and ‘She has been working all morning’.
To form the present perfect continuous, we use the present tense of the verb ‘to have’, the present participle of the verb ‘to be’ (‘am’, ‘is’, or ‘are’), and the present participle of the main verb (the form of the verb that ends in ‘-ing’): ‘I have been eating breakfast’.
The present perfect continuous is used to describe past actions that are still happening: ‘I have been living in London for six months. We can use adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, etc.) to describe how often we do something with the present perfect continuous to talk about how often action has been happening up to now: ‘I have always been eating breakfast at 7am.
In summary, the present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that started in the past and are still happening. It is formed with the present tense of the verb ‘to have’, the present participle of the verb ‘to be’, and the present participle of the main verb.
Examples of Present Tense
1. She walks to work.
2. He talks on the phone.
3. They drive to the store.
4. We sit in the sun.
5. I drink coffee every morning.
6. Mary eats lunch at noon.
7. The students study for their exams.
8. My cat sleeps all day.
9. The baby cries at night.
10. John goes to the gym after work.
11. Tim washes his car on Saturdays.
12. Julie bakes a cake for her friends.
13. Paul reads the newspaper every day.
14. Sarah takes her dog for a walk in the park.
15. George does his homework before dinner.
16. Emma paints her nails every week.
17. The boys play soccer in the street.
18. Maria cooks dinner for her family.
19. I take a shower every morning.
20. You drink water when you are thirsty.
21. She eats an apple every day.
Exercises of Present Tense
1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.
1. I (work) as a doctor.
2. They (live) in London.
3. We (not have) a car.
4. He (like) coffee.
5. She (watch) TV every day.
6. It (not rain) now.
7. I (be) thirsty.
8. You (be) a student?
9. We (not be) at home now.
10. They (work) in an office.
2. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).
1. Look! Somebody (swim) in the river!
2. Hurry up! The bus already (leave)!
3. I usually (have) breakfast at 7 o’clock, but today I already (have) it at 6:30.
4. Be quiet! I still (try) to concentrate on my work!
5. What time you usually (go) to bed?
6. I (write) a letter to my friend at the moment.
7. She always (wear) black clothes.
8. He often (watch) TV in the evening.
9. They (live) in Paris.
10. We usually (meet) on Mondays, but next week we (meet) on Tuesday because Monday is a holiday.
3. Rewrite the sentences using the present simple or present continuous tense of the verbs in brackets.
1. Where you (go)? – I’m going to the library. (go)
2. What time it (be)? – It’s 3 o’clock. (be)
3. Why she always (wear) black clothes? – I don’t know. (wear)
4. How often you (meet) your friends? – Once a week. (meet)
5. What they (do)? – They’re students. (be)
6. Where John (live)? – In New York. (live)
7. What you (look) for? – My keys. I can’t find them anywhere! (look)
8. When you usually (have) breakfast? – At 7 o’clock. (have)
9. Why he always (watch) TV in the evening? – I don’t know, ask him! (watch)
10. What time it is? – It’s 3 o’clock.
