Present Tense

Is a verb tense used to describe actions or situations that are:

⁕ currently happening
⁕ habitual actions
⁕ general truths
⁕ future events scheduled to occur.

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In English, the present tense has four main forms:

⁕ simple present
⁕ present continuous "progressive"
⁕ present perfect
⁕ present perfect continuous.

The simple present tense is used to describe
⁕ habitual actions
⁕ general truths
⁕ scheduled events
⁕ states of being that are ongoing.

It is formed by using the base form of the verb the infinitive without "to" for most subjects but with the third-person singular subjects he · she · it, the verb typically takes an -s or -es ending.

She plays tennis every weekend.
habitual action

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
general truth

The train arrives at 8:00 AM.
scheduled event

I live in New York.
state of being

The present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are
⁕ happening at the moment of speaking
⁕ ongoing actions
⁕ temporary situations
⁕ future plans.

It is formed using the present tense of the verb "to be" am · is · are followed by the present participle "the base form of the verb + -ing".

They are watching a movie now.
action happening at the moment

She is studying for her exams.
ongoing action

We are meeting our friends for dinner tonight.
future plan

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that
⁕ happened at an unspecified time in the past
⁕ actions that have relevance to the present
⁕ actions that started in the past and continue into the present.

It is formed using the present tense of the verb "to have" have · has followed by the past participle of the main verb.

He has traveled to many countries.
unspecified time in the past

She has finished her work.
relevance to the present

We have lived here for five years.
action started in the past, continuing into the present

The present perfect continuous tense is used to describe actions that
⁕ started in the past and continue up to the present moment
⁕ emphasizing the duration of the action.

It is formed using the present perfect tense of the verb "to have" have · has followed by "been" and the present participle of the main verb.

I have been studying all morning.
emphasizing the duration of the action

They have been waiting for over an hour.
action started in the past, continuing until now

We can use all these forms

to talk about the present:

London is the capital of Britain.
He works at McDonald’s.
He is working at McDonald's.
He has worked there for three months now.
He has been working there for three months now.

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to talk about the future:

The next train leaves this evening at 17.00.
I'll phone you when I get home.
He is meeting Peter in town this afternoon.
I'll come home as soon as I have finished work.
You will be tired out after you have been working all night.


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