📚 What is Present Tense?
The present tense is used to talk about actions or states that are happening now, happen regularly, or are generally true.
I walk to school every day.
She loves reading books.
The sun rises in the east.
🎯 Simple Present Tense
Formation
Use the base form of the verb. Add -s or -es for he, she, it (third person singular)
I, You, We, They
I walk to school.
You play soccer.
We study hard.
They eat lunch.
He, She, It
He walks to school.
She plays soccer.
It rains often.
Tom studies hard.
💡 Adding -s/-es Rules:
- Most verbs: add -s (walk → walks, eat → eats)
- Ends in s, x, z, ch, sh: add -es (wash → washes, teach → teaches)
- Ends in consonant + y: change y to -ies (study → studies, cry → cries)
- Ends in vowel + y: just add -s (play → plays, enjoy → enjoys)
- Irregular: have → has, do → does, go → goes
Uses of Simple Present
1. Habits and Routines
I brush my teeth every morning.
She walks her dog daily.
We have pizza on Fridays.
2. Facts and General Truths
Water boils at 100°C.
The Earth revolves around the sun.
Dogs bark and cats meow.
3. Permanent Situations
I live in California.
She works at a hospital.
They speak three languages.
4. Scheduled Events (Future Meaning)
The train leaves at 8 AM tomorrow.
School starts next Monday.
⏰ Present Continuous (Progressive)
Use am/is/are + verb-ing to show an action happening right now or around now
Formation: am/is/are + verb-ing
I am studying right now.
She is reading a book.
They are playing soccer.
We are watching TV.
💡 -ing Spelling Rules:
- Most verbs: add -ing (walk → walking, play → playing)
- Ends in -e: drop e, add -ing (make → making, write → writing)
- One syllable, short vowel + consonant: double consonant (run → running, swim → swimming)
Uses of Present Continuous
1. Action Happening Now
I am eating lunch right now.
Look! It is raining!
2. Temporary Situations
She is living with her aunt this month.
I am reading a great book these days.
3. Future Plans
We are visiting grandma tomorrow.
They are having a party next week.
Simple Present
Habitual/Regular
I play soccer.
(in general/regularly)
Present Continuous
Right Now/Temporary
I am playing soccer.
(at this moment)
✅ Present Perfect
Use have/has + past participle to connect past to present
Formation: have/has + past participle
I have finished my homework.
She has visited Paris three times.
They have never seen snow.
We have lived here for five years.
Uses of Present Perfect
1. Past Action with Present Result
I have lost my keys. (I don't have them now)
She has broken her arm. (It's still broken)
2. Life Experiences
I have been to Japan.
Have you ever eaten sushi?
3. Actions from Past to Present
We have known each other since childhood.
She has worked here for ten years.
🕐 Time Words for Present Tense
Simple Present
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never, every day/week/year
I always eat breakfast.
She usually arrives on time.
Present Continuous
now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week
I am studying right now.
She is working this week.
Present Perfect
already, yet, just, ever, never, so far, since, for
I have already finished.
She has lived here for five years.
✏️ Practice Exercise
Choose the correct form. Click to reveal!
1. She (go) to school every day.
She goes to school every day. (simple present - habit)
2. Look! It (rain) outside.
Look! It is raining outside. (present continuous - now)
3. I (study) English since 2020.
I have studied English since 2020. (present perfect - past to present)
4. Water (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. (simple present - fact)
5. We (watch) a movie right now.
We are watching a movie right now. (present continuous - now)
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Simple present: habits, facts, general truths (I walk, she walks)
- Add -s/-es for he, she, it in simple present
- Present continuous: am/is/are + verb-ing (happening now)
- Present perfect: have/has + past participle (past connected to present)
- Use simple present for routines and facts
- Use present continuous for actions happening right now
- Time words help identify which present tense to use