Present tenses

Present tenses

1. Present simple

We use the present simple tense for:

• things that we do regularly;
•  facts, habits, truths and permanent situations;
• timetables;
• reviews/sport commentaries/dramatic narrative.

Time expressions: every day/week/month, once a week, on Fridays, usually, sometimes, always, rarely, never, often, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night.

Form:

For positive sentences, use the same form as the infinitive without 'to' for I, you, we and they. For he, she and it, add -s or -es to the infinitive. Make questions and negatives with do / does + the infinitive without 'to'.

1. Present continues

We use the present continuous for:

•  things that are happening at the time we are speaking;
•  temporary situations, and for activities that are in progress;
•  future arrangements, usually with a time expression;
• always/constantly-annoyance;
• fixed arrangements in the near future  

Time expressions: now, at the moment, at present, nowadays, today, tonight, always, still, this.        

Form: for positive sentences, the form is subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. Make questions and negatives with am/are/is + not + verb-ing.

Can I call you back later? We’re having dinner right now.

Is it raining?

Note: There are some verbs that we don’t usually use in the continuous form. They are often verbs of thinking and feeling, for example: hear, see, smell, hate, know, understand, want, need.

WRONG: Could you explain that again? I’m not understanding.

CORRECT: Could you explain that again? I don’t understand.

1. Present Perfect

Use the present perfect for:

• Life experiences in the past. We don’t say when these happened: we are interested in the experience, not the time or date.
• Recent past actions that are important now.

Oh no! I’ve left my wallet on the bus.

The president has resigned.

• Past situations that are still happening now.
• With just, already, yet to talk about recent events in the past. The exact time is not important. Use just and already mainly in positive sentences. Use yet in negatives and questions.

Time expressions: use how long with for (throughout a period of time), since (from a point in the past until now), just, already, yet, ever, never, so far, recently, lately, today, this week/month.

Note: Use the past simple for completed actions in the past.

I saw Jenny yesterday.

Peter moved to Saudi Arabia in 2011.

Natasha didn't want another piece of cake.

When did you see Alex?

Form:

For positive sentences, the form is subject + have/has + past participle. Make negatives with not and change the word order to make questions.