PRESENT TENSE

Present Tense

A verb that refers to present time is said to be in the present tense. The present tense is a grammatical tense used to describe actions or states that are currently happening or are habitual. It can also express general truths or facts.

Forms Of Present Tense

There are four forms of present tense:

1. Present Indefinite or Simple Present Tense
2. Present Progressive or Present Continuous Tense
3. Present Perfect Tense
4. Present perfect Progressive Or Present perfect Continuous Tense

Present Indefinite (Simple Present) Tense

The present indefinite tense, also known as the simple present tense, is used to describe actions that are habitual, general truths, or facts that are currently true.

FORMULA:

• Subject (singular) + verb (1^st form) s/es + Object
• Subject (Plural) + ver (1^st form + Object

USES:

• to express routines, schedules, and universal truths
• Habitual Actions: To describe actions that are regular or habitual.
  For example, "She goes to the gym every morning."
• General Truths: To state facts or general truths that are always true.
  For example, "Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."
• Scheduled Events: To refer to scheduled events in the near future, particularly in timetables or itineraries.
  For example, "The train departs at 6 PM."
• Instructions or Directions: To give instructions or directions.
  For example, "Turn left at the traffic light."
• Narrative Style: In storytelling or reporting, the simple present can be used to create a sense of immediacy.
  For example, "He walks into the room and sees everyone."
• State of Being: To describe a state or condition that is currently true.
  For example, "She feels happy."
• In exclamatory sentence beginning with here and there to express what is actually taking place in the present.
  For example, " Here comes the bus."
  "There she goes."
• to indicate quotations.
• 
  

SIGNAL WORDS:

• Always
• Usually
• Often
• Sometimes
• Rarely
• Never
• Every day
• On Mondays
• In the morning

EXAMPLES:

• Affirmative:
  * He speaks.
  * They speak.
  
  
• Negative:
  * He does not speak.
  * They do not speak.
  
  
• Question:
  * Does he speak?
  * Do they speak?

Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense

To indicate action that is happening at the time of speaking.

FORMULA:

• Subject + auxiliary verbs (am, is, are) + verb (1^st form) ing + Object
• Subject (singular) + am / is + verb (1^st form) ing + Object
• Subject (Plural) + are + verb  (1^st form) ing + Object

USES:

• Action take place in the moment of speaking.
• Action taking place only for a limited period of time.
• Now / temporary activities.
• Action arranged for the future.

SIGNAL WORDS:

• at the moment
• just
• just now
• listen
• Look!
• now
• right now

EXAMPLES:

• Affirmative: He is speaking.
• Negative: He is not speaking.
• Question: Is he speaking?

Present Perfect (Simple) Tense

Describe action that occurred in the past but are still relevant to the present.

FORMULA:

• Subject (singular) + has + verb (3^rd form) + Object
• Subject (Plural) + have + verb (3^rd form) + Object

USES:

• Putting emphasis on the result.
• Action that is still going on.
• Action that stopped recently.
• Finished action that has an influence on the present.
• Action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking.

SIGNAL WORDS:

• already
• ever
• just
• never
• not yet
• so far
• till now
• up to now

EXAMPLES:

• Affirmative: He has spoken.
• Negative: He has not spoken.
• Question: Has he spoken?

Present Perfect Progressive (Continuous)

To describe an event that started in the past but is still happening in the present.

FORMULA:
Subject (singular) + has + been + verb(1^st form) ing + Object
Subject (Plural) + have + been + verb(1^st form) ing + Object

USES:

• Putting emphasis on the course or duration (not the result).
• Action that recently stopped or is still going on.
• Finished action that influenced the present.

SIGNAL WORDS:

• all day
• for four years
• since 1993
• how long
• the whole week

EXAMPLES:

• Affirmative: He has been speaking.
• Negative: He has not been speaking.
• Question: Has he been speaking?