Professional Documents
Culture Documents
com
Present Simple
Basicform
Subject+Verb(presentform)
Quickexamples
JohnlivesinNewYork.
Weplayfootballeveryday.
Youarereallykind.
Themeetingstartsat3PM.
ThePresentSimpleisthemostbasictenseintheEnglishlanguage.Itisaninterestingtensebecauseitcanbeused
toexpressthefuture(/future_tenses).Generally,though,weuseittodescribethepresentactivitiesortotalkabout
routinesorhabits.
Use
1.Facts,generalizationsanduniversaltruths(#use1)
2.Habitsandroutines(#use2)
3.Permanentsituations(#use3)
4.Eventsthatarecertaintohappen(#use4)
5.Arrangementsthatwecan'tchange(#use5)(e.g.timetables,officialmeetings)
6.Stateverbs(#use6)(e.g.be,have,suppose,know)
7.Narrations,instructionsorcommentaries(#use7)
Note
Apartfromtheaboveuses,thistenseisalsousedin:
ZeroConditional(/zero_conditional)("Ifitdoesn'trains,Igoplayfootball.")
FirstConditional(/first_conditional)("Wewon'tgetourpocketmoney,ifwedon'tpassthisexam.")
Insentencesafterwhen,before,till,after,assoonas("Beforeyouleave,pleasetakethekeys.")
Use1:Facts,GeneralizationsandUniveralTruths
WeusethePresentSimpletotalkaboutuniversaltruths(forexample,lawsofnature)orthingswebelieveare,orare
not,true.It'salsousedtogeneralizeaboutsomethingorsomebody.
Waterboilsat100degreesCelcius.UniversalTruth
Itisabighouse.Fact
TheEarthgoesaroundtheSun.UniversalTruth,Fact
Dogsarebetterthancats.Generalization
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple 1/7
10/3/2016 Present Simple - EnglishTenses.com
BerlinisthecapitalcityofGermany.Fact
TheElephantdoesn'tfly.Fact
LondonisthecapitalcityofFrance.Fact(Remember:thesentencedoesnothavetobetrue)
Tounderstandthisusebetter,watchthisinteractiveanimation:
[Scientist:TheEarthgoesaroundtheSun]
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanseeascientistwhosays:"TheEarthgoesaroundtheSun".
WhyisthePresentSimpleusedinthissentence?Becausethescientistexpressesafact,somethingthathe
believesistrue(inthiscase,heisright:theEarthreallyorbitstheSun).
Use2:HabitsandRoutines
Wealsousethistensetodescribeactionsthathappenfrequently.Forexample:habits,routines,tendencies.
Weleaveforworkat7:30AMeverymorning.Routine
MyhusbandwatchestheTVintheevening.Habit,Routine
Susanoftenmeetswithherfriendsafterschool.Habit,Routine
TheyusuallyplayfootballonSunday.Habit,Routine
Markrarelyvisitshissickgrandmother.Tendency
Pinocchiousuallytellslies.Tendency
AdverbsofFrequency
ThePresentSimpleisoftenusedwiththefrequencyadverbs(/adverbs_of_frequency.html):
always
frequently/often
usually
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple 2/7
10/3/2016 Present Simple - EnglishTenses.com
seldom/rarely
nowadays
never
everyweek/year
sometimes/occasionally
fromtimetotime
everynowandthen
Afewexampleshowtousetheminsentences:
IalwaysgotochurchonSundays.
Inevereatanythingafter10PM.
Tounderstandthisusebetter,watchthisinteractiveanimation:
[John:IplaybasketballeveryFriday]
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanseeaboywhosays:"IplaybasketballeveryFriday"(clickonthepresentbuttontosee
this).
WhyisPresentSimple?Becausetheboytalksaboutahabit,somethingthathedoesregularly.
Use3:PernamentSituations
UsethePresentSimpletotalkaboutsituationsinlifethatlastarelativelylongtime.
IliveinBoston
Heworksasafireman.
MargaretdrivesaVolkswagen.
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple 3/7
10/3/2016 Present Simple - EnglishTenses.com
Jerrydoesn'tteachmathsathighschool.
Use4:EventsCertaintoHappen
UsethePresentSimplewhenaneventiscertaintohappeninthefuture.
Mygrandmotherturns100thisJuly.
WinterstartsonDecember21.
Use5:StateVerbs
YoushouldusethePresentSimplewithstateverbs.
Ilikeswimming.
Weknowthisman.
Speaker1:Ronaldinho,doyoulikefootball?(Use4)
Ronaldinho:Yes,Ido.
Note
Someoftheverbsusedinthesimpleformcanalsoappearinthecontinuousform.Thisistypicallywhenthey
haveanactivemeaningoremphasizechange.
I'mthinkingofmovingtoSanFrancisco.
I'mlovingyournewhairdo!
Readmore(/present_simple_table)
Use6:FutureArrangements
UsethePresentSimpletotalkabouteventsthatwecan'tchange(forexample,anofficialmeetingoratrain
departure).
Themeetingstartsat4PM.
Thetrainleavesatthenoon.
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple 4/7
10/3/2016 Present Simple - EnglishTenses.com
Whendoestheplanetakeoff?
Jerrydoesn'tteachmathsathighschool.
Use7:Narrations,Instructionsorcommentaries
ThePresentSimpleisalsousedinnarrations(e.g.totellastoryorajoke),instructions(e.g.cooking)orcommentaries
(especiallysportcommentaries).
"Amangoestovisitafriendandisamazedtofindhimplayingchesswithhisdog.Hewatchesthegamein
astonishmentforawhile[...]"
Readmore(/narrations_presentsimple)
Form
FormingasentenceinthePresentSimpleiseasy.Toformadeclarativesentence,allyouneedisthesubjectofthe
sentence(e.g.I,you,he,adog)andtheverb(e.g.be,talk,swim).Questionsandnegativesentencesareonlyalittle
moredifficult,becausetheyrequireanauxiliaryverb(/auxiliary_verbs).
DeclarativeSentences
Subject Verb(presentform)
+
e.g.he,she,adog,etc. e.g.go,make,have,etc.
Sharkshavesharpteeth(Use1)
EXAMPLES USE(CLICKTOREAD)
Adogisananimal. 1(#use1)
IlearnEnglishtwiceaweek. 2(#use2)
Ihavetwoeggs. 5(#use5)
ThecoursestartsinApril. 6(#use6)
Themanenterstheroomandlooksattheclock. 7(#use7)
Questions
Questionsrequiretheauxiliaryverb"todo"(/to_do_auxiliary_verb)or,inthethirdpersonsingular,"does".
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_simple 5/7
10/3/2016 Present Continuous - EnglishTenses.com
Present Continuous
Basicform
Subject+IS/ARE+Verb(continuousform)
Quickexamples
Heissleeping.
Iamvisitinggrandpaintheafternoon.
Youarealwayscominglateforthemeetings!
ThePresentContinuousismainlyusedtoexpresstheideathatsomethingishappeningatthemomentofspeaking.
ThePresentContinuousalsodescribesactivitiesgenerallyinprogress(notatthemoment).Anotheruseofthetense
istotalkabouttemporaryactionsorfutureplans.
Use
1.Presentactions(#use1)
2.Temporaryactions(#use2)
3.Longeractionsinprogress(#use3)
4.Future(personal)arrangementsandplans(#use4)
5.Tendenciesandtrends(#use5)
6.Irritation(#use6)
Use1:PresentActions
Mostoften,weusethePresentContinuoustensetotalkaboutactionshappeningatthemomentofspeaking.
Heiseatingadinner.
Maryistalkingwithherfriends.
Theyareswimminginthepool.
Stative(State)Verbs
ThereisacertaingroupofverbsthatusuallydoesnotappearintheContinuousform.TheyarecalledStative
(State)Verbs,andifusedintheContinuousform,theyhaveadifferentmeaning.
Examples:
Ithinkyoulookprettytoday.meaning:Opinion
I'mthinkingofmovingtoSanFrancisco.meaning:Actofthinking
Readmore(/present_simple_table)
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_continuous 1/5
10/3/2016 Present Continuous - EnglishTenses.com
[I'mhavingashowernow.]
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanseeamanintheshowerwhosays:"I'mtakingashowernow".
WhyisthePresentContinuoustenseusedinthisexample?BecausetheJohnyistakingshoweratthis
precisemoment.
Use2:TemporaryActions
Thistenseisalsousedforactivitiescontinuingonlyforalimitedperiodoftime.
I'mridingabiketogettoworkbecausemycarisbroken.TemporaryAction(Hiscarwillsoonberepaired)
Theyarenottalkingwitheachotherafterthelastargument.TemporaryAction(Theywillsoonmakeup)
MaryisworkingatMcDonald's.TemporaryAction(Sheisworkingthereonlyduringthesummerholidays)
Use3:LongerActionsinProgress
WealsousethePresentContinuouswhenweareinthemiddleofdoingsomethingtimeconsuming(i.e.something
thattakestimetocomplete).Anexampleofsuchanactivityiswritingabook,savingmoneyorstudyingforanexam.
Theyareworkinghardtoearnmoney.
Iamtrainingtobecomeaprofessionalfootballer.
Mikeisstudyinghardtobecomeadoctor.
Elizabethiscurrentlywritingachildren'sbooktitledIamtheWorld.
Tounderstandthisusebetter,watchthisinteractiveanimation:
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_continuous 2/5
10/3/2016 Present Continuous - EnglishTenses.com
I'mwritinganadventurebook.
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanamanwhosays:"I'mwritinganadventurebook".
WhyisthePresentContinuoustenseusedinthisexample?ClickonthebuttonslocatedontheTimelineto
seetheotherscenes.YouwillfindoutthatAlex(thewriter)waswritingthebookamonthago,twomonthsago
andfourmonthsago.Clearly,it'salongeractioninprogress.
Use4:Future(Personal)ArrangementsandPlans
SometimesweusethePresentContinuoustoshowthatsomethingisplannedandwillbedoneinthenearfuture.
I'mmeetingKatieintheevening.
He'sflyingtoRomeinSeptember.
We'renotgoinganywheretomorrow.
Use5:TendenciesandTrends
Thistenseisalsousedforexpressingtendenciesortrends.
Ourcountryisgettingricher.
TheInternetisbecominglessofanovelty.
TheUniverseisexpanding.
Use6:IrritationorAnger
Andthelastuseofthistenseistoexpressirritationorangeroversomebodyorsomethinginthepresentwithadverbs
suchas:always,continuallyorcontantly.
Sheiscontinuallycomplainingabouteverything!
Johnyisalwaysaskingstupidquestions!
Mybossiscontantlycritisingme!
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_continuous 3/5
10/3/2016 Present Perfect - EnglishTenses.com
Present Perfect
Basicform
Subject+HAS/HAVE+Verb(pastparticipleform)
Quickexamples
Ihavereadthisbook.
Themanhasgoneaway.
Johnhasworkedasateacherforover25years.
ThePresentPerfectisusedtoexpressactionsthathappenedatanindefinitetimeorthatbeganinthepastand
continueinthepresent.Thistenseisalsousedwhenanactivityhasaneffectonthepresentmoment.
Use
1.Actionswhichhappenedatanindefinite(unknown)timebeforenow(#use1)
2.Actionsinthepastwhichhaveaneffectonthepresentmoment(#use2)
3.Actionswhichbeganinthepastandcontinueinthepresent(#use3)
Use1:Indefinitetimebeforenow
UsethePresentPerfecttotalkaboutactionsthathappenedatsomepointinthepast.Itdoesnotmatterwhenexactly
theyhappened.
Ihavealreadyhadabreakfast.
HehasbeentoEngland.
Remember
Youshouldnotusethistensewithtimeexpressionslikeyesterday,aweekago,lastyear,etc.
Ihaveseenityesterday.
WehavegonetoParislastyear.
Use2:Effectonthepresentmoment
Wealsousethistensetowhenanactivityhasaneffectonthepresentmoment.
Hehasfinishedhiswork.(sohecannowrest)
Ihavealreadyeatenthedinner.(soI'mnothungry)
Hehashadacaraccident.(that'swhyheisinthehospital)
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect 1/6
10/3/2016 Present Perfect - EnglishTenses.com
Tounderstandthisusebetter,watchthisinteractiveanimation:
[Marcus:Ihavebeenstruckbyaboltoflightning!]
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanseeamotheraskingherson:"Markus,what'shappened".Marcusreplies:"Ihavebeenstruck
byaboltoflightning".
WhyisthePresentPerfecttenseusedinthisexample?Clickonthebuttonlabledas"event1".Youcansee
thatMarcuswasstrucklightningbolt.Nowclickontheotherbutton.TheuseofPresentContinuousiscorrect
herebecausetheactionhasaneffectonthepresentmoment(itexplainswhyhelooksthisway).
Use3:Continuationinthepresent
WeoftenusethePresentPerfectwhenwewanttoemphasizethataneventcontinuesinthepresent.
Maryhasworkedasateacherforover25years.
Patrickhasachievedalotinhislife.
Tounderstandthisusebetter,clickonthebuttonsandreadthemessage:
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect 2/6
10/3/2016 Present Perfect - EnglishTenses.com
ForandSince
SinceandForareverycommontimeexpressionsusedwiththePresentPerfect.
WeuseForwithaperiodoftime,forexample:
Ihavelivedherefor20years.
Whentalkingaboutastartingpoint,weuseSince,forexample:
Ihavelivedheresince1960.
Moreabouttimeexpressions.(/node/1049)
Form
ToformasentenceinthePresentPerfect,youneed:
1.Theproperconjugationoftheauxiliaryverb"tohave"(/to_have_auxiliary_verb).
2.ThePastParticiple(/past_participle)ofyourverb.
1.AuxiliaryVerb"tohave"
Weconjugatetheauxiliaryverb(/auxiliary_verbs)"tohave"thesamewaywewouldconjugatethenormalverb"tohave".
Asyoucansee,thethirdpersonsingularisirregular(/irregular_verbs).
Moreexamples:
Shehasneverseenmybrother.
NeitherMikenorTomhaseverdrivenatruck.
2.ThePastParticiple
Thepastparticipleofaverbisaverbformthatappearswiththeperfecttenses(/page/perfect_tenses.html).Thepast
participlecanbeeitherregular(/regular_verbs)orirregular(/irregular_verbs).
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect 3/6
10/3/2016 Present Perfect Continuous - EnglishTenses.com
Quickexamples
Ihavebeenworkingasateacherfor30years.
Whathaveyoubeendoing?
ThePresentPerfectContinuous(Progressive)hasalongandscaryname.Butdon'tworry!Readontolearnhowto
useit.
Use
1.Actionsthatstartedinthepastandcontinueinthepresent(#use1)
2.Actionsthathaverecentlystopped(#use2)
3.Temporaryactionsandsituations(#use3)
Use1:ContinuationinthePresent
WeusethePresentPerfectContinuoustoshowthatsomethingstartedinthepastandcontinuesinthepresent.
Hehasbeenpaintingthehousefor5hours.He'sstillpaintingit
Ihavebeenworkingasafiremansince1973.Istillworkasafireman
Use2:Pastactionsrecentlystopped
Usethistensealsototalkaboutactionsthatbeganinthepastandhaverecentlystopped.
Ihavebeenwaitingforyouforhalfanhour!I'mnotwaitinganymorebecauseyouhavecome
Lookathereyes!I'msureshehasbeencrying.Shestoppedcryingwhenshesawthem
ForandSince
SinceandforareverycommontimeexpressionsusedwiththePresentPerfectContinuous.
Weuseforwithaperiodoftime,forexample:
Ihavebeenlivingherefor20years.
Whentalkingaboutastartingpoint,weusesince,forexample:
Ihavebeenlivingheresince1960.
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect_continuous 1/4
10/3/2016 Present Perfect Continuous - EnglishTenses.com
Learnmore(/node/1049)
Tounderstandthisusebetter,watchthisinteractiveanimation:
[Mother:Whathaveyoubeendoing?]
Explanation
Inthiscartoon,youcanseeamotheraskingherson:"Whathaveyoubeendoing?".Theboyreplies:"Nothing,mum".
WhyisthisinPresentPerfectContinuous?Clickonthebuttonlabled"event1".Youcanseethattheboyis
playingacomputergame.Nowclickonthebuttonlabeled"event2".Inthisscene,someoneknocksatthedoor.
It'shismother.Inthenextscene,sheaskshim"whathaveyoubeendoing?".TheuseofPresentPerfect
ContinuousiscorrectherebecauseinthislastsceneMarcusnolongerisplayingacomputergame(hestopped
themomentheheardsomeoneknockingatthedoor).Thisisexactlyuse2describedabove.
Use3:TemporaryActionsandSituations
Weusethistensewhenanactionorsituationistemporary.
IhavebeenlivinginBostonfortwomonths.
Ihavebeenworkingasawaitressforthepastweek.
Form
ToformasentenceinthePresentPerfectContinuous,youneed:
1.Theproperconjugationoftheauxiliaryverbtohave.
2.TheauxiliaryverbtobeinthePastParticipleform:"been".
3.ThePresentParticipleofyourverb(verb+ing)
1.AuxiliaryVerb"tohave"
http://www.englishtenses.com/tenses/present_perfect_continuous 2/4