Present Tenses

Simple Present

The simple present (also called present simple or present indefinite) is a verb tense which is used to show repetition, habit or generalization. Less commonly, the simple present can be used to talk about scheduled actions in the near future and, in some cases, actions happening now.

Simple Present Forms

The simple present is just the base form of the verb. Questions are made with do and negative forms are made with do not.

• Statement: You speak English.
• Question: Do you speak English?
• Negative: You do not speak English.

Present Perfect

The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has taken place once or many times before now. The present perfect is most frequently used to talk about experiences or changes that have taken place, but there are other less common uses as well.

The present perfect is formed using has/have + past participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

• Statement: You have seen that movie many times.
• Question: Have you seen that movie many times?
• Negative: You have not seen that movie many times.

Present Continuous

The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing action is happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger sense. The present continuous can also be used to show that an action is going to take place in the near future

Present Continuous Forms

The present continuous is formed using am/is/are + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and am/is/are. Negatives are made with not.

• Statement: You are watching TV.
• Question: Are you watching TV?
• Negative: You are not watching TV.

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time that an action has been taking place.

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

• Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.
• Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
• Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

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Activities for teachers and students about present tenses