What is Present Tense ?
The Present Tense is used to describe actions that are happening now, habits, general truths, and ongoing situations. It is divided into four types:
1. Simple Present Tense
Usage:
Daily routines and habits
Universal truths and facts
Scheduled events (especially in the near future)
Feelings, emotions, and permanent situations
Structure:
Subject + base verb (s/es for he, she, it)
Examples:
I wake up at 6 AM every day.
The sun rises in the east.
She goes to school regularly.
Water boils at 100°C.
Common Mistakes:
He go to school every day.
He goes to school every day.
2. Present Continuous Tense
Usage:
Actions happening right now
Temporary actions or situations
Future planned actions (with time reference)
Changing or developing actions
Structure:
Subject + is/am/are + verb-ing
Examples:
I am writing a grammar lesson now.
She is watching a movie.
They are learning English online.
We are visiting grandma this weekend.
Important Notes:
Use am with “I”, is with “he/she/it”, and are with “you/we/they”.
Common Mistakes:
I writing a letter.
I am writing a letter.
3. Present Perfect Tense
Usage:
Actions that happened in the past but are important now
Experiences or changes over time
Unfinished time periods (e.g., today, this week)
Recently completed actions
Structure:
Subject + has/have + past participle (V3)
Examples:
I have finished my homework.
She has visited the Taj Mahal.
We have lived here since 2010.
They have eaten dinner already.
Tips:
Use has with “he/she/it” and have with “I/you/we/they”.
Common Mistakes:
He have done it.
He has done it.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Usage:
Actions that started in the past and are still continuing
Emphasizing duration of an activity
Showing how long something has been happening
Structure:
Subject + has/have been + verb-ing
Examples:
I have been learning English for two months.
She has been working since morning.
They have been studying for 3 hours.
We have been watching this series for days.
Time Expressions:
Since (point in time): since 5 AM, since Monday
For (duration): for 2 hours, for a long time
Common Mistakes:
I have been study for 2 hours.
I have been studying for 2 hours.
Summary Table:
| Tense | Structure | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | S + V1 (s/es) | Habits, facts, routines | He plays cricket. |
| Present Continuous | S + is/am/are + V-ing | Action happening now, temporary | She is reading a book. |
| Present Perfect | S + has/have + V3 | Completed actions with effect on present | I have lost my keys. |
| Present Perfect Continuous | S + has/have been + V-ing | Ongoing action from past to now | We have been working all day. |