“The present is a gift, that’s why we call it the present.” – Unknown
We have a lot of tenses in English. It’s true and as with every language the reasons for using the different tenses are unique to English.
Many students try to translate and use the equivalent tense in English to their own languages’.
This is a mistake as it won’t help you use the right one. The best way is to understand why each tense is used in English and to begin thinking in English.
So in this post I will look at how and when to use the present tenses. I recently covered them in my Ask Us Anything Friday live on our YouTube channel! You can find that video below. I go live every Friday to answer your English language questions on grammar, pronunciation, idioms, vocabulary and more, so if you have a question, make sure to submit it by leaving a comment below, or send us an email!
How and when to use the present tenses
The Present Tenses are:
- Present Simple
- Present Continuous
- Present Perfect
Present Simple:
Let’s look at the Present Simple first & how we use it:
The structure is the base form of the verb and only in 3rd person singular (he/she/it) we add s.
In the negative we use don’t / doesn’t & for questions do / does.
Uses for the Present Simple:
- – It is used to describe 100% facts or truths (for example: water boils at 100 degrees)
- – It is used to describe repeated daily routine actions: “Everyday I have a shower & wash my face.” We often use adverbs of frequency with the Present Simple too (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never)
- – It is also used for the timetable future. Often used for transport and schools or routines. For example: “Our train leaves at 11:30am tomorrow morning.” This is because everyday it is the same whether now or in the future.
Intrepid English Members can download their Present Simple worksheet right here.
(just click on the ‘materials’ tab):
Present Continuous:
Structure:
Positive sentence: subject + am/are/is + verbing (present participle)
Negative sentence: subject + am/are/is + not + verbing
Question: Am/Are/Is + subject + verbing ?
Uses for the Present Continuous:
- – Actions happening around now, in progress now: “I am explaining the present tenses right now.” “You are reading this blog at the moment.” “She is playing with her toy.”
- – Fixed arrangements in the future: “I am travelling to London next week.” I have my tickets booked and I know what time my trains are and my mum knows I am coming to visit so it is completely organised.
With the continuous tenses we can’t use stative verbs (verbs describing our state or feelings.) A few of these verbs are: to believe, to love, to understand, to know, to prefer. We can only use them in the present simple.
“I believe in you.” (Never – I am believing)
“I don’t understand you.” (Not – I am not understanding you)
“Do you know the answer?” (Are you knowing the answer – is incorrect)
Intrepid English Members can download their Present Continuous worksheet right here.
(just click on the ‘materials’ tab):
Present Perfect:
This is perhaps the most complicated tense in English. We have a great post and video that covers it in more depth but here is an overview.
Structure:
Positive sentence: subject + have / has + past participle
Negative sentence: subject + haven’t / hasn’t + past participle
Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle
Uses for the Present Perfect:
The key to understanding this tense is to understand that is used to connect the past with the present.
- – Action started in the past and continuing in the present: “I have lived in Paris since 2009.” Often used with since / for in this use too.
- – To talk about actions in an unfinished time: “Today I have had a shower.” This is because today started in the past and continues now. This is the same for: this week, this month, this year. Note if the time period is finished then we use the past simple.
- – To talk about actions in the recent past but the effect/consequence/result is in the present: “I have cut my finger!” (You can see the blood)
- – Recent past actions used with already, yet, just, still & recently: “I have already had a shower.” “I still haven’t cleaned the bathroom.”
- – Lifetime experiences: your life started in the past and continues in the present so when talking about experiences in your life at unspecific times, we use the present perfect: “I have lived in the U.K., France, Russia, South Africa, Belgium and Switzerland.” Note if I give a specific time then I use the past simple: I lived in South Africa in 2004.”
There is also the continuous aspect of this tense called the Present Perfect Continuous. This is when the focus is on the activity and that is is ongoing more than the result.
Let’s compare:
“I have read lots of books.” (Focus on result so present perfect simple)
“I have been reading an amazing series of books called the Rivers of London.” (Focus on the ongoing activity as I am in the middle of the series and not finished.)
“Who has eaten my box of chocolates?” (No chocolates left in the box. The action of eating happened in the past but the effect of me being upset at the empty box is in the present)
“Who has been eating my chocolates?” (There are still a few chocolates in the box and I am interrupting the action of someone stealing my chocolates!)
Note we can use three verbs in both the simple and continuous aspect and there is no difference: live, work and study.
“I have worked in Paris for over 10 years.”
“I have been working in Paris for over 10 years.”
There is no difference in meaning.
Now those were the Present Tenses. Check out the other blogs on the future tenses and the past tenses to understand all the tenses in English.
Intrepid English Members can download their Present Perfect worksheet right here.
(just click on the ‘materials’ tab):
Practice Activity
1. My parents ……………………….. near Dundee.
a) live
b)are living
c) have lived
2. I ……………………….. my grandparents twice a year.
a) visit
b) am visiting
c) have visited
3. ‘What are you doing in there?’ ‘I …………………………….. TV.’
a) watch
b) am watching
c) have watched
4. Marianne ………………………………… in the garden at the moment.
a) digs
b) is digging
c) has dug
5. Bob …………………………….. London twice in his life.
a) visits
b) is visiting
c) has visited
Answers:
- a 2. a 3. b 4. b 5. c
Intrepid English Members can study verb tenses in more detail with our Fast Grammar course in the Intrepid English Academy. Not a member yet? Book a trial lesson and let’s get started!