PRESENT

TENSES
Simple present, present continuous, present perfect,
present perfect continuous
César Arbeláez
 SIMPLE PRESENT
• Every sentence has a subject and predicate.
• A subject can be a noun or pronoun that is
partnered with a verb.
• Example:
 USES
• Use 1: Actions that are habitual or routine, repeated
actions.
EXAMPLES: The sun rises. I brush my teeth twice a day.
We come here every week.

• Use 2: General, timeless facts, thinks are true for a

long time.
EXAMPLES: Spiders make webs. Babies drink milk. We
live quite near.

• Use 3: Thoughts and feelings

EXAMPLES: I think so. She likes tuna sandwich.
• Use 4: The “real” present (things that are happening right
now), but ONLY when the verb is stative. *Stative verbs*
deal with the way the subject is, instead of what the
subject does.
EXAMPLES: That car looks old. They think that’s a bad idea.

• Use 5: In phrases like I promise, I agree.

EXAMPLES: I promise to love you forever. I agree with you.

• Use 7: Narrative style (used when recalling past events or

announcing things that are happening in the moment).

EXAMPLES: So I go to the store yesterday, and the

clerk says “We’re closed!” He hits the baseball out of the field
and makes a home run!
• Use 8: We also use the present simple to talk about
something that is fixed in the future:

EXAMPLES: The school term starts next week. The

train leaves at 19.45 this evening. We fly to Paris next
week.

• Use 9: Something in the future after time

words like when, after and before, and after if
and unless.

EXAMPLES: I'll talk to John when I see him. You must

finish your work before you go home. If it rains we'll get
wet. He won't come unless you ask him.
 FORMING THE SIMPLE
PRESENT TENSE: TO THINK

Affirmative Interrogative Negative

I think Do I think? I do not think
You think Do you think? You do not think
He thinks Does he think? He does not think
She thinks Does she think? She does not think
It thinks Does it think? It does not think
We think Do we think? We do not think.
They think Do they think? They do not think.
 THIRD PERSON
SINGULAR
• In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:
he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.

Negative and question forms use DOES (= the third

person of the auxiliary 'DO') + the infinitive of the verb.
He wants ice cream. Does he want strawberry?
He does not want vanilla.
• Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -
y to -ies:
fly --> flies, cry --> cries

Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:

play --> plays, pray --> prays

• Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:

he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• Form: The present tense of “to be” (am/is/are)+
verb + ing
Uses:
• Use 1: The “real” present (things that are happening
right now), for all verbs except stative verbs

EXAMPLES: I am sitting down right now. He can’t

come to the phone because he is working. You can’t
see the children because they are hiding.
• Use 2: Temporary actions that may not be
happening right now, but have not yet been
completed.

EXAMPLES: I am taking an English course. The truck is

being repaired. Plans are being made.

• Use 3: An action that is prearranged in the future.

EXAMPLES: We’re going to New York tomorrow.

• Use 4: A temporary event or state / situation.
EXAMPLES: Why are you being so selfish?

• Use 5: A repeated behavior.

EXAMPLES: He’s always complaining. She’s constantly

helping people.

• Use 6: When things are changing over a long period

of time.

EXAMPLES: The number of cars on the road is

increasing. The earth is slowly getting warmer.
 Present Perfect
• Form: Have or has + past participle of the verb
She has climbed since she was four.

Uses:
• Use 1: Actions that started in the past, continue into
the present, and may continue into the future.

EXAMPLES: The children have felt sick ever since they

ate lunch. My neighbor has lived next door to me for
two years.
• Use 2: Separate actions that happened in the past
and may happen again in the future.

EXAMPLES: That man has traveled overseas several

times. We have eaten at that restaurant once or
twice.

• Use 3: Recently completed actions that still

influence things happening in the present

EXAMPLES: The sun has risen and you need to wake

up. They have finished their meeting, so now they can
go.
 Ever, never, just, already,
yet – For and since.
• Just means «a short time ago» I’ve just heard about
the concert.

• Already means «sooner than expected». They’ve

already sold all the tickets.

• Yet is used when we are expecting something to

happen. Have you finished whashing yet?
• FOR • SINCE

• Vicky has only had that • We’ve lived in China

camero for three days since 1992

FOR= How long the SINCE= When the period

period is. A period of began. A specific time.
time.
 Present perfect
continuous
Subject has/have been base+ing
She has been swimming
 Uses
• Use 1: For an action over a period of time leading
up to the present.

EXAMPLES: The alarm has been ringing since eight

o’clock this morning. (The action is still going on).

• Use 2: Repeated actions up to now.

EXAMPLES: Natasha has been playing the piano since

she was four.
• Use 3: Talk about an action which end just befor the
present.

EXAMPLE: I’ve been swimming. That’s why my hair is

wet.
 Exception
• Do not use present perfect continuous with ever,
never, just, already and yet.

• EXAMPLE: She’s already been winning. She’s

already won.