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Present tense is used to talk about events happening in the present. There are four forms of the present tense.
- Simple present tense
- Present continuous tense
- Present perfect tense
- Present perfect continuous tense
Let us discuss each form now:
I. Simple present tense:
1. Formation: verb + s/es.
2. Usage:
No. | Condition | Example | Formation: Verb + s/es |
1 | Events that are happening in the present | She goes to school. | Go + es |
2 | Habits | Sheela wakes up at 5 AM everyday. | Wake + s |
3 | Generally accepted truths/facts | The sun sets in the west. | Rise + s |
4 | Future planned events/timetables | Your math tuition starts next week. | Start +s |
II. Present Continuous tense:
1. Formation: am/is/are + verb+ing
2. Usage:
No. | Condition | Example | Formation: am/is/are + verb + ing |
1 | Events happening now | The classes are going on now. | Are + go + ing |
2 | Scheduled/fixed plans | I'm visiting Paris next week. | Am + visit +ing |
3 | Temporary actions | She is having her dental appointment this week. | Is+ have + ing |
4 | Trends | Some people are smoking in public places even today. | Are + smoke + ing |
5 | Actions over a period of time in progress now | Hari is studying hard to crack his NEET exams. | Is + study + ing |
III. Present Perfect tense:
1. Formation: has/have + past participle of verb
2. Usage:
No. | Condition | Example | Formation: has/have + past participle |
1 | Actions completed in the immediate past | We have joined a course on political science. | have + joined |
2 | Actions from the past, happening till now | Maria has worked here since 2011. | has + worked |
3 | Changes over a period of time | My mother has seen a tremendous improvement in my health. | has + seen |
4 | Repeatedly happening events, until now | I have been to Paris many times since I moved to Germany. | have + been |
5 | Events in the past - with no specific time | He has studied that lesson a million times. | has + studied |
IV. Present Perfect Continuous tense:
1. Formation: has/have been + verb+ing
2. Usage:
No. | Condition | Example | Formation: has/have been + verb + ing |
1 | Actions happening recently or lately | Aisha has been working hard for her exams. | Has been + work + ing |
2 | Duration from the past till now | I have been coaching this team for five years. | Have been + coach + ing |
3 | Temporary actions | Mani has been resting for a while now. | Has been + rest + ing |
4 | Actions going on for a period of time | It has been raining all night. | Has been + rain + ing |
Examples of present tense used in the lesson:
- The true elixir of life lies near our hands. - Simple present
- There is nothing which adds so much to the beauty of the countryside as water. - Simple present
- It reflects the mood of the hour. - Simple present
- The rainfed tanks are a cheering sight when they are full. - Present continuous
- It is the water of the river Nile flowing down to the Mediterranean from its sources. - Present continuous
- The conditions under which soil erosion occurs are deserving of the closest study. - Present Continuous
- The menace of soil erosion to the continuance of successful agriculture is an alarming one. - Present Continuous
- The flow of water has played a great part and a beneficent one in the geological processes. - Present Perfect
- It has played a role of vast significance in shaping the course of the earth’s history. - Present Perfect
- Man has through the ages sought in vain for an imaginary elixir of life. - Present Perfect
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