The 4 Present Tenses in English
The 4 present tenses clarified in under a minute.
1. Simple Present
...is the actually the most complicated (but still easy).
regular form is verb (+s for third person singular)
The simple present has 3 senses: (a) habitual, (b) stative, and (c) narrative.
Habitual:
I wash my clothes every week.
He eats lunch at that cafe.
Stative:
Text books are expensive.
The Mississippi River flows through ten US states.
Use simple present to talk about matters of routine or timeless facts.
Narrative:
Imagine this situation! I call and ask for him. They tell me he's not home, but I hear his voice in the background.
Use simple present to draw your audience into a story about actions which
happened in the past if you want them to imagine them happening in the present.
2. Present Continuous
am/is/are + verb + ing
What are you reading?
I am taking an English course next semester.
Use present continuous to talk about actions that are
happening right now or will be happening in the near future.
3. Present Perfect
have (has for third person singular) + participle
I have spoken to him several times.
He hasn't finished his English course yet.
Use present perfect to talk about actions that happened in the past
and could happen again or which still influence the present.
4. Present Perfect Continuous
have or has + been + verb + ing
I have been reading this book for more than a week now.
She has been waiting for me at the school since 3pm.
Use present perfect continuous to talk about actions
that started in the past and continue into the present.
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