Become a Champion in English Present Tenses
Perhaps sometimes you don’t know whether to say “I work as an engineer”, “I am working as an engineer” or “I have been working as an engineer”.
These tables will help you understand and master all English present tenses!
Simple Present
Time expressions:
Every day, week, month, year…
always, sometimes, usually, rarely, seldom, never,
on Mondays, etc.
once/twice/ three times a week,month
Usage
-
- Permanent situations or states
- General truths or laws
- Repeated/habitual actions (especially with frequency adverbs: sometimes, often, usually, always, etc)
- To express likes/dislikes ( with the following verbs: like, enjoy, hate, think, etc.)
- Timetables/programmes ( with future reference)
Form
Infinitive
he/she/it+-s,es,ies
Examples
Affirmative:
I work
He works
I do
He does
Negative
I don’t work
He doesn’t work
I don’t do
He doesn’t do
Interrogative
Do I work?
Does he work?
Do I do?
Does he do?
Present Continuous
Time expressions:
Now,
At the moment,
Nowadays,
Still,
Look!
Listen!
Currently,
At present,
Usage
-
- Temporary situations
- Changing or developing situations,(when describing trends, economical, social changes, etc)
- Actions happening now or around the moment of speaking
- Frequently repeated actions with always, continuosly, continually, expressing criticism and annoyance
- Future meaning: fixed arrangements ( appointments, dates, booked tickets, etc.) in the future
Form
To be ( am, are, is)+ Infinitive+ ing
Examples
Affirmative:
I am working.
He is working.
I am doing.
He is doing.
Negative
I’m not working.
He’s not working.
I’m not doing.
He‘s not doing.
Interrogative
Am I working?
Is he working?
Am I doing?
Is he doing?
Present Perfect Simple
Time expressions:
just, already, yet, recently, yet, so far, up to now, since, for, this week/month, never, ever
Usage
-
- Recently completed actions
- Complete past actions which are connected with the present, with unstated time reference
- Personal life experiences/changes which have happened
Form
Have/Has + (Infinitive +ed/d/ied)
or
have/has +Past Participle ( III column of the table with irregular verbs)
Examples
Affirmative:
I have worked.
He has worked.
I have done.
He has done.
Negative
I haven’t worked.
He hasn’t worked.
I haven’t done.
He hasn’t done.
Interrogative
Have I worked?
Has he worked?
Have I done?
Has he done?
Present Perfect Continuous
Time expressions:
all day, morning
how long
since
for
the whole day
Usage
-
- Actions started in the past and continuing in the present
- Past actions of certain duration having visible results or effects in the present
- Emphasis: length of time of an action
Form
have/has +been + Infinitive + ing
Examples
Affirmative:
I have been working.
He has been working.
I have been doing.
He has been doing.
Negative
I haven’t been working.
He hasn’t been working.
I haven’t been doing.
He hasn’t been doing.
Interrogative
Have I been working?
Has he been working?
Have I been doing?
Has he been doing?
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