Become a Champion in English Present Tenses

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 on working.

I am doing.

He on 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)

tai

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 +ollut + Infinitive + ing

Examples

Affirmative:

I have ollut working.

He has ollut working.

I have ollut doing.

He has ollut doing.

Negative

I haven’t ollut working.

He hasn’t ollut working.

I haven’t ollut doing.

He hasn’t ollut doing.

Interrogative

Have I ollut working?

Has he ollut working?

Have I ollut doing?

Has he ollut doing?

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