Tenses

Present
Present Simple

This tense is used to refer to events, actions, and conditions that are happening regularly,
exist now or are true facts. Depending on the person, the simple present tense is formed by
using the base form or by adding s or es to the end.

 I swim every day (regular action). 

 I feel great! (now).
 I am twenty years old (fact, now).
 I am a student (fact, now).
 Water boils at 100C degrees (fact, always).

How to form the simple present

Most regular verbs use the base form, except in he/she/it (which ends in s).

Singular:
 I write I go
 You write You go
 He/She/It writes He/She/It goes

Plural:
 We write We go
 You write You go
 They write They go

Present simple questions

We use do and does to make questions with the present simple.
Do you play the piano?
Where do you live?
Does Jack play football?
Where does he come from?
Do Rita and Angela live in Manchester?
Where do they work?
We use do and does with question words like where, what and when:
Where do Angela and Rita live?
What does Angela do?
When does Rita usually get up?

But questions with who often don't use do or does:

Who lives in London?
Who plays football at the weekend?
Who works at Liverpool City Hospital?

Present Continuous: 

The tense that is used for actions happening now or for an action that is unfinished (may
continue in future). This tense is also used when the action is temporary. 

The Present Continuous Formula: to be [am, is, are] + verb [-ing]

It adds energy and action to writing, and its effect helps readers understand when the action
is happening.

 They are sitting at Scott’s favorite booth, the one with the sparkling red plastic seats.
(For how long? We don’t know, but we do know they are sitting there now.)
 The waiter is standing behind the counter right now with a notepad in his hand and
pencil behind his ear. (Will he ever make it over to the booth? Probably, but not
now.)
 “Are you waiting to open your presents after you eat your pancakes?” said Aunt
Christine, taking a sip from her root beer. (Here the present continuous is being used
in question form.)
 
When Not to Use the Present Continuous Tense
Do not use the present continuous tense with stative verbs( that do not
present an action). Stative verbs show a state of being that does not show
qualities of change. These verbs can stay in the simple present.
Not correct: Aunt Christine is preferring the maple walnut pancakes over the
banana peanut butter ones that Scott loves.

Correct: Aunt Christine prefers the maple walnut pancakes over the banana
peanut butter ones that Scott loves.

Example of stative verb:

 Possession: have, own, pack, consist
 Emotions: Love, hate, dislike, like, prefer, care
 Sense: sound, hear, smell, see
 Mental state: know, believe, think, forget, agree

Present Perfect: 

This tense is used for actions that started in the past and related to the past, or indicate an
action still continued to the present time. It’s easily recognized by the auxiliary verbs (or
helper verbs) have and has, as in, “I have gone fishing since I was a child.”

How to use this tense? Formula: have/has + main verb (past participle).

 “I have spoken to her many times.” 

 She has come a long way
 Alice has become friends with Daniel
 We have done it before.
 I have not slept well since exams started.
 Have you eaten dinner yet?

6 examples of when to use the present perfect tense 

1 An ongoing action that started in the past, but has not yet been completed 

The professor has taught here for two decades. 

They have played piano since the age of three. 

Note that you can also use the present perfect continuous tense for this situation, as long as
the action has not been completed yet (and it’s not a stative verb).

2 A series of the same action completed multiple times in the past, likely to happen
again in the future

When the same action has happened a few times already, you can use the present perfect
tense if the action will likely happen again in the future. If the action probably won’t happen
again, you can use the simple past tense. 

I’ve seen the movie six times! [probably will see it again]

I saw the movie six times! [probably will not see it again]

3 An action that was completed very recently (often used with just or now)

If an action was only completed very recently, you can describe it with the present perfect
tense. Even though the action happened in the past, it was so recent that it’s directly
connected to the present. These cases usually use adverbs like just or now to show that the
action happened not long ago. 

I shouldn’t eat anymore because I’ve just brushed my teeth. 

We’ve finished practice now, so let’s go home. 

4 A change over time

The present perfect tense is often used to emphasize a change that happened over an
extended period of time. 
My cousin has grown so much since I saw her two years ago. 

Thanks to the many months of playing, I have become an expert at Wordle. 

5 An uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)

If an action started in the past but was not completed, you can describe it with the present
perfect tense if it’s likely to be completed in the future. This situation uses the negative form
to show that the action is still unfinished and often uses the adverb yet. 

The jury has not reached a verdict yet. 

I haven’t finished my paper, but it’s due in an hour!

6 To add significance to a completed action

Last, you can use the present perfect tense to make any past action sound more important.
The present perfect tense is often used with great achievements or accomplishments, as well
as dramatic or rare events. This makes it appropriate for newsworthy events or major life
experiences. 

Macbeth has killed the king. 

I’ve met the love of my life! 

When not to use the present perfect tense

Do not use the present perfect tense with a specific time. 

 I have gone for a walk on Tuesday.

 I went for a walk on Tuesday.
This might be confusing, however, because you can use the present perfect tense with a
broad time period. The present perfect tense is only incorrect if used with one specific time.
Using the present perfect tense with a general time range is perfectly acceptable. 

 I have gone for a walk every Tuesday this year.

Present Perfect Continuous: 

The tense that is used to show that something started in the past and is continuing at the
present time. 

 I have been reading War and Peace for a month now.

In this sentence, using the present perfect continuous conveys that reading War and Peace is
an activity that began sometime in the past and is not yet finished in the present.

How to form the present perfect continuous

The formula: has/have been + [present participle (root form of verb + -ing)].

Recently and lately are words often used in the present perfect continuous tense.

 Mia has been competing in flute competitions recently (and she will continue to do
so).
 I haven’t been feeling well lately.
 Recently, I’ve been misplacing my wallet and keys.

Not all verbs are compatible with continuous action. Verbs that describe states and
conditions, such as to be and to own, for example, do not make sense in the present perfect
continuous tense. When you want to show that what is being described by one of these verbs
continues up to the present, you use the regular present perfect tense.

Incorrect. I have been owning my Mazda since 2007.

Correct. I have owned my Mazda since 2007.