Present Tenses

Present Continuous
• To describe an action that is going on at this moment.
• To describe an action that is going on during the
period of time
• To describe an action or event in the future (already
planned)
• examples:
• You are using the Internet.
• Are you still going to school?
• I’ m meeting my father tonight.
 Present Perfect Tense
• For situations which started in the past and
continue in the present
• When we want to say that something
happened very recently
• When we talk about an action from the past
but do not specify exact time
• With “ever”, “never”.
• Have/has + past participle

examples:
Have you ever been in Italy ?
I have traveled to London 3 times.
I haven’t seen the film yet.
I have just seen him.
 Present Perfect Continuous
• to talk about ongoing events or activities which
started at a time in the past and are still
continuing up until now
• I have been reading the book.- ongoing
• I have read the book.- completed
• I have been thinking about changing school.-
focuses on the action
• I have thought about changing school.- not
thinking any more
• Sometimes we can use either form:
• I have lived in Novi Sad for 7 years.
• I have been living in Novi Sad for 7 years.
• 1) Mark (eat) _______ ________ dinner already. He is not hungry.
• 2) Beth (write) _______ ________ three letters today. She misses her family.
• 3) Yoko and Armand (take) _______ ________ the test. Now they
• can relax.
• 4) Marty and I (be) _______ ________ to Costa Rica three times.
• We are familiar with the culture.
• 5) I (drink) _______ _______ six cups of water today.
• 6) Eva (sing) _______ ________ in a chorus before. Her voice is pretty.
• 7) Chong-Li (get) _______ ________ very good at speaking English. She has
• practiced a lot.
• 8) Lucy (hide) _______ ________ in the woods. Now her friends will try to find her.
• 9) It (be) _______ ________ a good week so far.
• 10) You (show) ________ _________ that you are a hard worker. Good job!
• 11) Daisy (wear) _______ _________ a dress to work every day this week.
• 12) Mr. Lee (drive) _______ ________ from Texas to Iowa for the conference. He
• needs to get some rest before it starts.
• 13) Juan (ride) _______ ________ horses since he was a little boy. It is easy for him.
• 14) Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez (become) _______ ________ grandparents. Their daughter,
• Josefina, had a baby yesterday.
• 15) The movie (begin) _______ _______. Please be quiet!