Tense Present Tense

Determiners	VerbsList	Tense
Voice	Narration	Preposition

Tense

Table of Contents

• Present Tense
  
  • Simple Present Tense
  • Present Continuous Tense
  • Present Perfect Tense
  • Present Perfect Continuous Tense
• Past Tense
  
• Future Tense

Tense is overwhelmingly critical for school and college students and for English learners. Without tense, it is difficult for us to talk or compose right sentences.

With the assistance of tense, we can express our memories of present, past and future events more effectively and can viably communicate different occasions, events and circumstances with others.

Learning the Verbs List is a prerequisite to learn tenses properly.

Tense is broadly classified into three categories --

• Present Tense.
• Past Tense.
• Future Tense.

Each of the tenses has been divided into four categories and those have been explained below.

In this lesson, we will discuss about present tense and their usage with examples.

Present Tense

Present Tense

Present tense is divided into four categories. They are--

1. Simple Present Tense or Present Indefinite Tense
2. Present Continuous Tense
3. Present Perfect Tense
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Simple Present Tense

Simple Present Tense or Present Indefinite Tense is used to indicate (a) habitual action and (b) universal truth.

Examples of habitual action --

• I go to school every day.
• She gets up at 6 a.m. every day.
• She works hard.

Examples of universal truth --

• Sugar is sweet.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Honesty is the best policy.

The following Tense Table/Chart will help you understand the tenses better.

Simple Present Tense Chart

Person	Singular	Plural
1st Person	I go to school every day	we go to school every day
2nd Person	You go to school every day	You go to school every day
3rd Person	He/she goes (not go) to school every day	They go to school every day

Note: In Simple Present Tense, the verb normally does not change. But if the subject is in third person singular number (he, she, it, etc.), then we need to add s or es at the end of the verb. For example,

• She likes coffee (not like).
• We like coffee.
  
  
• Mary comes here once every week (not come).
• They come here once every week.

Examples of Simple Present Tense

1. I eat rice every day.
2. He draws nice pictures.
3. Tom does not read at home.
4. I always go for a morning walk.
5. They play football every evening.

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Present Continuous Tense

Present Continuous Tense is used for actions at the time of speaking.

Present Continuous Tense Chart

Person	Singular	Plural
1st Person	I am reading now	We are reading now
2nd Person	You are reading now	You are reading now
3rd Person	He/she is reading now	They are reading now

Examples of Present Continuous Tense

1. The cow is grazing in the field.
2. The boys are playing outside.
3. My mother is cooking food.
4. It is raining now.
5. The dog is barking loud.

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Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense is used for an action which began in the past and which has finished a while ago or which has continued up to the time of speaking.

Present Perfect Tense Chart

Person	Singular	Plural
1st Person	I have finished my homework	We have finished our homework
2nd Person	You have finished your homework	You have finished your homework
3rd Person	He/she has finished his/her homework	They have finished their homework

Examples of Present Perfect Tense

1. I have completed writing the letter.
2. She has just finished cooking.
3. They have gone for a picnic today.
4. My family has lived in California for ten years and are still there.
5. Sheila has taken the keys to the computer lab. She must be there now.

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Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present Perfect Continuous Tense is used for an action which began in the past and which has continued to the time of speaking.

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Chart

Person	Singular	Plural
1st Person	I have been watching TV since morning	We have been watching TV since morning
2nd Person	You have been watching TV since morning	You have been watching TV since morning
3rd Person	He/she has been watching TV since morning	They have been watching TV since morning

Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Our family has been living in this area for over 15 years.
2. Rita has been suffering from fever since Monday.
3. Today is Sunday, so they have been watching TV since morning.
4. The little boy has continuously been trying to finish the computer game for two hours without success.
5. We have been trying to solve this problem for many years and sometimes we feel like quitting.

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Determiners	VerbsList	Tense
Voice	Narration	Preposition