Present Tenses in English Contrasted

 

1. Use

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
  • repeated actions
  • sequence of actions in the present
  • things in general
action happening at the moment of speaking
  • result of an action in the past is important in the present
  • recently completed action
  • state beginning in the past and still continuing
action beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action)

2. Signal words

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
  • always
  • every day
  • first….then
  • never
  • often
  • seldom
  • sometimes
  • usually
  • at the moment
  • now
  • Look!
  • Listen!
  • already
  • ever
  • for
  • just
  • never
  • since
  • so far
  • recently
  • up to now
  • yet
  • all day
  • for
  • how long
  • since
  • the whole day

3. Form

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
infinitive 
3rd person singular (he, she, it) infinitive + –s		to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + –inghave/has + past participle*have/has + been + infinitive + –ing

* past participle:

  • regular verbs → infinitive + –ed
  • irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
They often watch TV.They are watching TV at the moment.They have just watched TV.They have been watching TV for 2 hours.

4.2. Negative sentences

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
They do not watch very often.They are not watching TV at the moment.They have not watched TV.They have not been watching TV for 2 hours.

4.3. Questions

Present SimplePresent ContinuousPresent Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
Do they watch TV very often?Are they watching TV at the moment?Have they watched TV?Have they been watching TV for 2 hours?

Explanations

Exercises