Present Tenses in English Contrasted
1. Use
Present Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Continuous |
---|---|---|---|
|
action happening at the moment of speaking |
|
action beginning in the past and still continuing (focus is on the action) |
2. Signal words
Present Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Continuous |
---|---|---|---|
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|
|
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3. Form
Present Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present Perfect Continuous |
---|---|---|---|
infinitive 3rd person singular (he, she, it) infinitive + –s |
to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + –ing | have/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 Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present 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 Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present 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 Simple | Present Continuous | Present Perfect Simple | Present 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? |