These various forms of grammar structures are used to talk
about current and even future situations.
There are four forms in the present tense and
they serve a number of purposes
Present Simple
Structure
Subject / Pronoun + infinitive =
I work / you work / they work
Negative: with the AUX
DO +NOT - We don't work
Question: with the AUX
DO + SUBJ + VERB - Do they work?
THIRD PERSON: Subject / Pronoun + infinitive+ S/ES =
He/She/It works - He/She/It watches
Negative: with the AUX
DOES + NOT - She doesn't
work
Question: with the AUX
DOES + 3rd PERSON +
VERB - Does it work?
Uses
In the PRESENT
Something that is true in the present
Something that happens regularly
Something permanent or that is always true
To talk about the
PAST
When telling a story. For example: "I was having coffee, when suddenly
she comes and tells me she has lost her keys and needs my help". Also
to summarize a book, play, film, or other media content. For example:
"The Lord of the Rings is about Middle Earth...."
To talk about fixed
situations in the FUTURE
When speaking about situations happening in the future that are
fixed occurrences, like timetables, things that routinely happen, as
well as something happening in the future after time words like IF,
UNLESS, WHEN, AFTER and BEFORE
Present
Continuous
Structure
Subject + to be + main verb with ING
First Person: I AM
workING
Negative: Subj + TO BE + NOT -
I AM NOT workING
Question: TO BE + Subj + Verb with ING -
AM I workING?
Third Person: He/She/It IS
workING
Negative: Subj + TO BE +
NOT - He/She/It IS NOT
workING
Question: TO BE + Subj + Verb with ING
- AM I workING?
ALL others: You/We/They
ARE workING
Negative: Subj + TO BE + NOT -
You/We/They ARE NOT workIng
Question: TO BE + Subj + Verb with ING -
ARE you/we/they workING?
Uses
In the PRESENT
Activities at the moment of speaking. EX: I'm leaving work now.
Something which is happening before and after a specific time. EX: When I get home my dog is USUALLY sleeping
Something which is temporary. EX: She's staying here for the duration of her trip
Something which is changeing growing or developing. EX: The climate is changing due to Global
Warming
Something which happens again and again. EX: She's always loosing her
keys.
In the
FUTURE
For future arrangements or plans. EX: We are having dinner at my uncle's house tonight.
Present Perfect Simple
Structure
Subject + HAVE + Verb in Past Participle - I
HAVE LIVED in this city for 10 years
Negative: Subj+ HAVE+NOT + Verb in Past Participle
- We HAVE NOT SEEN them in ages.
Question: HAVE + Subj + Verb in Past Participle -
HAVE they DONE their chores yet?
THIRD PERSON: He/She/It + HAS + Verb in Past Participle
- He/She/It HAS BEEn there for a while.
Negative: He/She/It + HAS NOT + Verb in Past Participle -
He/She/It HAS NOT SHOWN signs of progress
Question: HAS + Subj + Verb in participle -
Has she been here yet?
Uses
for something that started in the past and continues in the present:
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
when we are talking about our experience up to the present:
I've seen that film before.
for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:
I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys.
Present Perfect
Continuous
Structure
Subject + HAVE + TO BR in participle + verb-ING
We HAVE BEEN watchING this movie
Negative: Subj + HAVE NOT + TO BE in participle + verb-ING
We HAVE NOT BEEN listenING
Question: HAVE + Subj + TO BE in participle + verb-ING
HAVE you BEEN callING?
Third person: Subject + HAS + TO BE in participle + verb-ING
She HAS BEEN workING all afternoon
Negative: Subj + HAS NOT + TO BE in participle + verb-ING
He HAS NOT BEEN listenING
Question: HAS + Subj + TO BE in participle + verb-ING
HAS it BEEN workING?
Uses
to show that something started in the past and has continued
up until now, making special emphasis on duration.
She has been working at that company for three years.
Without the specific duration, the tense has a more
general meaning of "lately.