Present Time
We use the Present to show an action that is happening in the present.
There are four tenses that are used to indicate an action that is in the
present time. There are specific reasons for using each tense. Sometimes
a sentence will have a clue word to help you to identify the correct tense.
There are 4 tenses that can be used to show the present. They are:
1. Simple Present
2. Present Continuous
3. Present Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous
Simple Present:
The Simple Present is used to show an action in the present or to state a
fact or general truth. An action in the present shows one that is part of
a routine or schedule and are used with adverbs of frequency (always, often,
sometimes, never). When using the third person singular form in the
present, there is a final -S that is added onto the base form. Unlike the
past tense, the present has only three irregulars: do-does, go-goes, have-has as well
as the verb to be whose forms are am, is, are.
Examples: Union County College offers many
interesting degree programs.
Students usually buy their books in the bookstore.
The Lessner Building in Elizabeth has seven floors.
Simple Present: Negative
To make a verb negative in the Simple Present, use the auxiliary doesn't +
Base Form for the third person and don't + Base Form for all others.
Examples: Students at UCC don't usually take classes on
Sundays.
Union County College doesn't offer four-year degrees.
Simple Present: Questions
All Yes/No and Information questions are introduced with either don't or
doesn't + Base Form of the verb. However, when the question is asking
for the subject, the auxiliary is not used; the third person singular form of
the present tense is used.
Examples: Do you speak English in your ESL
class?
Does your ESL teacher take the class to the computer lab?
Where do the students buy their books?
Who registers the students at the college?
What happens when you miss a test?
Present Continuous Tense
We use the Present Continuous to show an action that is happening now.
The Present Continuous Tense is sometimes used with expressions such as
now, right now, presently, at this moment, this week. The Present
Continuous is also used to express the future.
To form the Present Continuous, use
(the Present Tense of Be) am, is, are + the
base form of a verb + ing.
Examples: The students are studying the
grammar rules in class today.
The firemen are trying to put out the fire on Broad St.
The class is meeting next Friday at 9:00AM. (Future)
Present Continuous Negative:
Add NOT to the verb Be.
Contractions are used.
Examples: The children aren't listening to their
parents.
The man isn't paying attention to what he is doing.
The bookstore isn't selling any more books until tomorrow.
Present Continuous Questions:
To form questions use the correct word order: am, is, are + Subject +
Verb + ing except when asking about the subject.
Examples: Is the club meeting in Elizabeth or in
Cranford?
Why are you eating so many cookies today?
Who is coming to the movies with us?
Whose cell phone is ringing?
Simple Present Tense vs. Present Continuous Tense
There are some verbs in English that show no action, but rather they
describe a state or condition. These verbs are called Stative or NonAction
Verbs. These verbs are only used in the Simple Tenses in all times:
Present, Past, and Future. These verbs describe opinions, feelings,
emotions, the senses.
Examples: The policeman sees
a man trying to break into someone's house.
The students in class now don't understand the exercise.
Teenagers and young adults like to play video games.
Some verbs can be used in both the
Simple Present and Present Continuous, but the
difference is that one shows an action and
the other describes a condition or state.
Examples: I have a
red car. I have a fever and a sore throat. (Description)
(Possession, Illness)
The teacher is having a party at her house. (Action)
I think that this tense is easy. (Description) (Opinion)
I am thinking about going to the ALC for some practice. (Action)
The food tastes salty. I'm tasting it right now.
I need to get a better-paying job. (NOT I am needing
to get a better job.)
Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect is used in several ways:
1. To show an action that started in the past and continues into the present
(with for, since)
2. To show an action that just happened (with already, just
recently, yet (negative))
3. To show an action that happened more than once in the past (with
several times, twice)
4. To show an action that happened at an unknown time in the past (as
opposed to a specific time)
To form the Present Perfect of verbs use (the Present Tense
of the verb have: have, has) + Past Participle of a Verb.
Examples:
I have lived in New Jersey
for five years.
She has already done that assignment.
A famous American said, "We've just begun to fight."
The theater has shown that movie five times in the past week.
The number of divorces has increased in the United States.
Present Perfect Negative: Add NOT
Examples: They haven't heard
the weather report yet, so
they don't know what to wear.
The college hasn't closed because of the snow.
The number of people living together hasn't helped to decrease divorce.
Present Perfect Questions:
Use the following word order: have or has + Subject + Past Participle of a Verb.
Examples:
Why haven't they eaten lunch yet?
It's 3:00PM.
Who has driven to Florida?
Peter, Paul, and Mary sang, "Where have all the flowers gone?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
Use the Present Perfect Continuous to show action that started in the past and
continues into the present. It is used with the words for and
since. This is the basic use of this tense.
To form the Present Perfect Continuous, use have, has + (Past Participle of Be) been + a Verb + ing.
Examples:
I
have been studying English at Union County College for
three years.
The woman has been working as a doctor since 2000.
They have been waiting for a waiter since 6:30PM.
Present Perfect Continuous Negative: Add NOT
Examples: They haven't been waiting for the bus for too
long.
The man hasn't been selling many cars. .
I haven't been working at the mall since January; I started in
February.
Past Perfect Continuous Questions:
Use the following word order: have or has + Subject + Been + Verb + ing.
Examples:
Why have they been working there for three
years?
The Papa bear said, "Who's been eating my porridge?"
How long have you been going to the gym?