Learn Present Tense in 15 Min

Definition of Present Tense

Present Tense expresses an action that is currently going on or habitually performed or a state that currently or generally exists. For Example.

1. We eat thrice a day.
2. A doctor treats the diseases.
3. The sun rises in the east.

Things you can learn about the present tense in this blog

1. Types of Present Tense
2. Present Indefinite Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Present perfect Tense
5. Present perfect Continuous
6. Exercise of Present Tense

Types of Present Tense

Present Indefinite Tense

This Tense is called Present ‘Indefinite’ Tense because in this Tense, the action is simply mentioned and nothing can be said about its completeness.

This Tense is used to express an action which occurs on regular basis.

Structure

For Singular:

Sub + V1 + s/es + Obj. (Affirmative). For Example.

She writes a letter

Sub + does not + V1 + Obj. (Negative) For Example.

She does not write a letter.

Does + Sub + V1 + Obj. + ‘?’ (Interrogative) For Example.

Does she write a letter?

Does + Sub + not + V1 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Does she not write a letter?

For Plural:

Sub + V1 + Obj (Affirmative). For Example.

They play cricket.

Sub + do not + V1 + Obj (Negative). For Example.

They do not play cricket.

Do + Sub + V1 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

Do they play cricket?

Do + Sub + not + V1 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Do they not play cricket?

Note: (I) is treated as ‘Plural’ in Present Tense. For Ex – I eat dinner at 8 O’clock daily.

Uses

To show Habitual Actions. For Example.

1. He goes out for a walk every day.
2. My father visits the temple thrice a week.

To show General truth/Universal truth/ permanent truth etc. For Example.

• The sun rises in the east.
• Water boils at 100°C.

To show imperative sentences. For Example.

1. Always obey your parents.
2. Do not play on the road.

In exclamatory sentences which start with ‘Here’ and ‘There’ For Example.

1. Here comes the train!
2. There rings the bell!

In newspaper headlines and commentary of sports. For Example.

1. India launches a satellite.
2. Sachine hits a boundary.

To describe the events that occurred in past in a dramatic way. For Example.

1. India uproots the British Empire.
2. Alexander defeats the Purus.

This Tense is also used to express professional activities. For Example.

1. A barber cuts hair.
2. A confectioner sells sweets.

Present Continuous Tense

• This Tense is used to express action that is currently in progress.

Structure

For Singular:

Sub + is + V1 ing + Obj (Affirmative). For Example.

She is singing a song.

Sub + is not + V1 ing + Obj (Negative). For Example.

She is not singing a song

Is + Sub + V1 ing + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

Is she singing a song?

Is + Sub + not + V1 ing + Obj + (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Is she not singing a song?

For Plural:

Sub + are + V1 ing + Obj. (Affirmative). For Example.

They are playing cricket.

Sub + are not + V1 ing + Obj. (Negative). For Example.

They are not playing cricket.

Are + Sub + V1 ing + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

Are they playing cricket?

Are + Sub + not + V1 ing + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Are they not playing cricket?

Note: ‘Am’ is used as helping verb with I. For Ex – I am reading a novel.

Uses

To show a continuous action. For Example.

1. She is playing chess.
2. They are not driving a car.

To show those actions which have the following words “Now, these days, nowadays, still, at this time, at this moment, at present.” For Example.

1. Is she still reading?
2. My mother is reading the Mahabharata now.

To denote a change of present state/situation into another. For Example

1. Cars are becoming costlier day by day.
2. She is getting more and more complicated.

To show those events/ actions that will take place in near future. For Example.

1. I am going on vacations tomorrow.
2. She is getting married next week.

Present Perfect Tense

• This Tense is used to express those actions that have been finished recently.

Structure

For singular

Sub + has + V3 + Obj (Affirmative). For Example.

She has bought a house.

Sub + has not + V3 + Obj (Negative). For Example.

She has not bought a house.

Has + Sub + V3 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

Has she bought a house?

Has + Sub + not + V3 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Has she not bought a house?

For Plural

Sub + have + V3 + Obj (Affirmative). For Example.

They have completed their work.

Sub + have not + V3 + Obj (Negative). For Example.

They have not completed their work.

Have + Sub + V3 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

Have they completed their work?

Have + Sub + not + V3 + Obj + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

Have they not completed their work?

Note: ‘I’ is used as ‘Plural’ in this type of Tense. For Example – I have submitted my assignment.

Uses

To show the action that has just ended. For Example.

1. I have written a letter.
2. Ishan has gone to Mumbai.

In sentences which consist of the following: “This/That/It is the first/second/third/best/worst”. For Example.

1. This is the worst novel; I have ever read.
2. It is the best book; I have ever read.

To show those sentences which have the following words. “Already, so far, as yet, yet, up to now, just, just now, recently, ever, lately”. For Example.

1. I have already taken my lunch.
2. Have you ever been to London?

Note: Generally, Present Perfect Tense does not take an adverb of Past time. For Ex – ‘I have seen Amit yesterday’ is wrong. Simple past is used when an adverb of past is mentioned. Therefore, the correct usage of sentence given above should be as follows: ‘I saw Amit yesterday.’

Present Perfect Continuous

• This type of Tense is used to express those actions that had begun in the past and are still in progress.

Structure

For Singular

Sub + has been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being. (Affirmative). For Example.

1. Ram has been living here since 1993.
2. Ram has been living here for the last ten years.

Sub + has not been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being. (Negative). For Example.

1. Ram has not been living here since 1993.
2. Ram has not been living here for last ten years.

Has + Sub + been + V1 ing + Obj + since/for + Time being + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

1. Has Ram been living here since 1993?
2. Has Ram been living here for the last ten years?

Has + Sub + not + been + V1 ing + Obj + since/for + Time being + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative). For Example.

1. Has Ram not been living here since 1993?
2. Has Ram not been living here for last ten years?

For Plural

Sub + have been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being. (Affirmative). For Example.

1. They have been singing since morning.
2. They have been singing for two hours.

Sub + have not been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being. (Negative).For Example.

1. They have not been singing since morning.
2. They have not been singing for two hours.

Have + Sub + been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being + ‘?’ (Interrogative). For Example.

1. Have they been singing since morning?
2. Have they been singing for two hours?

Have + Sub + not + been + V1 ing + Obj. + since/for + Time being + ‘?’ (Interrogative – Negative) For Example.

Have they not been singing for two hours?

Note: ‘I’ is used as the plural in this tense For Ex –    I have been cleaning the room since morning.

Note: (a) ‘since’ is used to represent ‘Point of time’ (b) ‘for’ is used to represent ‘Period of time’

Uses

To show those actions that had begun in the past and are still in progress. For Example.

1. The baby has been sleeping since morning.

It can be used with time phrases like “for, since, long, how long, all the time, all week, etc. For Example.

1. For how long have you been eating?
2. She has been crying all the time.

Exercise of Present Tense

Correct the following sentences by using present tense.

1. Sarita go to office at 10 am daily.
2. She has been cooking meal from 7 am.
3. Nisha is playing guitar for 2 hours.
4. Rani have just come from college.
5. They have been residing here since 4 years.
6. They goes to field at 5 am.
7. Ram do his work in time.
8. He drink coffee in the morning.
9. Mr Sharma teachs us English Grammar.
10.  Sakshi catch the train at 8 o’clock.

Answers of the Present Tense Exercise

1. Sarita goes to office at 10 am daily.
2. She has been cooking meal since 7 am.
3. Nisha has been playing guitar for 2 hours.
4. Rani has just come from college.
5. They have been residing here for 4 years.
6. They go to field at 5 am.
7. Ram does his work in time.
8. He drinks coffee in the morning.
9. Mr Sharma teaches us English Grammar.
10.  Sakshi catches the train at 8 o’clock.

If you want to learn each type of present tense like present indefinite tense you can watch the video given below:

Many images used in this article are from https://www.kidsworldfun.com/

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