MODULE 4: PRESENT TENSE
OBJECTIVES:
1. Understand the Present Tense: Define and explain the present tense
and its significance in expressing actions or states in the current time
frame.
2. Identify Types of Present Tense: Differentiate among the four forms of
present tense: Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect,
and Present Perfect Continuous.
3. Learn Structural Patterns: Understand the structure and rules for using
each form of the present tense in positive, negative, and interrogative
sentences.
4. Apply Knowledge: Create sentences and perform corrections using the
appropriate present tense forms.
5. Enhance Writing Skills: Use the present tense effectively in practical
applications, such as writing exercises and letters.
I. ACTIVITY:
In the English language, tense is used to represent the time of an action.
Among the three English tenses, the present tense is used to talk about what
is happening in the current time. In this article, you will learn the definition,
structure, and rules of usage, along with examples.
What Is the Present Tense?
The present tense refers to the action or event that takes place or is taking
place in the present. It represents the current activity or the present state of
being of the subject in the given context.
Definition of Present Tense
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines present tense as “the tense of
a verb that expresses action or state in the present time and is used of what
occurs or is true at the time of speaking and of what is habitual or
characteristic or is always or necessarily true, that is sometimes used to
refer to action in the past, and that is sometimes used for future events.”
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the present tense is “the form
of a verb that expresses an action that is happening now or at the time of
speaking.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines present tense as “the form of
the verb that is used to show what happens or exists now.”
Types of Present Tense
The present tense can be used in four different forms, namely,
● Simple Present Tense – used to indicate the current action or an action
that takes place regularly.
● Present Continuous Tense – used to denote an action that is continuing
at the present moment.
● Present Perfect Tense – used to indicate an action that is used to
denote an action that is indefinite and still has its effect on the subject
or object in the sentence.
● Present Perfect Continuous Tense – used to represent an action that
began in the recent past and is still continuing.
EXERCISES:
Direction: Write at least ten example simple tense sentences.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
II. ANALYSIS
Direction: Correct the statement in accordance with the given present tense
types.
1. Simple Present Tense
-To school walks every day she.
2. Present Continuous Tense
-A book is reading right now he.
3. Present Perfect Tense
-Their project completed have they.
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
- Here for three years has she been working.
5. Simple Present Tense
-Math on Mondays the teacher teaches.
6. Present Continuous Tense
-A letter I writing to my friend am.
7. Present Perfect Tense
-Twice Paris visited have we.
8. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
-For the exam morning has studying he been since.
III. ABSTRACTION:
Structure of Present Tense
Have a look at the following table to understand the structure of the present
tense.
Structure of Present Tense
Simple Present Present Present Perfect Present
Tense Continuous Tense Perfect
Tense Continuous
Tense
Subject + Verb in Subject + Subject + Helping Subject
the base Helping Verb (have/has) + + Have/Has +
form/third Verb(am/is/are) Past participle of Been +
person plural + Main the main verb + Verb+ing +
form + the rest of verb+ing + the the rest of the the rest of the
the sentence rest of the sentence along with sentence
sentence the time frame
Example: I go to Example: Example: Venu has Example:
school everyday. Tharun is left the hall They have
watching a been
He plays cricket. I have
movie. waiting for
reached home.
you for a long
They are
time.
planning a
birthday party for Archana has
their friend. been
checking her
phone every
now and then.
Also, take a look at the following table to understand how the general format
in which the present tense behaves in the positive, negative and
interrogative format.
Positive Negative Interrogative Negative Interrogative
Subject + Subject + Do Do/Does + Don’t/Doesn’t + Subject + Verb
Verb not/Does not Subject + Verb
(Don’t/Doesn
’t) + Verb
Example: Example: Example: Doe Example: Doesn’t she likes pizzas?
She likes She does s she likes piz
pizzas. not zas?
like pizzas.
EXERCISES:
1. Give an example in each type of past tense and put a label
from the given pattern in the table:
Simple Present
Tense
Present
Continuous
Tense
Present Perfect
Tense
Present Perfect
Continuous
Tense
IV. APPLICATION:
Direction: Write a letter of gratitude to someone who touches your heart
using the given tense and its types.