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Understanding Present Tenses in English

The document explains the present continuous and present simple tenses, detailing their forms, uses, and common phrases. The present continuous describes actions happening now, temporary situations, and planned future events, while the present simple describes facts, habits, and routines. It also highlights certain verbs that are typically used in the present simple and not in the present continuous.

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Su Ke Xin
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4 views3 pages

Understanding Present Tenses in English

The document explains the present continuous and present simple tenses, detailing their forms, uses, and common phrases. The present continuous describes actions happening now, temporary situations, and planned future events, while the present simple describes facts, habits, and routines. It also highlights certain verbs that are typically used in the present simple and not in the present continuous.

Uploaded by

Su Ke Xin
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Present Continuous

describes actions happening right now, temporary situations or planned future events.

Form
Affirmative is/are + -ing form He is running away from a dog.

Negative isn’t/ aren’t + -ing form He isn’t running away from a dog.

Question is/ are + subject + -ing form Is he running away from a dog?

Use
Actions happening now He is coming to pick you up now.

Temporary situations/ actions She is staying in a hotel at the moment.

Changing and developing situations Cooking at home is becoming increasingly


popular.

Annoying habits (usually with always) Dad is always cleaning the car when I want to
use it!

Words/ phrases often used with the present continuous


now/ right now/ for now/ currently/ at the moment/ for the time being/ at present/ today/ this
week/ It’s/ That’s the last time
Example:
I have a car. (Not: I’m having a car.) => I own a car.
I am having problems with my car. => I am running into problems with my car.

Emphatic present simple

We use the present simple tense to emphasize contrast and strong feeling.

To emphasize contrast I don’t know much about physics but I do


know a lot about biology.

To emphasize strong feeling I do like playing cards.


Present Simple
describe facts, habits or routines

Form
Affirmative Base form of verb My dad works in a law firm.
(+s/-es for he/she/it)

Negative don’t/ doesn’t + infinitive My dad doesn’t work in a law firm.

Question do/ does + subject + infinitive Does your dad work in a law firm?

Use
Current habits/ regular actions I walk to school everyday.

General truths and facts Beijing is the capital of China.

Permanent situations My dad works in a law firm.

Words/ phrases often used with the present simple


always/ usually/ generally/ often/ sometimes/ rarely/ seldom/ never/ whenever/ nowadays/ these
days/ from time to time/ every now and then/ most ( or much) of the time/ It’s/ That’s the last
time

State
Some verbs describing the states are used in the present simple tense and normally not in the
present continuous tenses.
Thinking believe, forget, imagine, know, realise, recognize, suppose, think,
understand, want, wish

Liking and disliking admire, dislike, hate, like, love, prefer

Appearance appear, look, like, resemble, seem

Possession belong to, contain, have*, include, own, possess

Perception hear, see, smell, taste

Being be, consist of, exist

The following verbs are also used in the present simple tense and normally not in the present
continuous tenses:

● concern, fit, involve, mean, surprise, deserve, interest, matter, satisfy

Some of the verbs listed above can be used in continuous tenses but it would be in other
meanings.

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