Present tenses

REVISING

Present tenses

Grammar Practice on Present Tenses

Which sentence is correct?

1 2 3 4 5 6

I go to cinema twice a week. I'm loving my pets. I don't drinking mate. Jim and Pam doesn't work together. I doing exercises. I am work for Arcor.

I'm doing exercise twice a week. I love my pets I'm not drinking mate. Jim and Pam don't work together. I'm doing exercises. I work for Arcor.

Which sentence is correct?

1 2 3 4 5 6

I go to cinema the twice a week. I'm loving my pets. I don't drinking mate. Jim and Pam don't work together. I doing exercises. I am work for Arcor.

I'm doing exercise twice a week. I love my pets I'm not drinking mate. Jim and Pam doesn't work together. I'm doing exercises. I work for Arcor.

The present tenses are the most common ones in the English language. Grasping the use and form will allow you to speak more confidently and accurately.

in a nutshell...

Present simple: permanent Present continuous: temporary Present perfect: connection with the past

Present Simple

I work in the support area.

Present Simple

Universal facts

Permanent situations

Habits and routines

I'm Argentinian. I work as a teacher.

I play tennis on Monday. I drink two bottles of water everyday.

Two and two make four. The Earth revolves aroung the sun.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

“I, you, we, they” take the verb with no inflections (= no changes) Subject (I-you-we-they) + Verb For example:

• We study in the morning.
• I swim every day

Look at the sentences. What happens to the verb?

1. She goes to work 45 minutes after she gets up. 2. She takes a shower in the evening. 3. She works hard, for long hours and is very tired. 4. She has a long summer holiday, as a teacher. 5. She sometimes goes to bed at 12 and wakes up at 6.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

"he", "she", "it"require adding “S”, “ES” or “IES” to the verb. Subject (he-she-it) + Verb with “s/es/ies” For example:

• She studies at six o´clock.
• He goes to school by bus in the morning.

VIDEO

verbs in English

conclusion

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Subject (he-she-it) + DOES NOT/DOESN´T + Verb Subject (I-you-we-they) + DO NOT /DON´T + Verb For example:

• She doesn´t study at six o'clock.
• I don't walk in the park every day.
• We don't go to school by bus in the morning.
• They don't study in the afternoon.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

To form questions in English, statements (affirmative and negative sentences) udergo a process called INVERSION; that is, the place of the verb and auxiliary changes.

DO + Subject (I-you-we-they) + Main Verb? DOES + Subject (he-she-it) + Main Verb? For example:

• Do you work here?
• Does she travel to the USA?
• When do you work?
• Doesn't he live in Australia?
• Do you like chocolate?

The Boss

He is the boss of the company.

sign contractssell products hire new employees receive calls

Answers

Employee at the Warehouse

He works at the warehouse.

work on a computer.commute to work. hire new employees. help customers.

Answers

Employee at the Office

She works as a secretary.

operate machines. receive phone calls. fix problems. sign contacts.

Answers

The verb TO BE

AIN'T

am not/is not/are not Things ain't what they used to be. Go away! He ain't here. I ain't worried about it right now.

It is an INFORMAL form of the verb to be or have.

​has not/have not I ain't got no money. You ain't seen nothing yet

examples

Present Continuous

I'm working at a new project now.

Present Continuous

activities at the moment of speaking

something that is changing

temporary activities happening around now

This week I'm working from home.

Temperatures are going higher each year.

I'm driking mate now.We're studying English.

Continuous tenses

Continuous tenses are formed by two verbs: the verb to be and the main verb with the -ing form.

To be + verb with ing

Present Continuous

This tense is formed by combining the verb to be in the present (am-is-are) with a verb with the -ing form.These two verbs are used in affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences.

Present continuous

you / we / they

he / she / it

• I am working in a new project.
• I'm not doing much today.
• Am I saying it correctly?

• He is preparing a new album.
• He isn't giving interviews.
• Is he writing new songs?

• We're speaking English.
• We aren't writing an essay.
• Are we drinking mate?

Stative verbs

• thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognise, remember, suspect, think, understand

• feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

• senses and perceptions: appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste

• possession and measurement: belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh.

Some verbs are not usually used in the present continuous tense; they are used in the present simple tense. We sometimes use these verbs in the continuous form in Spanish... but be careful using them in English!

Present PERFECT SIMPLE

I've lived in Cordoba since 2010.

Present Perfect

something that started in the past and continues in the present:

They've worked for Procom since 2020. She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

Present Perfect

something that happened in the past in an uncertain time

Info

I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys. She has been to the UK many times. I've seen that film before.

perfect tenses

Perfect tenses are formed by two verbs: the verb have and the main verb in the past participle form.

have + past participle verb

Present perfect

This tense is formed by combining the verb have in the present (have-has) with a verb in the past participle form.These two verbs are used in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

present perfect simple

I, you, we, they

he, she, it

• She has worked here for 5 years.
• She has been to the UK.
• Has she written fantasy books?

• I 've lived in Cordoba since 2010.
• They have travelled to the USA.
• Have you seen Back to the Future?

HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE

PAST PARTICIPLE form

work - worked travel - travelled study - studied

go - gone do - done see - seen

For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -ed to the verb.

cost - cost buy - bought choose - chosen

For irregular verbs, the past participle sometimes is the same or similar to the past or present form or it is sometimes a completely new word.

aDVERBIALS

Although exactly when the action happened is NOT mentioned when using the present perfect, there are some words and expressions to refer to time. These are called adverbials.

aDVERBIALS

recently - just

Adverbials to refer to the recent past:

Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey. We have just got back from our holidays.

Subject + have + just / recently + main verb

aDVERBIALS

SINCE

We often use since to show when something started in the past:

I've worked here since I left school. I've watched that programme every week since it started.

Notice that what comes after since is in the past simple tense.

aDVERBIALS

for

We often use for to show how much time we have done something:

I've lived here for 10 years.I've done gymnastics for a long time.

aDVERBIALS

EVER - NEVER

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present: My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had. and we use never for the negative form: Have you ever met George? Yes, but I've never met his wife.

aDVERBIALS

yet

Yet is generally only used in questions and negative sentences to mean 'todavía'.

A: Have you finished your homework yet? B: No, I've not done my history homework yet.

PRACTICE

practice

Present tenses

Verb work with I, it, we

PResent tenses

ERRORS

Verb work with I, it, we

I am workIt is working We are working

I have workedIt haves worked We have worked

I workIt work We works

PResent tenses

I haven't workIt hasn't worked We haven't worked

I don't workingIt isn't work We aren't working

I don't workIt doesn't works We don't work

Am I working?Does it work? Are we working?

I work?Do it work? Do we work?

Have I worked?Has it worked? Have we worked?

answers

Verb work with I, it, we

I am workingIt is working We are working

I have workedIt has worked We have worked

I workIt works We work

PResent tenses

I haven't workedIt hasn't worked We haven't worked

I am not workingIt isn't working We aren't working

I don't workIt doesn't work We don't work

Am I working?Is it working? Are we working?

Do I work?Does it work? Do we work?

Have I worked?Has it worked? Have we worked?

Activity 1

Present simple

1. Jenny is a marketing specialist.What does she do? She does market research 2. Duncan is lawyer. 3. Daniel is a salesman. 4. Ariel is an architect. 5. Maria is an HR manager. 6. Emma works in a call centre.

Choose the correct expressions to each job. Think: What does s/he do? Number 1 is already done for you to see an example. Don't forget to conjugate!

call potential customers.

prepare contracts

design buildings.

hire new employees.

sell products and services.

answers

Activity 1

1. Jenny is a marketing specialist.What does she do? She does market research 2. Duncan is lawyer. She prepares contracts 3. Daniel is a salesman. He sells products and services. 4. Ariel is an architect. He designs buildings. 5. Maria is an HR manager. She hires new employees. 6. Emma works in a call centre. She calls potential customers.

Present simple

Activity 2

Present continuous

Watch the video and answer:What is s/he doing? Number 1 is already done for you to see an example.

1. She is reading a book. 2. _____________________ 3. _____________________ 4. _____________________ 5. _____________________ 6. _____________________

watch

answers

Activity 2

Present continuous

1. She is reading a book. 2. He is cooking breakfast. 3. He’s making a call. 4. He’s talking on the phone. 5. She’s working on a computer. 6. She is commuting to work.

Activity 3

Present simple vs Present continuous

1. I eat (eat) sushi for lunch once a week. 2. I _________ (read) a really interesting book on marketing at the moment. 3. What ____________ (the managers/discuss) right now? 4. Slow down! You ____________ (drive) too fast. 5. She ____________ (not/want) to change her job position. 6. Andy ____________ (attend) meetings five times a week. 7. It’s 5 o’clock. The workers ____________ (wait) for a taxi. 8. The workers ____________ (wait) for their taxi every day at 5 o’clock. 9. Paul ____________ (not/exercise) more because he (not/have) ____________ enough time. 10. Many people ____________ (believe) that the economy ____________ (improve).

answers

Activity 3

Present simple vs Present continuous

1. I eat sushi for lunch once a week. 2. I am reading a really interesting book on marketing at the moment. 3. What are the managers discussinh right now? 4. Slow down! You are driving too fast. 5. She doesn't want to change her job position. 6. Andy attends meetings five times a week. 7. It’s 5 o’clock. The workers are waiting for a taxi. 8. The workers wait for their taxi every day at 5 o’clock. 9. Paul doesn't exercise more because he doesn't have enough time. 10. Many people believe that the economy is improving.

Activity 4

Present Perfect Simple

First, study the past participle form of verbs.

• Access the list here:

Second, let's practice the past participle form of the verbs.

• Go to these activities:

Do you want more practice? Go here!

Activity 5

Present Perfect Simple

Go back in the presentation and review ADVERBIALS OF TIME.

• Click here

Now you are ready to practice

• Go to these activities:

Do you want more practice? Go here!

Activity 6

1. The flight takes off at 5:30 p.m.
2. Amy drinks coffee every morning.
3. Ira is reading Sherlock Holmes.
4. The team is playing quite well.
5. Sam has just gone out.
6. I have known Riya for a long time.
7. I am writing a new story.
8. The child has watched television for hours.
9. Asif has eaten all the cookies.
10. I have finished all my chores.
11. It rains almost every day in October.
12. My uncle is arriving today.
13. I have hurt my knee.
14. My family has been at home for several months.

Read the sentences and decide what tense is it:

• Simple Present Tense
• Present Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Tense

answers

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Simple Present Tense
3. Present Continuous Tense
4. Present Continuous Tense
5. Present Perfect Tense
6. Present Perfect Tense
7. Present Continuous Tense
8. Present Perfect Tense
9. Present Perfect Tense
10. Present Perfect Tense
11. Simple Present Tense
12. Present Continuous Tense
13. Present Perfect Tense
14. Present Perfect Tense

Activity 6

Present tenses

MORE!!!

ActivitIES

Click on the numbers to access more activities to practice present tenses.

All present tenses

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Present Perfect

04

03

02

05

01

06

WELL DONE!