Present Tense
1. Simple present
> Use the simple present for routines, habits, or statements
that are always true.
a) The Earth is round.
b) I usually get up at 7:00 in the morning.
> Use the simple present for future events that are certain to
take place.
a) He comes back tomorrow.
b) When does the train leave?
Note: You can also use the present progressive for future events that are
certain
to take place
a) He's coming back tomorrow.
The simple present is frequently used with always, sometimes, usually, often,
rarely, hardly, ever, never…
2. Present perfect
> Use the present perfect (have/has + past participle) to
describe an action that happened in the past, where the time of
the action may not necessarily be known.
a) I have been to the United States.
b) We have lived here for twenty years,
c) John has seen the movie twice:
d) I have just finished the project.
Present perfect verbs are often used with once, twice, -times, ever, never,
finally, just, already, yet, recently…
3. Present progressive
> Use the present progressive (is/are + -ing) for an action that
is currently in progress.
a) I'm eating lunch right now.
b) What are you talking about?
Note: Stative verb do not occur in the progressive tense.
a) I'm having a pen. (X) > I have a pen.
b) She's seeing a bird. (X) > She sees a bird.
Present progressive verbs are frequently used with this week, today, at the
moment, for the time being, currently.
4. Present perfect progressive
> Use present perfect progressive verbs (has/have been + -
ing) for situations that began in the past and are continuing in
the present.
a) He has been calling her all morning.
b) It's been raining here since we arrived.
Present progressive verbs are frequently used with this week, today, at the
moment, for the time being, currently.
Stative verbs include:
know, own, belong, have, like, hate, seem, appear, hear, smell, taste, see,
resemble, ...
Exercises:
Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence.
1. Every morning, I (am going / go) to school at eight o'clock.
2. Mina (studies / has studied) French for ten years.
3. I have not (saw / seen) him since 1995.
4. I (am having / have) three dogs.
5. The baby has (been crying / cries) all day.
6. Mr. Gray sometimes (plays / is playing) tennis.
7. Look! A mouse (runs / is running) through the door.
8. What are you (study / studying) at school tomorrow?
9. Have you (finish / finished) your homework yet?
10. Father is (laughing / laughs) at the movie.
Put the verb into the correct form, positive or negative.
1. Please don’t make so much noise. __!’m. trying__ (| / try) to work.
2. You can turn off the radio. ____________________ (I / listen) to it.
3. Kate phoned me last night. She’s on holiday in France. _____________ (she / have)
a great time and doesn’t want to come back.
4. Andrew has just started evening classes. _______________ (he / learn) Japanese.
5. ______________ (I / get) tired. | need a rest.
6. What time ______________ (the banks / close) here?
7. I've got a car, but I _________________ (not / use) it much.
8. 'Where ____________________ (Ricardo / come) from?' 'From Cuba.'
9. 'What ___________________ (you / do)? 'I’m an electrician.'
Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary.
1. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. _____OK_________
2. The water boils. Can you turn it off? ____is boiling_____
3. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car. _________________
4. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about? _________________
5. The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days. _________________
6. I must go now. lt gets late. _________________
7. I usually go to work by car. _________________
8. 'Hurry up! lt's time to leave.' 'OK, I come.' _________________
9. I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on? _________________
10. Paul is never late. He's always getting to work on time. _________________
11. They don't get on well. They're always arguing. _________________
Read the situations and write sentences with just, already or yet.
Example:
1. After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says, 'Would you like
something to eat?'
You say: No thank you. ____I’ve just had lunch___ (have lunch)
2 Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says, 'Can I speak to
Joe?'
You say: I'm afraid _________________________________________. (he/go out)
3 You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to
take your plate away.
You say: Wait a minute! __________________________________. (I/not finish)
4 You plan to eat at a restaurant tonight. You phoned to reserve a table. Later your
friend says: 'Shall I phone to reserve a table?'
You say: No, _____________________________________________. (I/do it)
5 You know that a friend of yours is looking for a place to live. Perhaps she has been
successful.
Ask her. You say: _____________________________________________? (you/find)
6. You are still thinking about where to go for your holiday. A friend asks, 'Where are
you going for your holiday?'
You say: _________________________________________________. (I/not decide)
7 Linda went shopping, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks, 'Is Linda
still out shopping?'
You say: No, ____________________________________________ (she/come back)
Put the verb into the present continuous (I am -ing) or present perfect continuous
(I have been -ing) or present perfect ( I have Vpp).
1 Maria ___has been learning__(Maria/learn) English for two years.
2 Hello, Tom. ______________________(I/look) for you. Where have you been?
3 Why _________________________(you/look) at me like that? Stop it!
4 Linda is a teacher. _______________________ (she/teach) for ten years.
5 _________________________(I/think) about what you said and I've decided to
take your advice.
6 'Is Paul on holiday this week?' 'No, ________________________(he/work).'
7 My brother is an actor. _____________________ (he I appear) in several films.
8 'Sorry I'm late.' 'That's all right. _______________________ (I/not wait) long.'
9 ____________________ (I/lose) my phone. ___________________ (you I see)
it anywhere?
10 _____________ (I/read) the book you lent me, but ______________ (I/not finish)
it yet. it's very interesting.
11 _________________ (I/read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.
12 This is a very old book. ____________________(I/have) it since I was a child.
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