English as a Second Language | Present tenses

📚 Study Notes: The Present Tenses (CEFR Level B1 Grammar) 📚

Welcome to the chapter on Present Tenses! Mastering these tenses is the most important step in communicating clearly in English. Don't worry if this seems tricky at first; we are going to break down these core structures into simple, easy-to-understand parts.

By the end of these notes, you will know exactly when to use the Present Simple, Present Continuous, Present Perfect, and Present Perfect Continuous to talk about facts, habits, ongoing actions, and experiences. Let’s get started!

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Section 1: The Present Simple (The Habit & Fact Machine)

The Present Simple is the foundation of English. Think of it as the tense you use for things that are generally true or happen repeatedly, like a daily routine or a scientific fact.

✅ How to Form the Present Simple

We use the base form of the verb.

• I / You / We / They: Verb (base form)
  Example: I work here. We study hard.
• He / She / It (The tricky three!): Verb + -s or -es
  Example: He works late. She watches television.

👉 Quick Tip (The S-Rule): Remember this little trick: If the subject is one person (not 'I' or 'you'), the verb needs an S!

✅ Key Uses of the Present Simple

1. General Facts and Truths: Things that are always or generally true.
   • The sun rises in the east.
   • Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
2. Habits and Routine Actions: Actions that happen regularly.
   • I drink coffee every morning.
   • She visits her grandparents once a week.
3. Schedules and Timetables: Fixed events, especially for transport, cinemas, or classes.
   • The train leaves at 8:00 AM.
   • The class starts in five minutes.

✅ Negatives and Questions

We use the auxiliary verbs do or does (for He/She/It). The main verb returns to the base form!

• Negative: Subject + do/does not + Verb (base form).
  Example: I do not speak French. He does not live here.
• Question: Do/Does + Subject + Verb (base form)?
  Example: Do you understand? Does she need help?

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Section 2: The Present Continuous (The Live Action Camera)

The Present Continuous (sometimes called Present Progressive) is used to describe actions that are happening right now, at the moment of speaking. Think of it like a live video stream of an action in progress.

✅ How to Form the Present Continuous

This tense has two parts: (To Be) + (Verb -ing).

\( \text{Subject} + \text{am / is / are} + \text{Verb-ing} \)

• I am studying.
• She is watching TV.
• They are waiting for the bus.

✅ Key Uses of the Present Continuous

1. Actions Happening Now: Actions taking place at this precise moment.
   • Please be quiet. I am working.
   • Look! The cat is climbing the tree.
2. Temporary Actions: Actions happening around the present time, but they won’t last forever.
   • I usually live in France, but this month I am staying in London.
   • He is reading a very long book right now. (He might not be reading it at this exact second, but he is in the middle of it.)
3. Annoying Habits (Often with "Always"): Used to complain about a recurring habit.
   • You are always leaving your socks on the floor!

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Section 3: The Present Perfect (The Experience Collector)

This tense connects the past and the present. It describes an action that happened in the past, but the time is not finished or the result is important now. This is often the hardest tense for students—take your time here!

✅ How to Form the Present Perfect

We use the auxiliary verb have/has + the Past Participle (V3).

\( \text{Subject} + \text{have / has} + \text{Past Participle (V3)} \)

• I have finished my homework.
• She has seen that movie before.

👉 Reminder: You must know your irregular verbs (e.g., go -> went -> gone; see -> saw -> seen). The Past Participle is the third column!

✅ Key Uses of the Present Perfect (B1 Scope)

1. Life Experiences: Actions that happened at some point in the past, but the time is not specified (or the time frame is 'up to now').
   • I have never tried sushi. (Never in my life, up to this point.)
   • Have you ever been to Italy?
2. Recent Actions with a Present Result: The action finished very recently, and the outcome affects the present moment.
   • I have lost my phone. (The result is that I don't have it now.)
   • He has just arrived. (He is here now.)
3. Actions that Started in the Past and Continue Now (using For/Since): When talking about a duration of time leading up to the present.
   • She has worked here since 2018. (She started in 2018 and still works here now.)
   • We have waited for two hours. (We started waiting two hours ago and are still waiting.)

✅ Time Expressions for Present Perfect

These words are strong clues that you need the Present Perfect:

• Just: A very short time ago. (I have just eaten.)
• Already: Sooner than expected. (They have already left.)
• Yet: In negatives or questions. (She hasn't finished yet.)
• Ever / Never: In your whole life.

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Section 4: The Present Perfect Continuous (Focusing on Duration)

Like the Present Perfect, this tense starts in the past and links to the present. However, the Present Perfect Continuous focuses on the activity itself and its duration.

✅ How to Form the Present Perfect Continuous

We use: have/has + been + Verb -ing.

\( \text{Subject} + \text{have / has} + \text{been} + \text{Verb-ing} \)

• I have been waiting for an hour.
• She has been studying since breakfast.

✅ Key Uses of the Present Perfect Continuous

1. Duration of an Unfinished Activity: An activity that started in the past and is still continuing now (or has just stopped). We usually ask/state "How long?"
   • How long have you been learning English?
   • They have been talking for three hours!
2. Evidence/Results from a Recent Activity: The activity just finished, and we can see or feel the evidence of it now.
   • My eyes are tired because I have been watching TV all afternoon. (The activity—watching TV—caused the result—tired eyes.)
   • The ground is wet because it has been raining.

✅ Perfect Simple vs. Perfect Continuous (B1 Distinction)

Sometimes both are possible, but they emphasize different things:

• Present Perfect Simple (Focus on Completion/Result):
  I have painted the living room. (The job is finished; the result is a newly painted room.)
• Present Perfect Continuous (Focus on Activity/Duration):
  I have been painting the living room all morning. (I am tired; the focus is on the long activity.)

👉 Don't Forget! Stative verbs (know, like, understand) cannot be used in the Perfect Continuous either. You must use the Present Perfect Simple for them.

• WRONG: I have been knowing him for ten years.
• CORRECT: I have known him for ten years.

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Summary Table: When to Use Which Present Tense

Use this table as a quick reference tool to check your understanding.

Tense	Form	Main Function	Clue Words
Present Simple	Verb / Verb + s	Habits, Facts, Schedules (Permanent)	Usually, often, every day, never, always
Present Continuous	am/is/are + V-ing	Actions happening now, Temporary situations (Ongoing)	Now, at the moment, currently, today
Present Perfect	have/has + V3	Experiences, Result is important now, Unfinished time	Ever, never, just, already, yet, since, for
Present Perfect Continuous	have/has + been + V-ing	Focus on the duration of an activity (How long?)	For, since, all day, how long

Keep practising and reviewing these concepts! You've got this!