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Present Tense

 
The present tense is a verb tense used to describe a current activity or state of being. However, somewhat unusually, the present tense can also be used to describe past and future activities. 
 
  There are two types of present tenses that you need to be focused on:  
 
(a)   Simple present tense
(b)   Present continuous tense
 
     

 
8.1  Simple Present Tense
 
The simple present tense is used to:
 
USES EXAMPLES

Show habitual actions

  • Habitual action is what a person normally does or is the person's habit.
  • The sentences usually contain time phrases, like 'every'. 
  1. Every year, Hindus celebrate a festival called "The Festival of Lights."
  2. I go to the library after school every day.

State a general truth

  • This refers to a fact or something which is generally true.
  1. An ostrich does not bury its head in the sand when it is afraid. When it hears its enemies coming, it runs away.
  2. The sun rises in the East. 

Describe feelings and senses

  • like, know, believe, think, wish.
  • feel see, hear, smell.
  1. I wish I could fly like a bird.
  2. Do you hear raindrops outside?

Give instructions and directions

  • It is used to give simple instructions, describe a process, and to give directions.
  1. First, go along this corridor until you reach the stairs.
  2. Take the stairs down to the next floor and turn left. 

 
The table below shows questions and sentences in the simple present tense:
 
POSITIVE SENTENCES NEGATIVE SENTENCES QUESTIONS
I work every day. I do not work every day.  Do you study every day?
The stall opens five days a week.  The stall does not open five days a week. When does the stall open?
 
  How does the present tense used in the text?  
     
     To look at the stars and planets closely, one has to use a pair of powerful binoculars or a telescope. These two instruments magnify the objects that are far away and make them appear much larger. The lenses gather as much light as possible coming from the stars or planets.   
     

 
8.2  Present Continuous Tense
 
  • This tense is used to:

(a) Show an action that is happening now

(b) A future planned action

(c) An action that is performed so often that it becomes a habit

(d) Used in the passive form

  • But, remember that verbs used for expressing feelings and senses cannot be used in the continuous form (Examples: hear, see, want, wish, etc.)
  • The present continuous form is as follows:
 
'be' verb (is/are/am) verb-ing
He  is playing.
He is not/isn't playing. 

 

Examples:

(a) We are visiting the museum in the afternoon.

(b) Anthony is sitting in the chair.

(c) He is meeting his friends after school.

(d) Frances is talking on the phone at the moment.
8.3  Present Perfect Tense
 
The present perfect tense is used to:
 
USES EXAMPLES
Show an action that has already been performed I have prepared lunch for my family.
Show an action that has already started and is still going on - time expressions like 'since' and 'for' She has not called me since we argued.
Used with words like 'just', 'already', 'recently', 'yet', 'seldom', etc.  I have recently started learning Mandarin. 
 
Examples:
 

(a) I have walked on this path before.

(b) We have eaten the lasagna here.

(c) I have put away all the laundry.
 
The views expressed in the notes here are those of the contributor and don’t necessarily represent the views of pandai.

Present Tense

 
The present tense is a verb tense used to describe a current activity or state of being. However, somewhat unusually, the present tense can also be used to describe past and future activities. 
 
  There are two types of present tenses that you need to be focused on:  
 
(a)   Simple present tense
(b)   Present continuous tense
 
     

 
8.1  Simple Present Tense
 
The simple present tense is used to:
 
USES EXAMPLES

Show habitual actions

  • Habitual action is what a person normally does or is the person's habit.
  • The sentences usually contain time phrases, like 'every'. 
  1. Every year, Hindus celebrate a festival called "The Festival of Lights."
  2. I go to the library after school every day.

State a general truth

  • This refers to a fact or something which is generally true.
  1. An ostrich does not bury its head in the sand when it is afraid. When it hears its enemies coming, it runs away.
  2. The sun rises in the East. 

Describe feelings and senses

  • like, know, believe, think, wish.
  • feel see, hear, smell.
  1. I wish I could fly like a bird.
  2. Do you hear raindrops outside?

Give instructions and directions

  • It is used to give simple instructions, describe a process, and to give directions.
  1. First, go along this corridor until you reach the stairs.
  2. Take the stairs down to the next floor and turn left. 

 
The table below shows questions and sentences in the simple present tense:
 
POSITIVE SENTENCES NEGATIVE SENTENCES QUESTIONS
I work every day. I do not work every day.  Do you study every day?
The stall opens five days a week.  The stall does not open five days a week. When does the stall open?
 
  How does the present tense used in the text?  
     
     To look at the stars and planets closely, one has to use a pair of powerful binoculars or a telescope. These two instruments magnify the objects that are far away and make them appear much larger. The lenses gather as much light as possible coming from the stars or planets.   
     

 
8.2  Present Continuous Tense
 
  • This tense is used to:

(a) Show an action that is happening now

(b) A future planned action

(c) An action that is performed so often that it becomes a habit

(d) Used in the passive form

  • But, remember that verbs used for expressing feelings and senses cannot be used in the continuous form (Examples: hear, see, want, wish, etc.)
  • The present continuous form is as follows:
 
'be' verb (is/are/am) verb-ing
He  is playing.
He is not/isn't playing. 

 

Examples:

(a) We are visiting the museum in the afternoon.

(b) Anthony is sitting in the chair.

(c) He is meeting his friends after school.

(d) Frances is talking on the phone at the moment.
8.3  Present Perfect Tense
 
The present perfect tense is used to:
 
USES EXAMPLES
Show an action that has already been performed I have prepared lunch for my family.
Show an action that has already started and is still going on - time expressions like 'since' and 'for' She has not called me since we argued.
Used with words like 'just', 'already', 'recently', 'yet', 'seldom', etc.  I have recently started learning Mandarin. 
 
Examples:
 

(a) I have walked on this path before.

(b) We have eaten the lasagna here.

(c) I have put away all the laundry.
 
The views expressed in the notes here are those of the contributor and don’t necessarily represent the views of pandai.
Chapter : Reading Skills
Topic : Present Continuous Tense
Form 3 English
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