Present tenses (all)

infinitive

infinitive +s

I play

He plays

We play

• permanent states. Tom works for a construction company.

• daily routines, repeated and habitual actions. He plays tennis every week.

• for general truths and laws of nature. The sun sets in the west.

• for timetables and programmes. The bus leaves at 5 pm.

• for sporting commentaries, reviews and narrations. Ronaldo intercepts and passes to another player.

to be (am/is/are + ing)

I am playing

He is playing

We are playing

• actions taking place at or around the moment of speaking. Tina is doing her homework at the moment.

• for fixed arrangements in the near future. I'm going to the dentist tomorrow (there's already an appointment)

• for currently changing and developing situations. The number of the infected is increasing.

• to express anger or irritation at a repeated action. You're always taking my stuff.

have / has + past participle

I have played

He has played

We have played

• started in the past, continues up to the present. I've known him for years.

• for a recently completed action whose result is visible in the present. A new restaurant has just opened in Põhjakeskus.

• for an action that happened at an unstated time in the past. I have only visited Finland once.

have/has + been + ing

I've been playing

He's been playing

We've been playing

• to put emphasis on the duration of the action. The boys have been playing football for hours.

• for an action which started in the past, result visible in the present. He has been working hard all week - he looks really tired.

• to express anger, irritation, or annoyance. They've been listening to that music all night.

• for repeated actions in the past continuing to the present. I've been taking Spanish lessons at school.