Lesson 40: Present Simple and Present continuous tense

1. Present Simple Tense

2. Quiz: Simple Present Tense

3. Present Continuous Tense

4. Quiz: Present Continuous Tense

Tense denotes the time of an action or state in a sentence, intricately tied to the form of the verb used, indicating when the action occurred, occurs, or will occur.

There are 3 types of tenses:
1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future Tense

The present tense is used to talk about actions happening right now or general truths.

Present tense can be further divided into:
1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous
3. Present Perfect
4. Present Perfect Continuous

The present simple tense is used to talk about general truths, habitual actions, and facts that are true in the present.
In this tense, the base form of the verb is used for most subjects, and there is no need for an auxiliary verb (e.g., "to be").

• Affirmative: Subject + Base Form of Verb (+ -s or -es for third person singular)

  • Example: I walk to school every day.

• Negative: Subject + Do/Does + Not + Base Form of Verb

  • Example: They do not play video games.

• Question: Do/Does + Subject + Base Form of Verb?

  • Example: Does he go to the gym regularly?

Present continuous tense is used to describe actions that are happening at the current moment or around the present time.
It is also used for temporary actions or situations. In this tense, the verb "to be" (am/are/is) is combined with the present participle (the -ing form of the verb).

• Affirmative: Subject + Am/Are/Is + Present Participle (Verb + -ing)

  • Example: I am reading a book.

  • Example: They are playing soccer.

• Negative: Subject + Am/Are/Is + Not + Present Participle (Verb + -ing)

  • Example: She is not watching TV.

  • Example: We are not playing right now.

• Question: Am/Are/Is + Subject + Present Participle (Verb + -ing)?

  • Example: Are you listening to music?

  • Example: Is he going to the party?

1. Tenses indicate the time of an action.

2. There are 3 types of tenses: present, past, and future.

3. The present simple tense is used to talk about general truths and habitual actions.

4. The basic rule of the present simple tense is: Subject + Base Form of verb + (-s or -es for third person singular).

5. Present continuous tense is used to describe the actions happening right now.

6. Basic rule of present continuous tense: Subject + am/is/are + Present Participle (verb + -ing).