Present Tense

Present Simple

We use the present simple:

      a)   to talk about facts, routines and with adverbs of frequency

She comes from the north of Brazil.

I go to English classes three times a week.

We usually order a pizza on Friday nights.

They often take an extra staff at Christmas.

b) we also use the present simple verbs with “stative verbs”:

-which deal with states: be, seem, looks.

-with verbs of cognition: think, know, understand, believe, remember, mean.

-with verbs of perception: see, taste, hear, smell

-with verbs of possession: own, belong.

-other verbs: need, want, cost.

REMEMBER

Some of these verbs can also be dynamic, with a change in meaning:

To be (stative) = natural state.

To be (active)  = to act/behave.

Dynamic verbs can be used in the present continuous to show the temporary nature of the action:

What do you think about global warming? What´s your general opinion? (stative sense)

 Is everything OK? What are you thinking about? (right now – dynamic sense).

She is lazy (it is her natural state).

She is being lazy (at the moment).

She is smelling the flowers. The flowers smell nice. The flowers smell are smelling nice.

She is tasting the soup. The soup tastes good. The soup is tasting good.

Present Continuous

We use the present continuous:

       b)   To talk about activities which are in progress

Q: Hey, what are you doing in my room?

A: I´m looking for the CD I lent you.

        c)   To talk about activities. In other words, activities that began in the past, are going on now and into the future

Justine studies at Bordeux University; at the moment she is spending a term in Oxford.

c)To talk about trends or a changing situation

Unemployment is still going up by 1% a month.

d)To express a future meaning. (Have a look at “Future forms”)

e)With always to add expression

she´s always taking my things (to express annoyance).

Present Perfect Simple

We use the present perfect simple:

d)   To talk about something which started in the past and continues into the present.

We have lived in this house for thirty years.

e)   To talk about past events when no specific time is given or suggested.

Have you ever eaten oysters?

Mandy has been to Argentina.

f)    To talk about recent events where the result is still visible

Your sitting room looks different. Have you painted it?

g)   With adverbs such as yet, just and already (especially in British English)

Have you written your composition yet?

h)   To talk about quantities, a number of repeated, completed actions

She has done more than fifty parachute jumps.

Present Perfect Continuous

We use the present perfect continuous:

i)     To talk about continuous activities which started in the past and continue into the present (with an emphasis placed on the duration of the activity)

Your father has been working in the garden since eight o´clock this morning.

j)     To talk about repeated actions up to the present.

I´ve been trying to call the box-office all day, but I just can´t get through.

k)   To emphasise an activity rather than a quantity/result

She has been writing short stories for ten years (activity), she has written more than fifty (result)

l)     To talk about a recent activity where a result is still visible

Q: Why are you all red?

A: I´ve been sunbathing.