Simple Present Tense

I sing

How do we make the Simple Present Tense?

subject + auxiliary verb + main verb

    do   base

There are three important exceptions:

1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary.

2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb
or es to the auxiliary.
3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and
negatives.

Look at these examples with the main verb like:

  subject auxiliary verb   main verb  

+ I, you, we, they   like coffee.

He, she, it   likes coffee.

- I, you, we, they do not like coffee.

He, she, it does not like coffee.

? Do I, you, we, they   like coffee?

Does he, she, it   like coffee?

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no
auxiliary:

  subject main verb    

+ I am   French.

You, we, they are   French.

He, she, it is   French.

- I am not old.

You, we, they are not old.

 He, she, it is not old.

? Am I   late?

Are you, we, they   late?

Is he, she, it   late?

How do we use the Simple Present Tense?

We use the simple present tense when:

 the action is general

 the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and
future
 the action is not only happening now
 the statement is always true

John drives a taxi.

past present future

It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future.

Look at these examples:

 I live in New York.

 The Moon goes round the Earth.
 John drives a taxi.
 He does not drive a bus.
 We meet every Thursday.
 We do not work at night.
 Do you play football?

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the simple present tense for
situations that are not general. We can use the simple present tense to talk
about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the simple present
tense - some of them are general, some of them are now:

Am I right?
Tara is not at home.
You are happy.

past present future

 The situation is now.
 
I am not fat.
Why are you so beautiful?
Ram is tall.

past present future

The situation is general. Past, present and future.

PROGRESSIVE TENSES
 
A. Present progressive = am  + (base form + -ing) :  I am working.  OR is + (base form + -ing) : She
is eating. OR  are + (base form + -ing) :  We are studying.
1. A planned activity.
            Sofia is starting school at CEC tomorrow
2. An activity that is occurring right now.
            Jan is watching TV right now.
3. An activity that is in progress, although not actually occurring at the time of speaking.
            Sara is learning English at CEC.
 
B. Past progressive = was  + (base form + -ing) : I was working.  OR were + (base form + -ing) : They
were eating.
1. A past activity in progress while  another activity occurred.
            At 6:00 yesterday I was eating dinner.
            The phone rang while I was eating.
2. Two past activities in progress at the same time.
            While I was answering the phone, my wife was cooking dinner.
 
C. Future progressive = will be + (base form + -ing): I will be working. He will be eating.
 An activity that will be in progress.
            Tomorrow Sam will be studying for the test on Unit 1.
 
D. Present perfect progressive = have + (base form + -ing): I have been working.  OR has + (base
form + -ing): She has been eating.
 
1. This tense emphasizes the duration of an activity that began in the past and continues into
the present.  It often uses time words or phrases. It may be used to refer to continuing activity
that is recent.
            He has been painting houses all summer.
            I’ve been studying English for 2 years.
2. It may be used to refer to continuing activity that is recent.
            He has been going to school at CEC.
 
E. Past perfect progressive  = had + (base form + -ing) : I had been working. He had been eating.
 
            When the teacher arrived, I had been waiting almost 10 minutes.
            He was out of breath because he had been running to catch the bus.
 
F. Future perfect progressive = will  have + (base form + -ing): I will have been working. She will
have been eating.
This tense emphasizes the duration of a continuing activity in the future that ends before
another activity or time in the future.
 
            By 2003 Janet will have been studying English at CEC for 3 years.
            By 9:45 tonight I will have been sitting in class for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Present Perfect
FORM

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

 You have seen that movie many times.

 Have you seen that movie many times?
 You have not seen that movie many times.

Complete List of Present Perfect Forms

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time
before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect
with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I
was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN
use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once,
many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

 I have seen that movie twenty times.

 I think I have met him once before.
 There have been many earthquakes in California.
 People have traveled to the Moon.
 People have not traveled to Mars.
 Have you read the book yet?
 Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
 A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best
to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:
TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have
the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a
certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

 I have been to France.

THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE
YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES.
 I have been to France three times.
YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.
 I have never been to France.
THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO FRANCE.
 I think I have seen that movie before.
 He has never traveled by train.
 Joan has studied two foreign languages.
 A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a
period of time.

Examples:

 You have grown since the last time I saw you.

 The government has become more interested in arts education.
 Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the
Asian studies program was established.
 My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and
humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples:

 Man has walked on the Moon.

 Our son has learned how to read.
 Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
 Scientists have split the atom.
TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not
happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action
to happen.

Examples:

 James has not finished his homework yet.

 Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
 Bill has still not arrived.
 The rain hasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have
occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not
complete and more actions are possible.

Examples:

 The army has attacked that city five times.

 I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
 We have had many major problems while working on this project.
 She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she
is sick.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some
point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not
important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do
this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month,
so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:

 Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

 I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
 They have had three tests in the last week.
  She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three
different companies so far.
 My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE

"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the
year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requiresSimple Past. "In
the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time,
so it requires Present Perfect.

Examples:

 I went to Mexico last year.

I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE.
 I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the

Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until
now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which
can be used with the Present Perfect.

Examples:

 I have had a cold for two weeks.

 She has been in England for six months.
 Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous

Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and
"study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous
Verbs.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always,
only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

 You have only seen that movie one time.

 Have you only seen that movie one time?