Tips on Present Tense

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7 TIPS on PRESENT TENSE

• Grammar Rules and Tips for using Present Tense

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Classifying Tenses

• Tense is a form of Verb which indicates the time
  and state of and action or event.
• Classifying tenses based on the Time of Action
  He writes letters. (Present Tense Now- Present
  time of an action)He wrote letters. (Past Tense
  Before Now- Past time of an action)He will write
  letters. (Future Tense After Now- Future time of
  an action)

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Classifying Tenses

• Classifying Tenses based on the state of Action
  

Present
Past
Future
Simple
sings
sang
will sing
Continuous (progressive action)
is singing
was singing
will be singing
Perfect (completed action)
has sung
had sung
will have sung
Perfect Continuous (progressive action that is
ongoing)
has been singing
had been singing
will have been singing
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Simple PresentUsed to denote habit, custom,
practice, permanent activity or general truth

• For habitual, repeated actions
• We catch the bus every morning at 800 AM.
• He drinks tea at breakfast.
• For general truths
• Water freezes at zero degrees.
• For Instructions
• Open the packet and pour the contents into hot
  water.
• For Scheduled Events in the Future
• His mother arrives tomorrow.
• To Express a future action after conjunctions
  like after, when, before, as soon as, until
• She will see you before she leaves.
• Narrating a story
• Now Rama shoots an arrow at Ravan.

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Present ContinuousUsed for an on-going action in
the present or at the time of speaking.

• A progressive action in the present
• It is raining outside.
• With the adverb always
• He is always watching TV.
• For Scheduled Events in the Future
• The train is arriving in 2 minutes.
• For indicating negatives
• Caroline is not looking for the latest brochure.
• For interrogatives
• Is Caroline looking for the latest brochure?

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Present PerfectUsed to indicate a link between
the present and the past where the action is
already completed in the past or still continuing
into the present.

• An action that was completed in the recent past
• I have just eaten breakfast.
• An action that started in the past but is still
  ongoing
• I have lived in Bristol since 1984. Correct
  Indicates that I am still living in Bristol
• I lived in Bristol since 1984. Incorrect
  Indicates that I am no longer living in Bristol
• An action in an unspecified period between the
  past and now
• We have visited Portugal before.
• A completed action where the time of the action
  is unimportant
• He has read War and Peace.
• Action performed during a period of time that is
  not yet finished
• She has been to the cinema twice this week.

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Present Perfect ContinuousUsed to imply the
duration of an action that has started in the
past and continuing in the present or may have
just finished.

• An action that was completed in the recent past
• She has been cooking since last night.
• An action that started in the past but is still
  ongoing
• I have been living in Bristol since 1984.
  Correct Indicates that I am still living in
  Bristol
• I was living in Bristol since 1984. Incorrect
  Indicates that I am no longer living in Bristol
• She has been waiting for you all day.
• To indicate a negative
• Amanda has not been relying on student loans to
  fund her education.
• For Interrogatives
• Has Amanda been relying on student loans to fund
  her education?

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Tips on using Present Tense
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Tip 1 Since , For
Tip 2 Ever, Never
Ever generally used with present perfect
tense My last birthday was the worst day I have
ever had.Have you ever seen a ghost? Never
used as the negative form for the adverb ever
in present perfect Have you ever met
George?Yes, but Ive never met his wife.

• Since to show a particular time or event from
  past to present. Used both for present perfect
  and for present perfect continuous.
• Theyve been staying with us since last week.
  She has completed two letters since last night.
• For used to indicate a period of time from past
  to present in present perfect continuous form.
• She has been suffering from fever for two days.
• Its been raining for hours.

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Tip 4 Always
Tip 3 Seldom, Often, Generally,
Simple Present Tense here always is used as
an adverb of frequency, meaning all the
time. Suhani always comes in time. I always
travel by bus. Present Continuous Tense here
the adverb always is used to express an idea
that the speaker doesnt like. She is always
scolding her children. He is always using junk
food.

• Adverbs of Frequency such as, often, generally,
  regularly, seldom, occasionally, rarely, daily,
  normally, always are used in Simple present tense
  to depict a habit or action and its frequency.
• Grandfather regularly goes for a walk in the
  morning.
• Subir seldom gets up late.
• Pearl usually believes everybody.
• Arnav often comes for dinner to our place.

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Tip 6 Adverbials of the past
Tip 5 Just, RecentlyAlready

• Just, Recently , Already these time adverbials
  are used in Present Perfect to refer to actions
  that have just completed.
• Scientists have recently discovered a new breed
  of monkey.
• We have just got back from our holidays.
• I have already had my breakfast.

Adverbials of Past do not use the present
perfect with an adverbial of the past. I have
seen that film yesterday. (Wrong) I had seen that
film yesterday. We have bought a new car last
week. (Wrong)We had bought a new car last
week. It can be used to refer to a time which is
not yet finished Have you seen Helen today? We
have bought a new car this week.
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Tip 7 Non-Progressive Verbs

• Non-progressive verbs Verbs that describe a
  state of existence (not an action) are not used
  with an ing.
• Verbs of Perception See, Taste, Smell, Prefer,
  Please , Look, Seem, Appear
• Verbs Of Thinking Think, Know, Mean, Mind
• Verbs showing Possession Own, Have, Belong,
  Comprise, Possess, Contain
• Verbs of Feeling Believe, Like, Love, Want,
  Desire
• He is owning a car. (Wrong) gt He owns a car.
  (Correct)
• She is liking this song. (Wrong) gt She likes
  this song. (Correct)

When used as a verb indicating an action in
progress, these verbs do take an ing
Action in Progress Im thinking of selling my
car. We are having some difficulties right
now. The cook is tasting the soup. The girl is
smelling the flowers. We were feeling our way in
the dark. They are looking at the pictures. The
grocer is weighing the apples. Youre being a
nuisance.
State of Existence I think hes really nice. We
have a small flat. The soup tastes
delicious. This perfume smells great. Velvet
feels so soft. You look tired. The baby weighs 3
kgs. I am hungry.
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Spot the Errors
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Spot the Error

• These grapes are tasting sour.
• I am thinking you are wrong.
• She is seeming sad.
• He is having a cellular phone .
• I think of going to Malaysia.

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Spot the Error

• These grapes are tasting sour. These grapes
  taste sour.
• I am thinking you are wrong. I think you are
  wrong.
• She is seeming sad.
• She seems sad.
• He is having a cellular phone .He has a cellular
  phone.
• I think of going to Malaysia.
• I am thinking of going to Malaysia.

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Spot the Error

• She tastes the soup to see if it needs more salt.
  
• They have lunch.
• It is smelling like something is burning.
• Are you forgetting my name?
• I am not meaning this.

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Spot the Error

• She tastes the soup to see if it needs more salt.
  She is tasting the soup to see if it needs more
  salt.
• They have lunch.
• They are having lunch.
• It is smelling like something is burning.
• It smells like something is burning.
• Are you forgetting my name?
• Have you forgotten my name?
• I am not meaning this.
• I dont mean this.

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Spot the Error

• We have just returned from a pilgrimage last
  month.
• Today was the happiest day I ever had.
• The train will leave at 1945 this evening.
• The book is containing good subject matter.
• You studying English Grammar.

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Spot the Error

• We have just returned from a pilgrimage last
  month.
• We have just returned from a pilgrimage.
• Today was the happiest day I ever had.
• Today was the happiest day Ive ever had.
• The train will leave at 1945 this evening.
• The train leaves at 1945 this evening.
• The book is containing good subject matter.
• The book contains good subject matter.
• You studying English Grammar.
• You are studying English Grammar.

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Spot the Error

• I know all about that film because I had seen it
  twice.
• I did a lot of work today but I must keep at it.
• He has been sleeping since five hours.
• Now Netaji entered and addressed the freedom
  fighters.
• I am having no house to live in.

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Spot the Error

• I know all about that film because I had seen it
  twice.
• I know all about that film because I have seen it
  twice.
• I did a lot of work today but I must keep at it.
• I have done a lot of work today but I must keep
  at it.
• He has been sleeping since five hours.
• He has been sleeping for five hours.
• Now Netaji entered and addressed the freedom
  fighters.
• Now Netaji enters and addresses the freedom
  fighters.
• I am having no house to live in.
• I have no house to live in.

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