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Present Tense: Definition, Types, Rules With Examples

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Present Tense: In English Grammar, tenses are generally referred to as words that denote the time of an action. Tenses are expressed as verbs and are frequently used to express action or event. If such verbs change their forms to tell the action, events, or occurrence, then tenses come into action. The tenses are of three types: Present Tense, Past Tense, and Future Tense. The present tense is a type of tense that talks about events happening in the current time. Scroll through this article to learn more about the Present Tense, Examples and its types.

What is Present Tense?

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary Present tense is “the type of tense that expresses action or state in the present time and also has different uses and functions such as tense used to express habitual action, showing permanent nature and activity of the subject and eternal principles, progressive action, etc.

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, Present tense is “the form of a verb that expresses an action that is occurring now or at the time of speaking.”

According to the Cambridge Dictionary Present tense is “the form of the verb that is used to show what happens or exists in current times.”

Examples of Types of Present Tense

  • Vaishnavi sings wonderfully. (Simple Present Tense)
  • Rupa has kept this notebook for so many years. (Present Perfect Tense)
  • Naveed is practising for the annual day. (Present Continuous Tense)
  • It has been raining since last night. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense)

thatformTense Chart of Present Tense 

The tense chart of present tense has the following structure corresponding to each type of present tense. It is essential to remember these formulas mentioned while describing the types of present tense.

Tense Chart of Present Tense
Types Formula & RulesExamples
Simple Present TenseSubject + Verb in the base form/third person plural form + the rest of the sentenceRimmy goes to school every day.
Present Perfect TenseSubject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frameRahul has finished his homework.
Present Continuous TenseSubject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentenceGopali is crying out loud.
Present Perfect Continuous TenseSubject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + the rest of the sentencePreet has been working on this project for a week.

Types of Present Tense 

In English, there are four types of Present tense, that is- 

  1. Simple Present Tense
  2. Present Perfect Tense
  3. Present Continuous Tense
  4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

1. Simple Present Tense: When the verb defines/denotes an activity that is going on in the present time or is a regular event, then the verb is used in the simple present tense form.

DefinitionWhen the verb defines/denotes an activity that is going on in the present time or is a regular event, then the verb is used in the simple present tense form.
General Formula for Simple Present TenseSubject + Verb in the base form/third person plural form + the rest of the sentence
Simple Present Tense Examples
  • Ramesh eats bread and butter before going to school.
  • Elipsa watches cartoons every day.
  • Rupali drinks milk every night before going to bed.

2. Present Perfect Tense: When the verb defines or denotes the past action in the present forms, then such verb is used as Present Perfect Tense.

DefinitionWhen the verb defines or denotes the past action in the present forms, then such verb is used as Present Perfect Tense.
General Formula for Present Perfect TenseSubject + Helping Verb (have/has) + Past participle of the main verb + the rest of the sentence along with the time frame
Present Perfect Tense Example
  • They have lived here all their life.
  • He has written three letters already.
  • Armaan has worked here since I graduated from school.

3. Present Continuous Tense: When the verb defines or denotes the action or condition that is happening now and continues till the future, then the such verb is used as Present Continuous Tense.

DefinitionWhen the verb defines or denotes the action or condition which is happening now and continues till the future, then such verb is used as Present Continuous Tense.
General formula for Present Continuous Tense:Subject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentence
Present Continuous Tense Examples
  • Girls are going to school.
  • The kids are playing in the park.
  • Rupa is crying out loud.

4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense: When the verb defines or denotes the action that shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time, then such verb is used as Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

DefinitionWhen the verb defines or denotes the action which shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time, then the such verb is used as Present perfect Continuous Tense.
General Formula for Present Perfect Continuous TenseSubject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + the rest of the sentence
Present Perfect Continuous Tense Examples
  • I have been working on this project for a week.
  • You have been working on this project for a week.
  • He has been working on this project for a week.
Related Links
Tense ChartPresent Continuous Tense
Simple Present TensePresent Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense

 

Present Tense- FAQs

Ans. According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary Present tense is “the type of tense that expresses action or state in the present time and also has different uses and functions such as tense used to express habitual action, showing permanent nature and activity of the subject and eternal principles, progressive action, etc.

Ans. In English Grammar, there are four types of Present tenses, that is- Simple Present Tense, Present Perfect Tense, Present Continuous Tense, and Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Ans. When the verb defines or denotes the action or condition which is happening now and continues till the future, then such verb is used as Present Continuous Tense. The general rule of Present Continuous Tense is, Subject + Helping Verb(am/is/are) + Main verb + ing + the rest of the sentence.

Ans. Some of the examples are- Vaishnavi sings wonderfully. (Simple Present Tense), Rupa has kept this notebook for so many years. (Present Perfect Tense), Naveed is practicing for the annual day. (Present Continuous Tense), It has been raining since last night. (Present Perfect Continuous Tense).

Ans. When the verb defines or denotes the action which shows that something started in the past and is continuing at the present time, then the such verb is used as Present perfect Continuous Tense. The general rule is, Subject + Have/Has + Been + Verb+ ing + the rest of the sentence.

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