English – continuity of present tense

Regular or permanent situations

When something happens regularly or is a permanent situation we usually use the simple present tense. When using the simple present the verb (with the exception of the auxiliary verbs) remains in the dictionary form (verb + s with he/she/it).

Simple Present Timeline 

The simple present tense is used to discuss permanent situations and the frequency of events.

To have	Short form	Other Verbs (to work)
I have	I’ve	I work
he has	he’s	He works
she has	she’s	She works
it has	it’s	It works
you have	you’ve	you work
we have	we’ve	we work
they have	they’ve	they work

 

Statements +	Statements –	Questions	Short answer +	Short answer –
I work.	I don’t work.	Do I work?	Yes, I do.	No, I don’t.
He works.	He doesn’t work.	Does he work?	Yes, he does.	No, he doesn’t.
She works.	She doesn’t work.	Does she work?	Yes, she does.	No, she doesn’t.
It works.	It doesn’t work.	Does it work?	Yes, it does.	No, it doesn’t.
You work.	You don’t work.	Do you work?	Yes you do.	No, you don’t.
We work.	We don’t work.	Do we work?	Yes we do.	No, we don’t.
They work.	They don’t work.	Do they work?	Yes they do.	No, they don’t.

 For example:

Q) "Where do you live?" A) "I live in Germany."

Q) "Where does he live?" A) "He lives in Germany."

Q) "What do you do?" A) "I’m a teacher."

Q) "What does he do?" A) "He’s a teacher."

Frequency

The simple present tense is also used to show how often something happens with adverbs of frequency – always, usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, never, etc…. And when discussing daily, weekly, monthly etc. routines.

For example:

"I always get up at 6.00."

"I never drink coffee before 12.00."

"I work on my website every day."

"Every Monday and Thursday I go to the gym."

We also use the simple present to ask for and give instructions or to discuss a series of actions.

 [Present tense

1. Always, every day, every week, every year, every alternate Sunday, every Wednesday
2. IIIrd person singular  –  verb + (s)
3. am, are, is, be,  has, have, may, do, does, can, shall, will – auxiliary verb 

Simple: Ram runs every morning at the park.

Negative: Ram does not run every morning at the park. But he walks at the beach every weekend. 

 

Present continuous

1. Ist person singular + am + verb + ing
2. Ist person plural + are + verb + ing
3. IInd person singular / plural + are + verb + ing
4. IIIrd person singular + is + verb + ing
5. IIIrd plural + are + verb + ing

Simple: Sam is driving the car towards Tuas.

Negative: Sam is not driving the car towards Tuas. But he is driving the car in the express ways towards Changi airport. 

 

Present Perfect           

1.      Ist person singular/plural + have + past participle

2.      IInd person singular/plural  + have + past participle

3.      IIIrd person singular + has + past participle

4.      IIIrd person plural + have + past participle

 

Simple: Lalitha has walked on the corridor just few minutes before.

Negative: Lalitha has not walked on the corridor just few minutes before.]

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