Present tenses
Finn and Catherine take a look at the present simple, present continuous and present perfect tenses. Find out which one to use when, listen out for lots of examples and see if you can score top marks in our quiz!
Transcript
Catherine
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Catherine.
Finn
And me, Finn. Hello.
Catherine
In this programme we're talking about present tenses.
Finn
Now let's get started. The first thing we need to know is that the present simple tense is mainly for facts, habits and truths. Now, Catherine, give me a true fact about you.
Catherine
A true fact about me is that I like gardening.
Finn
Oh, wow, great.
Catherine
Love it.
Finn
Thanks Catherine. And can you tell me one of your habits?
Catherine
I drink a cup of coffee every morning. I drink one at home and I drink another one when I get to work.
Finn
So far so good. We make the present simple with a subject and base verb, and we add -s to the verb for he, she and it. So: I work, you work, he works, she works, and so on. We make questions and negatives with do or does. So Catherine, do you take milk in your coffee?
Catherine
I do take milk in my coffee, Finn. Do you take milk in your coffee?
Finn
I don't. I like it black.
Catherine
And what about Mrs Finn, does she take milk in her coffee?
Finn
She doesn't drink coffee.
Catherine
Oh, what does she drink?
Finn
Tea. All the time.
Catherine
Very British.
Finn
Yes.
Catherine
Good. So that's present simple for facts and habits. Now when we're talking about activities, temporary situations, and things that are happening now – or around now – we use am, is or are plus an i-n-g verb to make the present continuous. So Finn, what are you doing now?
Finn
Now, right now, right at this minute, I'm sitting in the studio, on a chair, talking to you, but off and on, I'm also reading a novel called The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro. It's great.
Catherine
Well pronounced.
Finn
Thank you. And are you reading anything right now Catherine?
Catherine
Yes I am. I'm reading a novel also. It's a comedy about Adrian Mole and it's really good, I'm enjoying it a lot.
Finn
Sounds great. I'd like to borrow it.
Catherine
You can. We can also use the present continuous for future arrangements. So Finn, what are you doing tonight?
Finn
Tonight I'm taking my wife to dinner. Don't tell her.
Catherine
Lucky wife.
Finn
That's right. So, present simple for facts and habits; present continuous for activities and future arrangements.
Catherine
And now for the present perfect. We make it with have or has plus the past participle, it connects the past to the present, and it's useful for asking about life experiences. So, life experience question coming, Finn. Have you ever eaten insects?
Finn
I have, yes. I've eaten ants and beetles in Cambodia. So in the question, the word ever means 'at any time in your life'. Never means at no time in your life. So Catherine, tell us about an experience that you have never had.
Catherine
Well, I've never eaten insects Finn. And I've never been on safari. But I'm sure that our colleague Rob has been on safari.
Finn
He's been to many places.
Catherine
He has. Other words we use with present perfect are just, already and yet. We use just, already and yet a lot when we're using the present perfect tense to talk about the present effect of a past event. Already means something has happened, perhaps earlier than expected. So Finn, give us an example of already:
Finn
Right. I've already had breakfast today.
Catherine
And coffee? Have you had coffee?
Finn
I've just had a cup of coffee. Just means recently. I haven't had lunch yet.
Catherine
I should think not, it's only half ten.
Finn
It's a bit early for lunch, yeah.
Catherine
And yet means something like 'not until now'.
Finn
Good. And if a past situation has continued until now, use for or since to say how long it has continued, like this:
Catherine
I've lived in London for five years. I've been married since 2003.
Finn
We also use the present perfect to give news. Things that happened a short time ago, and are important now. So, have you got any news for us, Catherine?
Catherine
Yes I have, actually.
Finn
OK?
Catherine
I've won the lottery!
Finn
I don't believe you.
Catherine
That's because I'm not telling the truth, it's just an example!
IDENT
You're listening to bbclearningenglish.com.
Catherine
And we're talking about present tenses. And it's quiz time! Question one. Which of these sentences best describes a habit? a) I have smoked 20 cigarettes a day, b) I smoke 20 cigarettes a day.
Finn
And the answer's b) I smoke 20 cigarettes a day. Question two. Is this sentence grammatically correct, or wrong? Humans have not visited the planet Mars yet, but they have already been to the moon.
Catherine
It's correct.
Finn
It is. Now, last one: Which sentence is correct? a) Catherine has never eaten insects, b) Catherine never eats insects, or c) Catherine is never eating insects.
Catherine
And the answer is that both a) and b) are correct. As a life experience it's true to say that I have never eaten insects; and as a fact I can say: I never eat insects. So that brings us to the end of the quiz, and well done to you if you got them all right.
Finn
A free insect for everyone who got all of those right! Now, there's more about this on our website at bbclearningenglish.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.
Both
Bye.
Grammar: The present simple, present continuous and present perfect tenses
Present simple
We use the present simple tense for things that we do regularly and for facts, habits, truths and permanent situations. We often use time expressions like every day, once a week, on Fridays.
I check my email every day. (regular activity)
Yuki works at the bank. (permanent situation)
Form:
For positive sentences, use the same form as the infinitive without 'to' for I, you, we and they. For he, she and it, add -s or -es to the infinitive. Make questions and negatives with do / does + the infinitive without 'to'.
They live in Rome.
Julian starts work at nine o’clock and finishes at five.
I don't eat meat.
It doesn't usually snow in October.
Why do you read the news online every day?
Does the supermarket sell stamps?
Present Continuous
We use the present continuous for things that are happening at the time we are speaking, for temporary situations, and for activities that are in progress.
Just a minute. I’m checking my email. (now)
She usually works in London, but she’s working from home this week. (temporary)
I’m studying Economics (activity in progress)
We can also use the present continuous for future arrangements, usually with a time expression.
I'm seeing the doctor on Monday morning.
Form:
For positive sentences, the form is subject + am/is/are + verb-ing. Make questions and negatives with am/are/is + not + verb-ing.
Can I call you back later? We’re having dinner right now.
He isn’t answering his mobile at the moment.
What are you doing?
Is it raining?
Note: There are some verbs that we don’t usually use in the continuous form. They are often verbs of thinking and feeling, for example: hear, see, smell, hate, know, understand, want, need.
WRONG: Could you explain that again? I’m not understanding.
CORRECT: Could you explain that again? I don’t understand.
Present Perfect
Use the present perfect for:
1) Life experiences in the past. We don’t say when these happened: we are interested in the experience, not the time or date. We often use ever and never.
I’ve seen all Tarantino’s films.
Have you ever eaten sushi? - Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
2) Recent past actions that are important now.
Oh no! I’ve left my wallet on the bus.
The president has resigned.
3) Past situations that are still happening now. We often use how long with for (throughout a period of time) and since (from a point in the past until now).
I haven’t seen Jenny this morning. (It is still this morning.)
How long have you known Mitya? - I’ve known him for two years.
Jack's been in Italy since January.
4) With just, already, yet to talk about recent events in the past. The exact time is not important. Use just and already mainly in positive sentences. Use yet in negatives and questions.
It’s just stopped raining. Let’s go out.
Can you feed the cat? - I’ve already fed her.
We can still watch the film. It hasn’t started yet.
Have you done your English homework yet?
Note: Use the past simple for completed actions in the past.
I saw Jenny yesterday.
Peter moved to Saudi Arabia in 2011.
Natasha didn't want another piece of cake.
When did you see Alex?
Form:
For positive sentences, the form is subject + have/has + past participle. Make negatives with not and change the word order to make questions.
I've finished the report.
Jack's been in Italy since January.
We've just got back from Germany.
I haven’t seen Jenny this morning.
How long has Alex known Mitya?
