1. Present Time Present Simple and Present Continuous
We often talk about the present using
Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous
We may also use these tenses to talk about present,
Though these two tenses have a connection with
Past time too.
State Verbs

2. Present Simple 3rd person sing = verb + -s
The Present Simple is used for:
a permanent state or long-term situation that exists now
Meg enjoys reading whodunits.
habitual or regular actions
Bill usually goes to school by bus.
general truths
Female crocodiles lay eggs.
MORE USES OF PRESENT SIMPLE:
SPORTS COMMENTARIES
TELLING STORIES/JOKES
NEWSPAPER HEADLINES
EXCLAMATORY SENTENCES
INSTEAD OF THE IMPERATIVE
SCHEDULES (FUTURE MEANING)

3. The Present Continuous is used for:
Am/is/are + verb + -ing
actions happening at the moment of speaking
Sarah is looking for her watch.
something that is seen as a temporary situation
Conrad is staying with his aunt for a while.
developing or changing situation
Her health is getting steadily worse.
MORE USES OF PRESENT CONTINUOUS:
A TEMPORARY ACTION STILL IN PROGRESS
A HABITUAL/ANNOYING/SURPRISING ACTION
AN ARRANGEMENT FOR THE FUTURE

4. Present Perfect Simple
The Present Perfect Simple is used for:
actions that began in the past and are still going on
Ms Black has run this office since last May.
actions in the past that affected the present
I have lost all my hair, so I don’t need shampoo.
actions at an unstated time in the past
Matt has met the president.
actions that have just finished
Fiona has just gone out.
Note: this is only for formal language, most Americans would say Fiona just went out.

5. Present Perfect Continuous
The Present Perfect Continuous is used for:
actions that began in the past and are still continuing
Jack has been preparing our dinner for over an hour.
actions that have just finished and have a result in something
I’ve been gardening and now my back is very sore.
OTHER USES OF PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS:
ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED, BUT HAVE SURPRISED OR ANNOYED THE SPEAKER
What has Frank been doing on the kitchen table? It’s filthy.

6. STATE VERBS
Some verbs known as state (or stative) verbs are not normally used in the continuous form because they describe a state rather than action. State verbs can refer to:
EMOTIONS – adore, desire, detest, dislike, fear, hate, like, loathe, love, need, prefer, want, wish
THOUGHTS – believe, consider, doubt, expect, imagine, forget, guess, hope, know, prefer, realize, recognize, remember, suppose, suspect, think, trust, understand
POSSESSION – own, belong, have, possess
AMOUNTS – weigh, contain, cost, equal, measure, weigh
SENSES – see, feel, hear, smell, sound, taste
IMPRESSION – sound, appear, look, seem
OTHER – matter, apply, be, consist, depend, deserve, fit, hold, mean, owe, trust

7. Certain state verbs can be used in a continuous tense, but with a
change in meaning.
Sheila is a very helpful person.
describing a character
Sheila is being very unhelpful because Jack has annoyed her.
-describing temporary behavior, state verb used in continuous form