This document provides definitions and examples of different tenses in English: 1) The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, general truths, and daily activities. It follows the pattern of subject + verb + object. 2) The present continuous tense, also called the present progressive tense, describes actions that are happening now. It follows the pattern of subject + to be (is, am, are) + verb+ing + object. 3) The present perfect tense describes a completed action that has present consequences or relevance. It follows the pattern of subject + have/has + past participle + object. 4) The present perfect continuous tense describes an action that began in the

1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Definition :
- Habitual action - The Fact
- General truth - Daily activities
Pattern :
+ S + VI (s/es) + O
- S + Do Not/ Does Not + VI + O
? Do/Does + S + VI + O
Do  Subject : I / You / We / They
Does  Subject : She /He/It

2. Time Signal
Every …… ( day, morning, etc)
On Sundays, on Saturdays, etc
Once a week, Twice a month
Always, Usually, Generally, Often, Sometimes, Seldom,
Rarely, Never, Ever etc
Examples :
+ He goes to campus every morning
- He does not go to campus every morning
? Does he go to campus every morning?
+ They study English every week
- They do not study English every week
? Do they study English every week?

3. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Definition :
It’s happening
Pattern:
+ S + To Be (is, am, are) + VI (ing) + O
- S + To Be (is, am, are) + Not + VI (ing) + O
? To Be (is, am, are) + S +VI (ing) + O
Time Signal :
Today Now
At this moment Right now
At the present

4. Examples :
+ He is washing his clothes
- He is not washing his clothes
? Is he washing his clothes?
+ They are walking to campus right now
- They are not walking to campus right now
? Are they walking to campus right now

5. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Definition :
A complete action which has on effect or result in the present
Pattern :
+ S+ Have/Has + VIII + O
S + Have/Has + Not + VIII + O
? Have/Has + S + VIII + O
Has  Subject : He, She, It
Have  Subject : I, We, You, They

6. Time Signal :
For …(for three month, for two years, for an hour etc)
Since …( since January, since yesterday, since 1991 etc)
Just …for a very recent action (a few second / minutes ago)
Already in positive sentences
Yet in negative and interrogative sentences
Examples :
+ I have already eaten
- He has not brought my book yet
? Have you read this book?

7. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS TENSE
Definition :
One event in progress immediately before, up to, until another time or
event
Pattern :
+ Subject + Have/Has + Been + VI (ing) + Object
- Subject + Have/Has + Not + Been + VI (ing) + Object
? Have/Has + Subject + Been + VI (ing) + Object
Examples :
+ They have been studying English all morning
- They have not been studying English all morning
? Have they been studying English all morning?