This document provides an overview of the present tenses in English, including the present simple, present continuous, stative verbs, adverbs of frequency, present perfect simple, and present perfect continuous. It explains the uses and time expressions for each tense, such as using the present simple for facts, habits, and routines, and the present continuous for ongoing actions. Examples are given for different verb types in each tense.

1. PRESENT TENSES
1. PRESENT SIMPLE
2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
3. STATIVE VERBS
4. ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY
5. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
6. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

2. 1. PRESENT SIMPLE
WE USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE FOR:
- facts and permanent states
e.g.: Ralph works for a plumbing company.
- general truths and laws of nature
e.g.: The Moon revolves around the Earth.
- habits and routines
e.g.: We usually rent films at the weekends.
- timetables and programmes (in the future)
TIME
EXPRESSIONS:
Usually, often,
always, every
day/week/month,
in the morning/
afternoon/
e.g.: My plane lands at 6.05 exactly.
evening,
- sporting commentaries, reviews and
at night/
narrations
e.g.: Lee swings his bat and scores a home run.
- likes and dislikes (opinions)
e.g.: I love Slovenia; it's a beautiful country.
the weekend,
on Fridays, etc.

3. 2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS FOR:
- for actions taking place at or around the moment of speaking .
e.g.: He is washing his car now.
- for temporary situations .
e.g.: We are replacing the carpets in the bedrooms this weekend.
- for fixed arrangements in the near future.
e.g.: We are signing up for a yoga class tomorrow .
- for currently changing and developing situations .
e.g.: The days are becoming shorter and shorter.
- with adverbs such as always to express anger or irritation at a
repeated action.
e.g.: You are always blaming others for your mistakes.
TIME EXPRESSIONS:
now, at the moment, at present, these days,
nowadays, still, today, tonight.

4. 3. STATIVE VERBS
Stative verbs are verbs which describe a state rather than an action,
and so do not usually have a continuous tense. These verbs are:
- verbs of the senses (see, hear, smell, taste, feel, look, sound,
appear, hurt, ache , etc.) e.g.: This fabric feels luxurious.
seem,
{NOTE: The verbs look (when we refer to somebody's appearance), feel
(experience a particular emotion), hurt and ache can be used in
simple or
continuous tenses with no difference in meaning:
e.g.: Peter's tooth is hurting. = Peter's tooth hurts.}
- verbs of perception (know, believe, understand, realise,
remember,
forget, etc.)
e.g.: I realise this is difficult for you.
- some other verbs (be, contain, include, belong, fit, need,
matter,
cost, own, want, weigh, wish, have, keep, etc.)
e.g.: My cat weighs more than my dog

5. 3. STATIVE
VERBS
- verbs which express feelings and emotions (like, love, hate, enjoy,
prefer,
detest, desire, want, etc.)
e.g.: Helena enjoys old black and white films.
{NOTE: The verb enjoy can be used in continuous tenses to express a
specific preference.
e.g.: We really enjoy staying home on Friday nights. (general preference)
BUT: I'm enjoying this novel very much. (specific preference)}
HOWEVER, some of these verbs can be used in
continuous tenses, but with a difference in meaning.

6. 3. STATIVE
VERBS
verb
Present Simple
Present Continuous
THINK
I think she's a very good
listener.
(think = believe)
She is thinking about selling
her PC.
(is thinking = is considering)
HAVE
I am having a fantastic time.
(= am experiencing)
She has a large collection of
She is having a shower.
Elvis memorabilia.
(= is taking)
(= owns, possesses)
He is having breakfast.
(= is eating)
SEE
I can see my home from up
My mother is seeing an ear
here. (= it is visible)
specialist next week.
I can see now that she was
wrong for me.(= understand) (= is meeting)

7. 3. STATIVE
VERBS
verb
TASTE
SMELL
Present Simple
Present Continuous
The chocolate tastes bitter. Connie is tasting the soup
to see if it is spicy.
(= it is, has the flavour of)
(= is testing)
Your breath smells of mint.
(= has the aroma)
I am smelling my roses.
(= am sniffing)
APPEAR
He appears to be a
gentleman. (= seems to be)
I am appearing in a new
Broadway show.
(= performing)
FIT
My dress fits her perfectly.
(= it's the right size)
Frank is fitting an extra lock
at the front door.
(= is attaching)

8. 4. ADVERBS OF
FREQUENCY
Always, frequently, often, once, twice, sometimes,
never, usually, every, hardly ever, rarely, occasionally,
etc.
- Adverbs of frequency are normally placed before the main verb .
e.g.: I often wake up in the middle of the night.
I never listen to gossip.
- However, adverbs of frequency are placed after the verb to be
and
after auxiliary verbs.
e.g.: Ivan is frequently away on business.
I've always wanted to go on an African safari.

9. 5. PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE
WE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE FOR:
- an action that happened at an unstated time
in
the past. The emphasis
time
is on the action, the
when it occurred is unimportant or unknown.
e.g.: Tina has visited Rome twice.
- an action which started in the past and
continues
up to the present , especially with
stative verbs.
e.g.: I have been a teacher for seven years.
- a recently completed action.
e.g.: I have completed the tax form.
- personal experiences or changes , usually with
a
consequence in the present.
e.g.: She has dyed her hair pink.
TIME
EXPRESSIONS:
For, since, already,
just, ever, never,
so far, today, this
week / month /
year,
how long, lately,
recently, still, yet,
etc.

10. 6. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
WE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS :
- to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started
in the past
and continues up to the present .
e.g.: You have been reading that book all day.
- for an action which started in the past and lasted for some
time. It
may still be continuing or finished already, with a result
visible in the
present.
e.g.: My eyes are tearing because I have been chopping onions.
- for repeated actions in the past continuing to the present
e.g.: I have learned the piano piece because I have been practising
every day.

11. 6. PRESENT PERFECT
CONTINUOUS
- to express anger, irritation or annoyance.
e.g.: She has been using my perfume without asking me.
{NOTE: with the verbs live, work, teach and feel we can use the
present perfect simple or continuous with no difference in
meaning.
e.g.: We have lived / have been living in Athens for the past two
years.}
TIME EXPRESSIONS:
For, since, how long ...?, lately, recently,
all day / morning / month ..., etc.