This document summarizes the present tenses in English - the present simple, present continuous, and present perfect tenses. It provides examples of how each tense is used, including positive and negative sentence structures and question formations. The present simple is used for permanent situations, regular actions, and facts. The present continuous expresses ongoing or temporary actions happening now. The present perfect connects past events to the present and is used to talk about experiences up until now.

1. PRESENT TENSES
SIMPLE
CONTINUOUS
PERFECT

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
It is used for permanent situations, regular or
repeated actions, and facts.
We also use it to describe events in a book or
film.
- I usually get up at 5 o´clock
- She doesn´t like fish.

3. POSITIVE SENTENCE
Subject + Main Verb
We take dancing lessons every day.
Mr. Taylor lives alone.

4. NEGATIVE SENTENCE
Subject + doesn´t / don´t + Main
verb in base form
Jess doesn´t like chocalates.
We don´t live in the north of the city.

5. QUESTIONS
do / does + subject + Main verb in base form
Do you work in this office ?
Does he train basketball everyday?

6. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
It is used for actions happening now and for
temporary actions.
We also use it for future arrangements.
They aren´t working today
What are you doing at the moment?

7. POSITIVE SENTENCE
Subject + Verb to be ( am – are – is ) + main
verb- ing
She is teaching English in my school.
They are working on the street.

8. NEGATIVE SENTENCE
Subject + Verb to be ( am – are – is ) + not +
main verb- ing
He isn´t taking violin lessons.
We aren´t watching t.v now.

9. QUESTIONS
Am / are / is + Subject + main verb – ing
Are they reading the same story?
Is he studying for the Science test ?

10. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
We don´t normally use the continuous form for
these verbs.
Like
Want
agree
Understand
Love
need
belong
Hate
know
own
Prefer
believe
mean

11. PRESENT PERFECT
It always makes a connection between the past
and the present.
She´s worked in that office since 2008.

12. PRESENT PERFECT
We also use it to talk about actions at some time in
the past up to now. We don´t say exactly when they
happened.
They´ve called us four times today.
(= from the start of the day up to now )
Have you ever been to London?
( = at any time in your life up to now)

13. PRESENT PERFECT
We also use the present perfect for past actions
that directly affect the present.
They are often recent events.
Someone has taken my umbrella!
( It isn´t here now!)
Has Mike bought the books?
( Does he have them now?)
Taken from: Interactive 3, Cambridge University Press.

14. POSITIVE SENTENCE
Subject + have ( ’ve ) / has ( ’s ) + main verb in
past participle
We’ ve lived in New York for three years.
He’s just made the bed.

15. NEGATIVE SENTENCES
Subject + haven’t / hasn’t + main verb in past
participle
They haven’t done their homework yet.
She hasn’t visited her grandmother.

16. QUESTIONS
have / has + Subject + main verb in past
participle
Have you been in England?
Has he done his History homework ?