Present tenses: rules, usage and formation · PEL546

Tense	Form	Use	Example
Simple present	base verb (+ s for he, she, it)	habits, facts, timetables	She goes to college every day. Water boils at 100 degrees.
Present continuous	am, is or are + -ing	now, around now, temporary	They are playing football now.
Present perfect	has or have + past participle	past with present link, since and for	He has lived in Pune since 2020.
Present perfect continuous	has or have been + -ing	action continuing up to now	She has been working here since June.

Negatives and questions of the simple present use do or does plus the base verb: He doesn't like tea (not likes).

Stative verbs such as know, like, want, believe and understand are not normally used in the continuous: I know the answer.

Signal words: usually, every day (simple); now, at the moment, look! (continuous); since, for, already, yet (perfect).

Exam trap: forgetting the -s with he, she, it, or keeping the -s after doesn't.

Try two questions

Question 1 · Tier 3, Apply

Choose the correct form: My brother ___ in Pune since 2020.

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B. Since plus a past starting point needs the present perfect.

Why not A: Since with a starting point in the past needs the present perfect.

Why not C: Is living does not combine with since in standard usage.

Why not D: Lived is simple past and does not link to the present with since.

Question 2 · Tier 4, Analyse

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

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C. In the simple present negative, doesn't takes the base verb for he, she and it.

Why not A: Don't does not agree with the third person singular subject he.

Why not B: After doesn't the main verb takes the base form, not -s.

Why not D: A negative needs the auxiliary doesn't, not the word not alone.

Key points