Today is our topic of discussion – Present Tense

Present Tense

 

 

Definition of present tense

The work which happens or is happening or has just happened or has been happening in the present indicates Present Tense. As –

I eat rice.

I am eating rice.

I have eaten rice.

I have been eating rice for 5 minutes.

Four of these sentences indicate works in present tense through the verbs – eat, am eating, have eaten, have been eating. These are the examples of present tense.

Classification of Present Tense

Present Tense can be classified into four parts –

i. Present Indefinite Tense

ii. Present Continuous Tense

iii. Present Perfect Tense

iv. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Present indefinite tense –

Present indefinite tense indicates an action that is generally true or habitual which means it took place in the past, continues to take place in the present, and will take place in the future. This tense is used to denote -a habitual action. As –

I go to school.

-general truths. As

The sun rises in the east.

Honey tastes sweet.

-a future event that is part of a fixed timetable. As –

The show starts at 9 o’clock

In the above stated sentences, the actions (go, rises, tastes and starts) happen in the present and they happened in the past and will happen in the future. These are the examples of present indefinite tense.
Note:

a. The form of simple present tense is – Subject + verb (infinitive without ‘to’ and agreeable with the subject)

b. If the subject is third person singular number the ‘verb’ of the sentence takes an ‘s’ or “es” while forming a sentence of present indefinite tense. As –

He eats rice.

He does not eat rice.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Here, eats, does not and wins take place as the subject is third person singular number. Slow and steady considered as singular number because if two nouns are joined by “and” refer to the same person or thing or suggest one idea to the mind, the verb is singular

Present continuous tense-

Present continuous tense indicates an action that is taking place at the moment of speaking. As –
She is going to school.

I am studying.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (is going and am studying) are happening in the present right now. These are the examples of present continuous tense.
Note:

a. the form of present continuous tense is- Subject + is/am/are + verb + ing

 

 

Present perfect tense –

Present Perfect Tense indicates an action that has been completed sometime before the present moment, with a result that affects the present situation. As –

He has finished the math.

The baby has slept.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (has finished and has slept) have happened a few moments back but the affects are still there. These are the examples of present perfect tense.
Note:

a. The form of present perfect tense is – Subject + has/have + verb (past participle form or 3rd form of the verb)

Present perfect continuous tense-

Present Perfect Continuous Tense indicates an action that started in the past and is continuing at the present time. As
He has been sleeping for an hour.

We have been living here since 1990.

In the above stated sentences, the actions (has been sleeping and have been living) have been happening for a certain time. The actions have started earlier and still going on. These are the examples of present perfect continuous tense. Note:

a. The form of Present Perfect Continuous Tense is- Subject +has/have + been + verb + ing

Conjugation of verb ‘go’ in all forms of Present Tense

Present indefinite tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I go.
• You go.
• S/He goes.

Plural

• We go.
• You go.
• They go.

Present continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I am going.
• You are going.
• S/He is going.

Plural

• We are going.
• You are going.
• They are going.

Present perfect tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I have gone.
• You have gone.
• S/He has gone.

Plural

• We gave gone.
• You have gone.
• They have gone.

 

 

Present perfect continuous tense

Person

• 1st
• 2nd
• 3rd

Singular

• I have been going
• You have been going.
• S/He has been going.

Plural

• We have been going.
• You have been going.
• They have been going.