Simple Present and Present Progressive

The Simple Present and Present Progressive tenses are fundamental in English, each serving distinct purposes in communication.

Simple Present

The Simple Present tense is used for:

• Expressing habits and routines
• Describing regular occurrences
• Making general statements

Example: "I walk with my dog." (habit)

Formation:

• Use the base form of the verb (add -s for he/she/it)
• Questions: Do/Does + subject + infinitive
• Negatives: Don't/Doesn't + infinitive

Highlight: Signal words for Simple Present include always, often, usually, seldom, never, and every morning.

Present Progressive

The Present Progressive (also known as Present Continuous) is used to describe:

• Actions happening at the moment of speaking
• Temporary situations

Example: "I am calling my friend." (action happening now)

Formation:

• am/is/are + verb-ing
• Questions: am/is/are + subject + verb-ing
• Negatives: am/is/are + not + verb-ing

Vocabulary: Signal words for Present Progressive include now, at the moment, look!, and listen!

Simple Past and Past Progressive

These tenses are used to talk about actions in the past, but with different emphases.

Simple Past

Used for:

• Completed actions in the past

Formation:

• Regular verbs: add -ed
• Irregular verbs: use second form
• Questions: Did + subject + infinitive
• Negatives: Didn't + infinitive

Example: "Yesterday I found money on the floor."

Past Progressive

Used for:

• Actions that were interrupted by another action in the past

Formation:

• was/were + verb-ing
• Questions: Was/Were + subject + verb-ing
• Negatives: Was/Were + not + verb-ing

Example: "I was reading a book when he came."

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive

These tenses connect the past to the present in different ways.

Present Perfect

Used for:

• Actions that happened before now with a connection to the present

Formation:

• have/has + past participle
• Questions: Have/Has + subject + past participle
• Negatives: Haven't/Hasn't + past participle

Example: "She has moved to London."

Present Perfect Progressive

Used for:

• Actions that started in the past and continue up to now

Formation:

• have/has + been + verb-ing
• Questions: Have/Has + subject + been + verb-ing
• Negatives: Haven't/Hasn't + been + verb-ing

Example: "She has been waiting for her boyfriend since 4 o'clock."