Present Tense Forms
The present tense system in English comprises four main forms, each with distinct uses and signal words. The Simple Present, formed by using the base verb form adding−sforthirdpersonsingular, expresses habitual actions and general truths.
Example: "I speak German" / "He speaks German"
The Present Progressive, constructed with be + verb-ing, indicates ongoing actions.
Vocabulary: Signal words Signalwo¨rter - now, at the moment, look!, listen!
The Present Perfect, formed with have/has + past participle, emphasizes results and completed actions with present relevance.
Definition: Present Perfect Progressive combines aspects of both perfect and continuous aspects, formed with have/has been + verb-ing
The Past Progressive and Simple Past serve different functions in describing past events.
Highlight: The Past Progressive is particularly useful for describing interrupted actions or simultaneous past events
Quote: "While signal words like 'while' and 'as long as' indicate Past Progressive, words like 'yesterday' and 'last day' signal Simple Past"