English Grammar: Present Tenses Quiz

Study Notes

Present simple tense is used to express facts or daily recurring events.
Structure: Subject + verb (s) + complement
The verb gets an 's' ending for the subjects 'he','she','it' or any nouns representing them.
Examples: I drink tea every day. The sun rises from the east.

Present continuous tense is used to express actions happening now (at this moment/ or generally present).
Structure: Subject + auxiliary (is/am/are) + main verb -ing + complement
Examples: She is watching TV now. Don't take that book. I am reading it.

Present perfect (simple or continuous): Shows an action that started in the past and continues into the present (unfinished past).
Present perfect simple: Subject + have/has+ past participle + complement
Present perfect continuous: Subject + have/has + been + verb -ing + complement
Present perfect tense has two uses:
- Unfinished past: An action that started in the past and continues into the present. -Present results: An action that happened recently and has present consequences.
Examples: We have lived in this house for twenty years. I have been playing video games since I was a kid.
Examples: I have lost some weight. I have been doing some exercises.
The difference between present perfect simple and continuous: Continuous shows an action that was done repeatedly over a period, while simple shows a completed action. In both, present results are observed.

Present perfect tense can also be used when talking about an event that occurred at an unspecified time in the past, focusing on the event.
Structure: Similar to previous structures, use present perfect simple for simple events, and continuous for repetitive action over a period
Examples: Have you ever taken Karate classes? Have you ever been flying in a plane when it's hit an air pocket?
Important Considerations: -Some verbs, like start, find, lose, begin, and stop, are suited for present perfect simple. -Other verbs like wait, rain, snow, learn, sit, lie, play, and stay are suited better in present perfect continuous.
Verbs that don't take "-ing" are called state verbs and must be used in present perfect simple.
Examples: believe, think, understand, agree, like, love, want, have, look, hear, state, smell, feel, know, etc.
Example: I have known him for years or I have been knowing him for years (latter is incorrect and is possible to use with some verbs).
Contractions: Use of "s" for has (e.g., she's, he's, it's) and "ve" for have (e.g., I've, they've, we've, you've).