Present Simple Tense: Definition, Rules, and Examples

Tense

• Time is a continuous flow measured in seconds, minutes, hours, days, or years

• Time has three phases: present, past, and future

• Tense is a grammatical concept, a set of formulas showing the time of an action

• Tense is of two types: present and past

• Present and past tenses are used to express the three phases of time: past, present, and future

Present Tense

• Divided into four phases: simple/indefinite, progressive/continuous, perfect, and perfect progressive/continuous

Present Simple / Indefinite

• Formula: S + V1 + O
• Note: With third-person singular subjects (He, She, it)/any name, use s/es with the verb
• Used for:
  • Habitual actions
    • Example: I go to school everyday.
    • Example: I brush my teeth every morning.
  • Laws of nature
    • Example: The sun rises in the east.
    • Example: Earth moves around the sun.
  • General or scientific truths
    • Example: Water boils at 100° C.
    • Example: Oil floats on water.
  • Present state or present fact
    • Example: I feel hungry.
    • Example: I study at this school.
  • Permanent state or permanent fact
    • Example: Permanent snow covers the Antarctica.
    • Example: Bhubaneswar is the capital of Odisha.

Present Progressive

• Formula: S + is/am/are + V + ing + O
• Used for:
  • Something happening now
    • Example: It is raining.
    • Example: Raju is entering the class room.
  • Something happening over a period of time
    • Example: My brother is searching for a job.
    • Example: I am writing a book.
  • A temporary action
    • Example: He usually goes to school on his bicycle, but today he is going there on foot.
    • Example: He usually wakes up late, but I am waking up early now a days.

Present Perfect

• Formula: S + has/have + V3 + O
• Used for:
  • A past action with present relevance (action happened in the past, but the time of action is not important)
    • Example: I have already done my homework.
    • Example: I have not finished my breakfast yet.
    • Example: He has gone to school.

Present Perfect Progressive

• Formula: S + has/have + been + V + ing + O
• Used for:
  • Something that started in the past, continuing at present, and likely to continue in the future
    • Example: I have been eating rice.
    • Example: They have been playing cricket.
    • Example: I am out of breath because I have been running round the playground.
    • Example: I have been living here since 1998.
    • Example: They have been playing cricket since 15 years.

Past Tense

• Divided into four phases: simple, progressive/continuous, perfect, and perfect progressive/continuous

Past Simple

• Formula: S + V2 + O
• Used for:
  • Past action that happened in a moment
    • Example: I went to school.
    • Example: They went to work.
    • Example: India became free in 1947.
    • Example: I slapped him there.
  • Past action that happened over a period of time
    • Example: The British ruled over India for many years.

Past Progressive

• Formula: S + was/were + V + ing + O
• Used for:
  • An action in progress in the past
    • Example: I was going to school.
    • Example: They were doing their job.
    • Example: I was studying in class IX last year.
    • Example: Ram was dancing at the bar last night.

Past Perfect

• Formula: S + had + V3 + O
• Used for:
  • When two actions happened in the past, past perfect is used for the older action
    • Example: They had gone out when you called.
    • Example: You had not studied hard.
    • Example: When we reached the station, the train had left.
    • Example: The thieves had left when the police arrived.

Past Perfect Progressive / Continuous

• Formula: S + had + been + V + ing + O
• Used for:
  • A past action in progress for some time when another action took place
    • Example: The ground was covered with snow. It had been snowing heavy for several hours.
    • Example: They had been driving for two hours when their car broke down.
    • Example: She had been studying for 2 hours when I went there.

Future Time

• There is no separate tense to express future time
• Structures used to express the future time:
  • By using shall/will
  • Be going to + verb
  • Present Progressive
  • Present Simple
  • Will be + V + ing
  • Will have + V3

By Using Shall / Will (Modals)

• Formula: S + will/shall + V + O
• Used for:
  • Simple future of an unplanned action
    • Example: Wait a minute. I will come with you.
    • Example: It will rain today.

Be Going to + Verb

• Formula: S + is/am/are + going to + V1 + O
• Used for:
  • Future fulfillment of present cause or indication
    • Example: There are dark clouds in the sky. It is going to rain.
  • Future action with present intention or decision
    • Example: We are going to leave for Puri tomorrow morning.
    • Example: I am going to buy a new bike.
    • Example: He has not done his homework he is going to be punished.

Present Progressive

• Formula: S + is/am/are + V + ing + O
• Used for:
  • A planned or arranged program of a future action
    • Example: The Chief Minister is meeting the Governor tomorrow morning.
    • Example: I am spending this weekend with my family.

Present Simple

• Formula: S + V1 + O
• Used for:
  • An official program (where the future is seen as a fact)
    • Example: Tomorrow is Sunday.
    • Example: The match begins at 4.30 pm.

Will Be + V + ing

• Formula: S + Will be + V + ing
• Used for:
  • An action to be in progress in the future
    • Example: He will be going to Delhi at this time tomorrow.
    • Example: He will be singing at the stage in 5 minutes.

Sub + Will Have + V3

• Used for:
  • For an action to be completed in the future
    • Example: The action will have done by tomorrow.
    • Example: He will have gone to puri next week.