The Basics: Present Tenses:
There are two present tenses: The present simple and the present continuous. The two tenses are quite different. Generally, the present simple is used to refer to everyday habits that you have.
Use the present simple to talk about activities or routines which take place on a regular basis.
Tom takes the A train to work every day.
Peter usually gets home at seven in the evening.
The present continuous is usually used to refer to events happening at the present moment in time.
They're doing their homework at the moment.
Mary's playing tennis with Tom at the club right now.
Present Simple Structure:
Subject + Verb + Objects
I, You, We, They -> eat lunch at noon.
Subject + Verb + s + Objects
He, She, It -> works well in any situation.
S + do not (don't) + Verb + Objects
I, You, We, They -> don't enjoy opera.
S + does not (doesn't) + Verb + Objects
He, She, It -> doesn't belong to the club.
(Why, What, etc.) + do + S + Verb + Objects?
Do -> I, you, we, they -> work in this town?
(Why, What, etc.) + does + S + Verb + Objects?
Does -> he, she, it -> live in this city?
Present Continuous Structure:
Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + verb + -ing.
I'm, You're, He's, She's, We're, You're, They're -> working today.
Subject + conjugate the helping verb "be" + not + verb + -ing.
I'm not, You aren't, He isn't, She isn't, We aren't, You aren't, They aren't -> coming this evening.
Question word + conjugate the helping verb 'be' + subject + verb + -ing
What -> are you, they -> doing this afternoon?
What -> is he, she -> doing this afternoon?
Study Present Tenses in Depth:
These guides were prepared especially for beginners and include dialogues and a short quiz.
It's also important to know how to use adverbs of frequency with the present simple. Adverbs of frequency such as usually, often, etc. are used to tell how often you do something.
I often go out on Saturday nights.
They usually take the bus to work.
Test Your Knowledge of Present Tenses:
Once you've studied the rules - or if you already know the rules - test your knowledge:
Teach a Lesson about the Present Tenses:
There are five absolute beginner lessons related to the present simple on the site:
Lesson for the present simple positive form
Lesson for the present simple negative form
Lesson on present simple question form
Lesson on using adverbs of frequency with the present simple
Lesson on talking about daily habits with the present simple
These lessons are great for helping students learn by rote, rather than through grammar exercises and serve as a good introduction to the tenses for false beginners.
For the present continuous, here is a descriptive activity helping learners use the present continuous.