Mastering Present Tense: Definition, Types, Structure, Rules & Examples

You are sitting in your balcony with a hot cup of coffee. Enjoying the pleasant breezy weather, you can smell the fruity fragrance of spring flowers blooming. You can also see some children playing in the park from your balcony. What is going on in the picture? These are actions that are happening right now, in the Present Tense in the present time. This is how the Present Tense in English grammar is used to describe a current moment. 

• What is Present Tense?
• Types of Present Tense
• Present Tense Structure
• When to Use Different Types of Present Tense?
• Other Types of Present Tense Sentences
• Common Present Tense Mistakes and How to Fix Them
• More Present Tense Examples with Exercises
• How to Ace Present Tense for IELTS Prep?

What is Present Tense?

The Present Tense talks about what's happening now, in this very moment. It's like taking a picture of the world in the flash of a moment with the words. So if you see a cat chasing a dog right now, that's the present tense in action!

Present Tense Definition

Based on the Oxford Dictionary, present tense is defined as a "Tense which expresses an action that is currently going on or that is habitually performed, or a state in which it is currently or generally exists."

Examples of Present Tense: 

1. Birds are chirping.
2. The sky shines brightly today.
3. We have visited the new mall multiple times since it opened.
4. You have been studying all day, now take a break!

The present tense has four different types, each with a different meaning and rule. These different types of present tense will be discussed in the sections below which will be useful for IELTS preparation. 

Types of Present Tense

English grammar tenses topic is slightly tricky when understanding the types of present tense and their usage. There are four types of present tense and they are as follows:

1. Simple Present Tense
2. Present Continuous Tense
3. Present Perfect Tense
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense

All these four types of present tense define a particular action that is happening with somebody then. Each of them has a different usage, rule and definition. 

Example of using different types of Present Tense in a single sentence:

Sarah usually wakes up early (simple present), but today she has been sleeping in because she finished her project last night (present perfect continuous). She is enjoying her coffee (present continuous) because she has completed her presentation for the upcoming meeting also. (present perfect).

Let us now understand the structure of these types of the present tense in the following section. 

Present Tense Structure

The present tense structure changes with the type of tense used in a sentence. The rules also vary for each of the types of present tense. English grammar tense rules vary with each type of Present Tense used. Since the present tense is made of four different types, each of them will be discussed in detail for reference. So are you ready to ace the 'Present Tense' and impress your examiners? Here’s your rule guide for Present Tense below:

Types of Present Tense	Definition	Rule	Example
Simple Present	Simple present tense refers to that tense where things are happening right now or irreversible habits.	Subject (S) + base form/third person but in the plural form of Verb (V) + object (O)	I/you/they/we (S) go (V) She/he (V) goes (V)
Present Continuous	Present continuous means something ongoing as in still in process.	S+ [helping verb (am, is, are) + ing form of V] + O	I (S) am (helping verb) going (V) They/you are going he/she is going
Present Perfect	An action that started in the past but is completed at the time of speaking or in the present moment.	S+ (have/has + past participle of the V) + O	she/he (S) has done (V) the work today. We have presented our views before the board.
Present Perfect Continuous	An action or event that started in the past and continues till the present.	S + (has/have + been +ing form of V) + O	I have been doing this work since morning. She has been dreaming a lot lately.

Understanding the present tense rules based on different types of tenses can be easy if you learn all the rules by heart. Let us make it clearer as to when these different present tense types are used in case-by-case scenarios. 

Check out:

IELTS Eligibility	IELTS Registration
IELTS Important Dates	IELTS Centres

When to Use Different Types of Present Tense?

While there are four types of present tense, each is used differently. While one focuses on the typical day-to-day habits, the other focuses on action. To make the usage of the present tense easier, there is a list of cases where the type of present tense is used. Have a look at the following sections:

Simple Present Tense Rule & Use:

You already know the simple present tense rule - S + V (third form/plural) + O, here are the possible cases where they are used:

• Habits and/or routines (something done since childhood, or a daily habit)
• General/universal truths and facts (like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west)
• Annoying habits: (She always pokes me at the wrong time.)
• Abilities and/or skills (She plays badminton like a pro!)
• Current state (We live in a metropolitan)
• Questions with do/does (Do you know?)
• Scheduled events (She comes to the office every Tuesday.)
• Giving instructions (Go left and then turn right.)

Present Continuous Tense Rule & Use

Remember the present continuous rule? - S + helping verb + ing form of the verb + O. So this rule is used in the following scenarios:

• Actions that are happening right now: (We are leaving for Delhi now.)
• Actions happening around now: (She is eating lunch around 2 o'clock these days.)
• Temporary situations: (He is staying in a hotel, till his house gets constructed.)
• Future plans with specific arrangements: (We are sitting for lunch tomorrow, in case everyone joins in at the same time.)

Present Perfect Rule & Use

The present perfect tense rule says - S + has/have + past participle of the verb + O. So this rule is used when you come across scenarios where:

• Action started in the past and continues in the present: (She has written her assignment before the submission deadline.)
• Unfinished actions at an unspecified time: (She has finished her project. She may get back to the team for suggestions.)
• Completed actions in the recent past but with an impact on the present: (We have done this task for now, but we might have to take it up again.)
• Experiences at an unspecified time in the past: (I have gone to the hills in the past. I wish I could explore them again.)

Present Perfect Continuous Tense Rule & Use

As the name suggests, the present perfect continuous is an action which started in the past but is continuing. There is a lot of use of since and for. The rule S+has/have & ing form of V+O will be used in just two cases and they are as follows with examples: 

• Actions started in the past and are continuing in the present: (We have been working on this project for the past two months now.)
• Actions which stopped recently but have a result in the present: (I have been playing with the zonal team to date but, I can now finally play with the state team.) 

Apart from the above-given examples, the present tense can also be incorporated in negative, interrogative sentences.

Other Types of Present Tense Sentences

Now that you have understood the present tense rules, let us divulge and understand how present tense sentences are formed in different sentence types.

Types of Present Tense Sentences	Present Tense Rule	Examples
Positive Sentences in Present Tense	Simple present: S + V + O  Present perfect: S +  has/have + verb (third form) + O Present perfect continuous: S + has/have+ been+ verb (first form)+ ing+ O	He eats bananas. She has eaten everything you bought. We have been eating oatmeal every day.
Negative Simple Sentences in Present Tense	S + [Do not (Don’t ) / Does not (Doesn’t) + Verb] + O	He does not eat bananas.  Or He doesn’t eat bananas. We do not eat oatmeal every day. Or  We don’t eat oatmeal every day.
Present Simple Interrogative	(Do / Does) + S + V + O?	Does he finish office by 9 p.m.? Or  Do you finish your lunch on time always?
Negative Interrogative Sentences in Present Tense	(Don’t / Doesn’t) + S + V + O?	Doesn’t she go for a walk? Don’t you sit for a cup of tea?

These types of present tense sentences are used in different contexts which might be useful for you to learn. Sometimes it's not about memorising the rules of Present Tense but being able to use them in the current context. So if you are preparing for IELTS, you can practice writing and speaking Present Tense paragraphs and do some exercises. 

Also read about:

• How to Build English Vocabulary?
• Importance of Building Communication Skills
• Best Spoken English Books for Indian Students

Common Present Tense Mistakes and How to Fix Them:

Here's a breakdown of some frequent present tense errors and how to avoid them:

1. Mistake Type 1: Confused between Simple Present and Present Continuous

Example: "She plays tennis every weekend." (Correct) vs. "She is playing tennis every weekend." (Incorrect)

Fix: A simple present is used for habitual actions. While the present continuous tense is for actions happening now or around now only.

2. Mistake Type 2: Subject-Verb Agreement

Example: "He eat breakfast every morning." (Incorrect)

Fix: Any third-person singular subjects (he, she, it) used, require an "-s" or "-es" ending in the verb when using the simple present tense.

3. Mistake Type 3: Misusing the Present Perfect

Example: "I go to the beach yesterday." (Incorrect)

Fix: The present perfect is for completed actions with relevance to the action going on in the present. Here simple past will be used for actions that finished in the past but with no present connection.

4. Mistake Type 4: Forgetting the "-ing" in Present Continuous

Example: "He work on his project right now." (Incorrect)

Fix: Usually students forget to add "-ing" at the end of the verb in the present continuous tense.

5. Mistake Type 5: Overusing the Present Continuous

Example: "The earth is revolving around the sun." (Incorrect)

Fix: The present continuous is never used for universal truths rather simple present is used for these situations.

Also check out:

IELTS Pattern	IELTS Syllabus
IELTS Books & Resources	IELTS Practice Test Papers

More Present Tense Examples

Do you ever get stuck in scenarios where you don’t know which type of Present Tense will be used? To completely understand the use of the present tense, students should look at some of the examples. Let us closely look at some of the examples of present tense and understand how they are used contextually:

Beginner Level of Present Tense Examples

1. She drinks coffee every morning. (habitual action - simple present tense)
2. The Earth revolves around the sun. (universal truth - simple present tense)
3. He has written the assignment with a pen. (present perfect tense)
4. We have been living in a big city. (present perfect continuous)
5. They are playing outside. (action happening now - present continuous)
6. The train leaves every hour. (scheduled event - simple present tense)

Up for a challenge? Let’s see if you get all these answers correct, solve the following sentences for practice. 

DIY Present Tense Exercise - Level Beginner

1. The girls _____________ the chores. (present continuous of finish)
2. All the food _____________ on the table. (simple present of be)
3. She _____________ for the last ten hours. (present perfect continuous of sleep)
4. The carpenter _____________ the log into two pieces. (present continuous of saw)
5. I _____________ these books from your school library. (present perfect of borrow)
6. He______________ (water) the plants for two hours. (present perfect continuous )
7. We ____________ his homework because he is sick. (present perfect of do)
8. She ___________ that the parcel will come tonight. (simple present of say)
9. The DJ ___________ the music very loudly. (present continuous of play)
10. Let’s go ___________ at the sea in an hour from now. (present continuous of fish)

Answers:

1. are finishing	2. is	3. has been sleeping	4. is sawing	5. have borrowed
6. has been watering	7. have done	8. says	9. is playing	10. fishing

Intermediate Level of Present Tense Examples

1. She stands out in a crowd because of her unique sense of style. (habitual action + present simple tense)
2. My friend’s parents are arguing constantly over a petty issue. (present continuous for ongoing action)
3. I trust people who do not lie all the time. (present simple tense - general belief)
4. I am considering a career change. (present continuous for an action happening around now, but not at this very moment exactly)
5. She and I have been friends since childhood, we know each other very well. (present perfect continuous for an action that began in the past and continues till date)
6. Lately, she has been working long hours to meet her deadline. (present perfect continuous for a recent ongoing action)

Now that you are at the next level of present tense you can try your hand at trying these practice questions. Check out your knowledge, and solve more questions below:

DIY Present Tense Exercise - Level Intermediate

1. My brother _______ French every Tuesday evening. (simple present of study)
2. Does he ________ the instructions? (present simple of understand)
3. The train ___________ for London in five minutes. (present continuous of leave)
4. She usually _________ up before sunrise to go for a run. (present simple of wake)
5. I __________ the latest movie at the new theatre. You also watch it. (present perfect of see)
6. They _______ in a small apartment downtown, but they _________ to move to a bigger house soon. (present simple of live | present continuous of plan)
7. The news reporter _______ that there will be heavy rain throughout the afternoon. (present simple of say)
8. What _______ in the kitchen? It smells so delicious! (present continuous of cook)
9. We ______ hiking every weekend when the weather is nice. (present simple of go)
10. He _______ three novels so far, and his fourth one is coming out next month. (present perfect of write)

Answers:

1. studies	2. understand	3. is leaving	4. wakes	5. have seen
6. live | are planning	7. says	8. is cooking	9. go	10. has written

Advanced Level of Present Tense Examples

1. She excels in exams without attending lectures. (Simple present tense)
2. The team is working hard to prepare a flawless draft. (Present continuous tense)
3. The artist has reinvented herself with her new acts. (present perfect tense)
4. The aroma of home-cooked snacks evokes childhood memories. (simple present tense)
5. I have been staying in NYC for almost 10 years now. (present perfect continuous)
6. The Sun provides light to all nine planets. (simple present tense)

Getting at the advanced level of present tense, means, you are now equipped to identify, solve and use present tense in your communication and writing. To get a strong grip, solve some more questions given below:

DIY Present Tense Exercise - Level Advanced

1. The documentary _________ historical footage with present-day interviews, creating a powerful narrative. (present continuous of juxtapose)
2. I ________ analysis on this project which intricately _________ why language acquisition is important in learning new languages. (present perfect of start | simple present of describe)
3. Sunlight _________ through the cafe window, __________ the steam rising from a frothy cappuccino. (present simple of stream | present continuous of illuminate)
4. The air _____________ with a quiet energy at the beach. (present continuous of thrum)
5. A blend of focus and relaxation ___________ this local hangout. (simple present of define)
6. Mornings at the railway station ___________ for me since childhood. The hustling trains, the smell of tea and the magazine stands have always fascinated me. (present perfect continuous of entice)
7. She _______ on the radio now! Let’s hear what she _________ in her speech for the upcoming elections. (present continuous of air | simple present of announce)
8. _________ jokes in the middle of a serious conversation is not always nice. (present continuous of crack)
9. It is important to ___________ short-term goals, to ________ your progress. (simple present of set and track) 
10. The programmer ______________ the code for hours, determined to identify the source of the error. (present perfect continuous of troubleshoot)

Answers:

1. is juxtaposing	2. have started | describes	3. streams | illuminating	4. is thrumming	5. defines
6. have been enticing	7. is airing | announces	8. Cracking	9. set, track	10. has been troubleshooting

So how many answers did you get correct? A few, many or all of them? If you got them all correct then give yourself a pat on the back, because you have understood the Present Tense properly. If not, keep going back to the basics and re-learning and practising.

How to Ace Present Tense for IELTS Prep?

There are certain tips to avoid common mistakes in the Present Tense while preparing for IELTS. These tips are as follows:

• Be clear with the Present Tense rules and understand what type of Present Tense to use in which context and when. 
• Adverbs play a pivotal role in understanding the context of the Present Tense. Thus, the use of now, every day, often, and regularly can point towards the use of the Present Tense.
• Often students confuse between past and present perfect. Past is any action that happened in the past, but present perfect is an action that started in the past but continues to impact in the current time.
• To make practice easier, students can look for IELTS material for preparing the Present Tense topic of English grammar. This way the level will be maintained and progress will be tracked easily.
• Present Tense will also be useful for students who appear for the IELTS Speaking test. The students may be asked to share something about themselves and their habits too. 

If these tips are followed, the common mistakes will be rectified and scoring a desired IELTS band score will be easier for students. Also to get better results, you can learn for free through Shiksha's Free Online IELTS Training.

Also Read:

IELTS Listening Section Tips	IELTS Reading Section Tips
IELTS Writing Section Tips	IELTS Speaking Section Tips

By now students preparing for IELTS will be well-versed in the Present Tense, its types, structure and of course the rules. Present Tense is an action describing a particular scenario. The key to learning English grammar tenses is to keep going back to the rules till they are embedded in your system and most importantly use them regularly.