Present Tense: Definition, Types, Structure, 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. What is going on in the picture? These are actions happening right now, in the Present Tense in the present time.

Present Tense is a grammar topic in English which students must know if they plan for any English proficiency exams. This topic is essential to answer questions and understand if the action is in present or not for maybe summarising. 
Present tense is used for daily activities, habits and universal truths. There are cases where verbs change forms and in some cases they don't. You must learn everything about the Present Tense.
Using this tense can be tricky because it has different forms and you may get confused between their use. But to help you use Present Tense like a pro, here’s a guide for international students on the present tense, its types and structure. Present tense in English grammar with examples has also been elaborated in detail with their corresponding rules. With this you will understand how to use it in writing and speaking with ease. Check it out and level up your English grammar tenses for use easily.

What is Present Tense?

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

Present Tense Definition

As per Oxford Dictionary, present tense is defined - "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."

10 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!
5. We are making ourselves a snack.
6. Ria has been sleeping all day because she has the flu.
7. Riding a bike is exhilarating. 
8. The children are playing hide and seek.
9. I am eating a delicious Ramen bowl.
10. You are trying harder than needed.

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

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:

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:

When to Use Different Types of Present Tense?

While there are four types of present tense, each is used differently. While one focuses on daily 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 (like 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 these, present tense can also be incorporated in negative, interrogative sentences.

Other Types of Present Tense Sentences

Now understand how present tense sentences are formed for different sentence types.

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.

Present Tense Exercises

Beginner Level Exercise

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)

Answers

Intermediate Level Exercise

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)

Answers

Level Advanced Exercise

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)

Answers

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.