Tense

Tense refers to the time when an action or event occurs. It indicates the relationship between the time an
action takes place and the time it is being described. It basically tells you whether something is
happening in the past, present, or future.

Key point:

(1) Present Tense

The present tense refers to the action or event that takes place or is taking place in the present. It
represents the current activity or the present state of being of the subject in the given context.

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Types of Present Tense

i. Simple Present Tense – used to indicate the current action or an action that takes place regularly.

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ii. Present Continuous Tense – used to denote an action that is continuing at the present moment.

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iii. Present Perfect Tense – used to indicate an action that is used to denote an action that is indefinite
and still has its effect on the subject or object in the sentence.

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iv. Present Perfect Continuous Tense – used to represent an action that began in the recent past and is
still continuing.

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Present simple Tense

It is used to talk about habits, regular occurrences, generalizations and scheduled events.

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Usage

Habitual actions: We use the present simple to talk about actions that happen regularly or repeatedly.
Example:

General truths or facts: The present simple is used to express general truths, facts, or states that are
always true.
Example:

Scheduled events: It can be used to describe scheduled events in the future, especially in timetables or
schedules.
Example:

How to form the simple present

The structure of a present simple tense sentence depends on whether it's a positive statement, negative
statement, or question.
Positive statements: S+ V1(s/es) + O (optional)

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Quick check:

Example:

Note: There are some irregular verbs that don't follow the usual pattern of adding "-s" or "-es" in the
third person singular. For example, "have" becomes "has" in the present simple tense. You'll need to
memorize these irregular verb forms.

Negative statements: S + do/does (depending on S) + not + V1 + object (optional)

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Example:

Questions: Do/Does (depending on S) + S + V1 + object (optional)?

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Example:

Note: When forming questions in the present simple tense, we typically use auxiliary verbs (helping
verbs) "do" or "does", depending on the subject.
Adverbs of frequency

We use adverbs of frequency with the present simple to talk about how often something happens.

Position

● Adverbs of frequency go before the verb but after the verb be.
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Example:
● In negative sentences, the adverb of frequency goes after don’t/doesn’t
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Example:

● There are other expressions that we use to talk about frequency: once a day, twice a week, three
times a month, every day, etc. These expressions are longer (2 words or more), and they go at
the end of the sentence.
Example:
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the simple present tense form of the verbs given in brackets

1. The Principal ____ to speak to Raj. (want)

2. The Earth ____ around the Sun. (revolve)

3. The baby ___ all day. (cry)

4. The flight ____ at 8 o’clock in the morning. (leave)

5. What ____ so good? (smell)

6. Hema ___ badminton every evening. (play)

7. Tony ___ to guitar lessons every Sunday. (go)

8. If it ___ today, we will get stuck. (rain)

9. The nurse ____ of my grandfather. (take care)

10. There ___ the topper of our school. (come)

11. I ___ up at 7:00 a.m. every day. (get)

12. Amy rarely ___ her room. (leave)

13. Cows ___ us milk. (give)

14. My granny ___ delicious lasagne. (cook)

15. The birds ___ all day long. (chirp)

16. The boys ___ hard to get good grades. (study)

17. The teacher ____ the parents today. (meet)

18. The movie ____ within a few minutes. (start)

19. The fluffy clouds ___ around. (move)

20. The dogs ___ at night. (bark)

Exercise 2: Following exercise 1, change them into negative form.

1. The Principal ____ to speak to Raj. (want)

2. The Earth ____ around the Sun. (revolve)

3. The baby ___ all day. (cry)

4. The flight ____ at 8 o’clock in the morning. (leave)

5. What ____ so good? (smell)

6. Hema ___ badminton every evening. (play)

7. Tony ___ to guitar lessons every Sunday. (go)

8. If it ___ today, we will get stuck. (rain)

9. The nurse ____ of my grandfather. (take care)

10. There ___ the topper of our school. (come)

11. I ___ up at 7:00 a.m. every day. (get)

12. Amy rarely ___ her room. (leave)

13. Cows ___ us milk. (give)

14. My granny ___ delicious lasagne. (cook)

15. The birds ___ all day long. (chirp)

16. The boys ___ hard to get good grades. (study)

17. The teacher ____ the parents today. (meet)

18. The movie ____ within a few minutes. (start)

19. The fluffy clouds ___ around. (move)

20. The dogs ___ at night. (bark)

Exercise 2: Complete the dialogue

Sue: My brother Mark goes to primary school.

Ann: (he - get up early?) ...........................................................................................................................

Sue: Yes, very early. His friends Jim and Kevin travel with him every day.

Ann: (they - travel by bus?) .......................................................................................................................

Sue: Sometimes. On Mondays and Fridays Jim's father takes them by car. He is a teacher.

Ann: (he - teach at the same school?) ........................................................................................................

Sue: Yes. he does. He teaches English and history.

Ann: (your brother - like English?) ............................................................................................................

Sue: English is his favourite subject.

Ann: (you - help him with his homework?) ...............................................................................................

Sue: Never. My brother is the best student in his class.

Ann: (Jim and Kevin - attend the same lessons?) ......................................................................................

Sue: No, they don't. They are two years older. But they meet for lunch.

Ann: (Mark - eat at a school canteen?) ......................................................................................................

Sue: Yes, because our mum and dad don't have the time to prepare his lunch.

Ann: (your parents - go to work?) .............................................................................................................

Sue: Yes, they do. My mum is a nurse and my dad is a doctor.

Ann: (they - work at a hospital?) ...............................................................................................................

Sue: Only my mum.

Ann: (your brother - want to be a doctor?) ................................................................................................

Sue: I don't know. But I want to be a nurse.