eng9-3.1· Unit 3: Verbs & Tenses· ~13 min

Present tenses

Present Simple and Present Continuous: forms, uses and time markers.

English has two present tenses that we use in different situations: the Present Simple and the Present Continuous. We use the Present Simple for habits, routines, timetables and general facts, and we add -s (or -es) to the verb after he, she or it (He works, She goes, It rains). In the third person we form negatives and questions with does and the base verb (He doesn't work, Does she work?), and for all other subjects we use do (They don't work, Do you work?). We use the Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for actions happening now, at the moment of speaking, or around the present time (She is reading now, They are studying these days). Some verbs called state verbs describe feelings, thoughts or possession (know, like, want, love, understand, believe, belong, need) and are not normally used in the continuous form. Common time markers help us choose the tense: always, usually, often, every day and never go with the Present Simple, while now, at the moment, today, Look! and Listen! go with the Present Continuous. For example: 'She usually walks to school, but today she is taking the bus' shows the Present Simple for a habit and the Present Continuous for what is happening now.

Key terms

Present Simple — The tense for habits, routines, timetables and general facts; in the third person singular the verb takes -s/-es (He works, She goes).
Present Continuous — The tense formed with am/is/are + verb-ing for actions happening now, at the moment of speaking, or around the present time (She is reading now).
Third person singular -s — After he, she or it the Present Simple verb adds -s or -es (works, goes, watches); consonant + y changes to -ies (study → studies).
State verb — A verb describing feelings, thoughts or possession (know, like, want, love, understand, believe, belong, need) that is normally used in the Present Simple, not the continuous.
do / does — Auxiliary verbs that form Present Simple negatives and questions with the base verb: 'does' for he/she/it, 'do' for I/you/we/they (Does she work? They don't play).
Time marker — A signal word that points to the correct tense, e.g. always, usually, every day → Present Simple; now, at the moment, Look!, Listen! → Present Continuous.
The two present tenses at a glance
TenseFormMain useSignal words
Present Simplebase verb / +s in 3rd personhabits, routines, timetables, factsalways, usually, often, every day, never
Present Continuousam/is/are + verb-ingactions happening now or around nownow, at the moment, today, Look!, Listen!
Negatives, questions and -ing spelling
PatternPresent SimplePresent Continuous
NegativeHe doesn't work / They don't playShe isn't working / They aren't playing
QuestionDoes she work? / Do you go?Is she working? / Are they watching?
Spellingstudy → studies, go → goes, watch → watchesmake → making, run → running, lie → lying
✎Choosing between habit and action happening now
  1. 1Sentence: She usually ____ to school, but today she ____ the bus.
  2. 2First gap (usually): 'usually' is a Present Simple marker for a habit; after 'she' add -s → walks.
  3. 3Second gap (today): 'today' here shows what is happening now, so use the Present Continuous → is taking.
  4. 4Answer: She usually walks to school, but today she is taking the bus.
✎A state verb stays in the Present Simple
  1. 1Sentence: Anna ____ three languages, so she ____ this letter for us now.
  2. 2First gap (know): 'know' is a state verb, so it is never continuous; in the third person add -s → knows.
  3. 3Second gap (now): 'translate' is an action and 'now' signals an action in progress → is translating.
  4. 4Answer: Anna knows three languages, so she is translating this letter for us now.
🚫Common mistake

State verbs (know, like, want, love, understand, believe, belong, need) are not used in the continuous: write 'I understand', NOT 'I am understanding', even with 'now'.

🚫Common mistake

In the Present Simple, add -s/-es only after he/she/it. Do not add it after I/you/we/they (I drink, NOT I drinks) and never after a plural subject (Cats sleep, NOT Cats sleeps).

🚫Common mistake

After do/does or don't/doesn't, use the base verb with no -s: 'Does your father drive?' and 'He doesn't drink', NOT 'Does he drives' or 'doesn't drinks'.

💡Note

Let the time markers decide: always, usually, every day point to the Present Simple, while now, at the moment, Look! and Listen! point to the Present Continuous.

Rules

  1. 1Present Simple = habits, routines and facts; add -s/-es in the third person singular (works, goes, watches), and change consonant + y to -ies (study → studies).
  2. 2Form Present Simple negatives and questions with do/does + base verb: He doesn't work, Does she work?, They don't play.
  3. 3Present Continuous = am/is/are + verb-ing for actions happening now or around now (Look! It is raining); spelling: make → making, run → running, lie → lying.
  4. 4Time markers: always, usually, often, every day, never → Present Simple; now, at the moment, today, Look!, Listen! → Present Continuous.
  5. 5State verbs (know, like, want, love, understand, believe, belong, need) are normally used in the Present Simple, not the continuous (I know, NOT I am knowing).

Practice

15 easy · 15 medium · 15 hard

10 random questions per test

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