the present tense

The present tense

The present tense is a verb form that is represented by the base form (for example, ‘eat’, ‘laugh’, ‘sit’ etc.) or by the third person singular –s (for example, ‘eats’, ‘laughs’, ‘sits’ etc. ).

The present tense in English grammar includes the simple present tense, present continuous (progressive) tense, present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous (progressive) tense.

The simple present tense

The simple present tense is used in the following cases:

1. To express a habitual action

I drink tea every morning.

My father takes a walk every evening.

2. To express general truths.

The sun rises in the east.

Honey is sweet.

3. To express a future event that is part of a fixed timetable or fixed programme.

The match starts at 9 o’clock.

The train leaves at 5.20.

4. To express an action that takes place in the present, usually in exclamatory sentences.

Here comes the bus!

There she goes!

5. As a substitute for simple past tense, in a vivid narrative or live reporting of sport events.

Argentina’s captain now has the ball.

Stanton now rushes forward and deals a heavy blow to Rustam.

Immediately the king hurries to the palace.