PRESENT TENSES

Pres. Simple

• It is used for: Routines or repeated actions:

I have a shower everyday.Permanent situations:

Water boils over 100 degrees.

Pres. Continuous (BE + V-ing)

• It is used for: Actions happening now, in progress:

We are revising the present tenses right now.Temporary situations:

Alex is living at her grandparents´ for a few days.

PRES. SIMPLE

EverydayEvery week, year, …

Every summer, autumn, …AlwaysUsuallyOften

SometimesRarely

Hardly everNever

PRES. CONTINUOUS

NowRight now

In this momentAt the moment

Pres. Perf. Simple (HAVE/HAS + PARTICIPLE)Pres. Perf. Continuous (HAVE/HAS + BEEN + V-ing)

Both the Pres. Perf. Simple and the Pres. Perf. Continuous are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished.

But there is often a difference in meaning: • We use the Pres. Perf. Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result (what / how much / how often):• I have written 5 letters. = (the letters are already written)• I have been to London twice. = (now I´m at home)

• We use the Pres. Perf. Continuous to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action (how long):• I have been writing for an hour. = (up until now)• I have been doing my homework. = (up until now)

PRES. PERF. SIMPLE

EverNever

AlreadyJustStillYet

Recently

PRES. PERF. CONTINUOUS

All (day, week, …)For

SinceThis week, year, …