Present Simple, Present Continuous and
Present Perfect
Present Simple (how to construct it properly):
Affirmative form formula:
Subject + verb + -s (third person singular)
Examples:
1. We drink coffee every morning
2. She drinks coffee every morning
Negative form formula:
Subject + do / does (third person singular) + not +
verb
don’t / doesn’t
Examples:
1. She doesn’t like coffee.
2. We don’t like coffee.
• Interrogative form formula:
Do / does (third person singular) + Subject + verb + ?
Examples:
1. Do you spend your holidays abroad?
2. Does she live in London?
• USAGE:
General truths:
• Polar bears live in countries that ring the Arctic
Circle.
• A magnet attracts iron.
Regular or routine actions:
• John takes a shower every morning
• They arrive home at seven.
Present Continuous (how to construct it properly):
Affirmative form formula:
Subject + present form of verb To Be (am / is / are) +
verb + ing
Examples:
1. Humans are acquiring new abilities.
2. The internet is changing our culture.
3. I am learning abstract painting.
Negative form formula:
Subject + present form of verb To Be (am / is / are) +
not + verb + ing
Examples: am not / isn’t / aren’t
1. I am not visiting Seattle.
2. She is not doing well academically.
3. Those services are not working.
Interrogative form formula:
Am / is / are + Subject + verb + ing + ?
Examples:
1. Are they investigating accidents correctly?
2. Am I doing the right thing?
3. Is she searching for accommodation?
USAGE:
• Things that are happening at the moment we speak:
• Can I talk to Peter? I am afraid not. He is having a shower
right now.
• What are you doing? I am writing an email.
• Things that are happening around the time we speak:
• Currently, they are visiting all the hotels to offer their
services.
• Now my children are spending more time with their cousins.
• Things that are changing:
• People are spending a lot of money on technology.
• Modern offices are getting smarter.
• Present perfect (how to construct it)
Affirmative form formula:
Subject + has / have + past partiple
Examples:
1. This has become her greatest achievement.
2. You have published a wonderful novel.
Negative form formula:
Subject + has / have + not + past participle
hasn’t / haven’t
Example:
1. I haven’t seen any action films.
2. Mary hasn’t been to London yet.
Interrogative form formula:
Has / have + subject + past participle + ?
Examples:
1. Have you hired him more than once?
2. Have they helped you clean the house?
USAGE:
• Things up to now > Actions or states that started in
the past, continue in the present and probably will
go on in the future.
In Spanish we do it this way:
- Llevo tres años estudiando chino
- Hace tres años que estudio chino
- Estudio chino desde hace tres años
• In English we do it this way:
I have studied Chinese for three years.
amount of time
To introduce the moment this action began, in
Spanish we do it this way:
- Llevo estudiando Chino desde la primavera
- Estudio chino desde la primavera
- Desde la primavera que estudio chino
• In English we do it this way:
I have studied English since spring.
Things that have just happened:
I have called my sister to tell her about the party
If the period of time is mentioned, it
should not be over:
• Today I have called my sister to tell her about the party
• WRONG Yesterday, I have called my sister to tell her
about the party.
• RIGHT Yesterday I called my sister to tell her about the
party.
