presentation tense definition

• English Grammar
• English Tenses
• Present Tense

Present Tense - Definition, Structure, Types, Rules and Examples

In the English language , tense is used to represent the time of an action. Among the three English tenses , the present tense is used to talk about what is happening in the current time. In this article, you will learn the definition, structure, and rules of usage, along with examples.

Table of Contents

Definition of present tense, types of present tense, structure of present tense, examples of present tense, frequently asked questions on present tense, what is the 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.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines present tense as “the tense of a verb that expresses action or state in the present time and is used of what occurs or is true at the time of speaking and of what is habitual or characteristic or is always or necessarily true, that is sometimes used to refer to action in the past, and that is sometimes used for future events.” According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the present tense is “the form of a verb that expresses an action that is happening now or at the time of speaking.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines present tense as “the form of the verb that is used to show what happens or exists now.”

The present tense can be used in four different forms, namely,

• Simple Present Tense – used to indicate the current action or an action that takes place regularly.
• Present Continuous Tense – used to denote an action that is continuing at the present moment.
• 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.
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense – used to represent an action that began in the recent past and is still continuing.

Have a look at the following table to understand the structure of the present tense.

Also, take a look at the following table to understand how the general format in which the present tense behaves in the positive, negative and imperative format.

Given below are a few examples of the present tense.

• Theo sings wonderfully.
• Marley and Noah are on the way to the park.
• Does Rachel dance?
• Naveen is practising for the annual day.
• Rani has kept this notebook for so many years.
• It has been raining for quite some time now.

What is the present tense?

What is the definition of the present tense, what are the different types of present tense.

There are four main types or forms of the present tense in the English language, namely,

• Simple Present Tense
• Present Continuous Tense
• Present Perfect Tense
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Give some examples of the present tense.

Here are some examples of present tense for your reference.

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What is Present Tense? Definition, Examples of English Present Tense Verbs

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is Present Tense? Definition, Examples of English Present Tense Verbs

Present tense definition: The present tense signals an action that is currently going on or habitually performed.

What is Present Tense in English?

What does past tense mean? The present tense of verbs expresses events or actions that are occurring now, relative to the speaker—or to actions that are habitually performed and may not necessarily be happening right now .

These actions are general truths or they are happening now.

Present Tense Forms

There are four forms of the present tense. They include:

• He is jumping.
• He has jumped.
• I have been jumping.

Four Types of Present Tense

What is a present tense verb? Here are the four present tenses in English. We have definitions and examples of each so you can learn past tense.

What is the Simple Present?

What is the simple present tense? The simple present is generally used for actions that are factual, normal, or regular in occurrence, sometimes called habitual actions. Habitual actions are actions that occur in the present but are not necessarily happening right now.

To form the simple present:

• add “s” to third person singular
• Handy, a 46-year-old who works answering phones at a car service, has been raising her family alone for nearly a decade, enduring constant financial hardship and even tragedy. – CBS News

The simple present is used to express:

• Shane lives in Canada.
• Shane washes his car on Sundays.
• Shane is happy.
• The meeting starts at noon.
• Shane works tonight.

What is the Present Progressive Tense?

What does present progressive mean? The present progressive expresses actions that are happening now or that are in progress.

To form the present progressive:

• Subject + am/is/are + present participle (and “-ing” to end of the verb)
• The feeling around the team is that White is going to prove to be worth the wait. – NBC Sports

The present progressive is used to express:

• Emmet is watching television.
• They are completing a project together.

The present progressive can also be used for future events.

• Subject + am/are + going + infinitive
• I am going to wash the car tomorrow.

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

What does present perfect tense mean? The present perfect tense expresses actions that happened at time that is not specific and actions that started in the past but continue to the present.

To form the present perfect:

• Subject + has/had + past participle of verb

The present perfect is used to express:

• I have traveled to Paris.
• My mom has been a clerk her entire professional career.

What is the Present Perfect Progressive?

What does present perfect progressive mean? The present perfect progressive tense expresses actions that began in the past and continue to the present and actions that have recently stopped.

To form the present perfect progressive:

• Subject + has/had + been + present participle (and “-ing” to end of the verb)

The present perfect progressive is used to express:

• The baby has been crying for hours.
• I have been waiting for you.

Other English Tenses

What is the Past Tense?

What does past tense mean? In general, the past tense expresses events that have occurred before now.

• They cleaned up after dinner.
• John rode his bike to work.

What is the Future Tense?

What does future tense mean? In general, future tense expresses actions that will occur at a future date.

• She will attend high school next year.
• They will live happily ever after.

Summary: What is the Present Tense?

Define present tense: In grammar, the definition of present tense is a tense signaling an action that is currently going on or habitually performed.

In summary, the present tense:

• is used to express actions that occur now
• has four forms including: simple, present perfect, present progressive, and present perfect progressive

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Present Tense: Meaning, Types, Structure, and Examples [Complete Guide]

• Updated on  
• Mar 6, 2024

Present Tense: Tenses, in the English Language , are used to describe the time of an event or action. In the same group, the Present Tense is used to elaborate on what is happening now. This blog article entails information about present tenses, their types, and other relevant information followed by it. Continue reading to get more informative content regarding present tenses and their everyday usage.

This Blog Includes:

What is present tense, types of present tense, present tense in general format, present tense examples.

Tenses Rules and Examples in English Grammar

Present tense is a grammatical tense that is used to describe actions, events, or states that are happening right now or at the present time. It is one of the three primary tenses in English, along with past tense and future tense. Present tense is used to convey actions or conditions that are ongoing, habitual, or generally true.

Also Read: Subject-Verb Agreement: Definition, 12 Rules & Examples

In English grammar, there are several types of present tenses, each used to describe actions or states happening in the present. These are the primary present tenses in English, and they are used in different contexts to convey different meanings and nuances. It’s essential to choose the right tense to accurately express the time and nature of an action or situation in the present.

Do Check Out : Leverage Edu Learn English Youtube Channel

Structure of Past Tense

Following is the structure for past tense:

Take a look at the following table to understand the general format of the present tense in terms of positive, negative, interrogative, and negative interrogative.

Here are some examples of sentences in the present tense:

• I eat breakfast every morning.
• She walks to the park in the afternoon.
• They study hard for their exams.
• The sun rises in the east.
• He works at a software company.
• We play soccer on the weekends.
• The cat chases the mouse.
• The teacher explains the lesson.

This was all about the Present Tense Example, rules and more. Hope you understand the concept and where it’s used. You can also follow  Leverage Edu  for more exciting and informative blogs.

Vaishnavi Shukla

Vaishnavi has 2+ years of experience in SEO and Content Marketing. She is highly proficient in English, possessing exceptional language skills and a deep understanding of English grammar and communication. Currently working on Ed Tech, Finance, Lifestyle, and other niches. All her works are infused with love for writing!

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Present Tense

What is the present tense.

• My parrot sings "The Sun Has Got Its Hat On" every morning.
• I am happy.
• I swim in the sea every Saturday.
• Aliens exist in outer space.
• The meeting ends at 6 o'clock.
• A man walks into a bar. Ouch!

Table of Contents

Video Lesson

The four present tenses explained, simple present tense, examples of the simple present tense, present progressive tense, examples of the present progressive tense, present perfect tense, examples of the present perfect tense, present perfect progressive tense, examples of the present perfect progressive tense, interactive verb conjugation tables.

• the simple present tense
• the present progressive tense
• the present perfect tense
• the present perfect progressive

Are you a visual learner? Do you prefer video to text? Here is a list of all our grammar videos .

• I play every Tuesday
• Between two evils, I always pick the one I have never tried before.
• Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement. (US President Ronald Reagan)
• I like the word indolence. It makes my laziness seem classy. (Philosopher Bernard Williams)
• I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by . (Author Douglas Adams)
• My family goes to France every summer.
• I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch . (Comedian Gilda Radner)
• War does not determine who is right - only who is left. (Philosopher Bertrand Russell)

• I am playing at the moment.
• I am not getting any younger!
• My family is emigrating to Australia next June.
• People rarely succeed unless they have fun in what they are doing . (Author Dale Carnegie)
• I am not afraid of storms for I am learning how to sail my ship. (Author Louisa May Alcott)
• I am returning this otherwise good typing paper to you because someone has printed gibberish all over it and put your name at the top.
• A lot of good arguments are spoiled by some fool who knows what he is talking about. (Playwright Miguel de Unamuno)
• A fellow who is always declaring he's no fool usually has his suspicions. (Playwright Wilson Mizner)
• As long as you 're having fun, that's the key. The moment it becomes a grind, it's over. (Singer Barry Gibb)
• Middle age is when you 're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you. (Poet Ogden Nas)
• I 'm leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it 's not raining . (Comedian Groucho Marx)

• I have played for his team before.
• Don't take the wrong side of an argument just because your opponent has taken the right side.
• Poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese.
• If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants. (Physicist Isaac Newton)
• Only the dead have seen the end of the war. (Philosopher George Santayana)
• It has been my experience that folks who have no vices have very few virtues. (US President Abraham Lincoln)
• Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen . (British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli)
• I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.
• I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I intended to be. (Author Douglas Adams)
• I 've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. (Basketball star Michael Jordan)
• Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men. (Activist Martin Luther King Jr)

• I have been playing for a year.
• Fiona has not been playing well for 2 months.
• My grandparents have been living in this house for 50 years.
• Mary has been relying on a pay rise to pay her credit card bills.
• We have been learning since we were children how to make money, buy things, and build things. The whole education system is set up to teach us how to think, not to feel. (Comedian Yakov Smirnoff)
• My son has been laughing at inappropriate situations for the past two years.
• While I thought that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die. (Polymath Leonardo da Vinci)
• Well, I think money has been going into political campaigns for a very long time. (Businesswoman Carly Fiorina)
• I have been doing marriage counseling for about 15 years and I realized that what makes one person feel loved, doesn't make another person feel loved. (Author Gary Chapman)
• Either I 've been something or nothing has been going on .

Top 10 Regular Verbs

Top 10 Irregular Verbs

All 4 Past Tenses

All 4 Present Tenses

All 4 Future Tenses

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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Present Simple PPT

Teach the present simple tense with this present simple PPT . This presentation is a PowerPoint lesson about the present simple tense and action verbs. It includes a simple explanation of the present simple tense with examples and pictures. Download this present simple PPT for free and use it in class today. 

Learn English

Present tense: definition, structure & examples.

Tenses demonstrate the time of action in sentences usually performed by or centered around the subject of the sentence. The actions are called verbs. Verbs change according to tenses and other issues. As verbs are the most important elements of English sentences, tenses also carry paramount importance in English grammar.

Tenses are mainly categorized into three types.

1. Present Tense

2. past tense, 3. future tense, present tense.

Each of the types of tenses has four different forms.

Present Indefinite Tense

Present progressive (continuous) tense, present perfect tense, present perfect progressive (continuous).

Examples of Present Tense

The present indefinite tense, also known as simple present tense, denotes a stative or habitual or eternally true action.

Generally, simple present tense is used to indicate an action which happens – always, regularly, every day, daily, normally, generally, usually, occasionally, sometimes, often, rarely, frequently, nowadays, naturally, seldom, constantly, never, every week, every year, once a year, on a week, at times, at present, now and then, or all the time.

Note : When ‘be’ verbs work as the main verb in a sentence, they are different from the above structures.

There are some stative verbs that are usually used in simple tenses whether present or past or future.

The stative verbs are:

• I know Billy Bob.
• He understands it.
• They love swinging in the park.
• Some people do not believe in God.
• I usually wake up at 6:00 AM.
• He plays cricket, but his brother plays football.
• Earth is bigger than Mercury.
• The heat of the sun reaches the least to the polar.

How the Forms of Verbs Change in Different Types of Sentences

More Examples of Present Indefinite Tense

The present progressive tense is used to indicate the ongoing time (now). However, the stative verbs do not usually take the form of present progressive tense even though they refer to the present time.

Now, continually, perpetually, at this moment, at the moment, right now, this season, this year, forever, etc. words or word pairs are usually signs that the verb in a sentence is in the present progressive form. However, these signs are not necessary all the time for a verb to be of present progressive tense.

• I am going to the college field.
• He is coming here for some tips.
• They are making a basketball ground.
• Why are you working in that horrible place? (Interrogative)
• Four teams are playing at this moment.
• John is not joining the class today. (Negative)

This structure is also used to demonstrate future time.

• Alex is leaving for Portugal.
• I am going to complete my task.
• We are leaving at 6:00 PM.
• They are flying to Australia next month.

More Example of Present Progressive Tense

The present perfect tense is used when one intends to indicate:

• an action that occurred at a time which is indefinite and has its effect on the subject
• or an action that occurred many times and has the possibility to occur in the present/future
• or an action that began in the past and still going on in the present.

Structure :

The Present-Past-Past Participle Chart:

• Alex has read the book through. (No time is indicated)
• I have read this poem many times. (Not habitual but occurred many times in the past)
• He has lived in this apartment for 15 years. (Still going on)

More examples:

• Their event has not been approved this year. (Negative)
• Have we really done so bad? (Interrogative)

Just, already, yet, just now, ever, lately, recently, etc. are some of the signs for present perfect tense.

Note: Already comes between have/has and the past participle; yet appears with a negative form at the end of the sentence.

Example:  

• Alex has already reached there.
• Alex has not reached yet.
• I have already cleaned the house.
• I have not cleaned the house yet.(Negative)
• Has she already gone home? (Interrogative)

More Examples of Present Perfect Tense

It is the least used form of present tense. Present perfect progressive tense is used to indicate an action that began in the past and is still occurring in the present. Both present perfect and present perfect continuous tense can be used to indicate this type of action.

• Alex has been reading for 3 years.
• I have been sleeping since 10.00 AM.
• Robert has been working in that shop for 6 years.
• We have been living together for four years.
• Have we really been waiting for a miracle for fifteen years? (Interrogative)
• She hasn’t been doing her job well enough for the last 5 years. (Negative)

More  Examples of Present Perfect Continuous Tense

• Present Tense Exercise with Explanation

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Irreversible Binomials: Definition, Types with examples

Present participle.

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Past participle : definition, usages and examples.

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• When and How to Use "Either/Or" with Examples and Common Mistakes to Avoid
• How to Use "On the Other Hand" Effectively without Mistakes
• How to Use "Respectively" with Example and Common Errors to Avoid
• How and When to Use "Moreover" Without Mistakes
• How to Use "Likewise" in Sentences Based on Context & When not to Use
• When & How to Use "Although" in Sentences to Avoid Mistake

Present Tense: Definition, Structures and Examples

What is present tense? It’s such an easy question for all English learners, as this form of tense is the most basic part of grammar!

But it might be a stranger to newcomers. Even if you have a great command of English, chances are that you sometimes make mistakes, as we humans seem to look down on simple things.

Either way, we got your back! This article covers all you need to know about this tense. You’ll learn from the simplest lesson, like the meaning and usage of present tense or common mistakes when using it.

Table of Contents

All You Need To Know About Present Tense

Present tense definition.

In English, the concept of tense indicates an action’s timing. Among the three tenses: past tense , present tense, and future tense , present tense in English describes current events.

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, present tense is used to express the current action at the moment of speaking, schedule, routines, and facts. Likewise, the authors of Oxford Learner’s Dictionary define the present tense as the form of verbs that present a happening activity.

When To Use It?

When you need to describe a happening event, a routine or habit, a schedule, or state the general facts, present tense is what you’ll apply. Types of present tense are used in different situations for different meanings. Also, these tenses can be combined in a sentence for complex actions.

Present Tense Signal Words

Below are some words to tell what tense you should use. For present tense, adverbs of frequency are the signal words:

• Often/frequently
• Seldom/hardly ever/scarcely/barely

Other expressions of time include, such as but are not limited to:

• Every morning
• Every month
• Every Tuesday
• On weekdays

Types Of Present Tense And Examples

There are 4 types:

Present Simple

Present continuous, present perfect, present perfect continuous.

This part breaks down each category and provides present tense examples with detailed explanations.

• Present simple describes general, regular activities in daily life. For example:
• I go to school.
• She walks the dog.
• Andy sings.
• The fish swims.
• Or, you can use this form of tense to talk about schedule or habit.
• The concert starts at 6:00 PM.
• The train arrives every 15 minutes.
• She gets up at 5 every morning.
• Scientific facts or truths are also uses of this tense. For instance:
• The Earth orbits around the Sun.
• A year has 365 or 366 days.
• A day has 24 hours.

Rules of present simple tense are what all beginners need to start with. They are the easiest yet the most fundamental part to further form other types of present tense. Depending on the subject (singular or plural), the simple present tense can be created with the root form or by adding “s” or “es”.

Signal Words

These signal words are the same as those of the general present tense we have mentioned in part 1.

So let’s start with the formula of simple present tense . From that, you can easily understand its rule and structure in a sentence.

Affirmative

• She loves dogs.
• I go to school by bus.
• The show starts at 9AM.
• Water freezes at 0 degree Celsius.
• She does not love dogs.
• I do not go to school by bus.
• The show does not start at 9AM.

Interrogative

• Does she love dogs?
• Do you go to school by bus?
• Does the show start at 9AM?
• Does water freeze at 0 degree Celsius?
• You use the present continuous tense to depict an event that is happening at the time of saying.
• My sister is watching a fashion show now.
• The tense is also meant for ongoing actions or an action which is different from normal routine.
• She usually wears skirts to work. It’s strange that she is wearing trousers today! (she never wears skirts to work, but today she does!)
• In some situations, this present tense appears in complaintive sentences. You can turn to it to complain about something that happens too frequently. Remember to put adverbs of frequency (always, usually) in the sentence.
• Mike is always coming late.
• George is always bragging about how much money he earns.
• When mixing with present simple, present continuous portrays a happening action which is interrupted by another action (described by present simple).
• She is taking a bath, and the bell rings.
• His mother comes when he is studying upstairs.
• Now/Right now
• At the moment
• At this time
• Sarah is finding her phone.
• I am hanging out with friends.
• We are cleaning the classroom.
• He is talking on the phone.
• Sarah is not finding her phone.
• I am not hanging out with friends.
• We are not cleaning the classroom.
• He is not talking on the phone.
• Is Sarah finding her phone?
• Are you hanging out with friends?
• Are they cleaning the classroom?
• Isn’t he talking on the phone?

Without a doubt, present perfect is the hardest tense in English. This is because non-English speakers don’t have this concept in their native language. That’s why they find it difficult to understand the tense usage and rules.

• The present perfect tense appears to show an action in the past that is not yet complete. 
• I have written this book for 2 years, and it is about to be done.
• Describe a completed event, but it bears an impact on the sentence’s subject or object at the present.
• He has broken his arm since last week. (His arm is still broken now)
• Present an action taking place at an undetermined time or a repeated action in the past.
• I have seen you before. (but I don’t remember exactly when)
• Laura has been to New York 3 times. (a repeated action)
• Since + a point in time
• For + a period of time
• Already (affirmative)
• Yet (negative)
• Once, twice, three times, four times, etc,
• Phillip has traveled to France before.
• I have learned Spanish since high school.
• The students have written their answers already.
• Peter has worked in Mexico since he graduated.
• Phillip has not traveled to France before.
• I have not learned Spanish since high school.
• The students have not written their answers yet.
• Peter has not worked in Mexico since he graduated.
• Has Phillip traveled to France before?
• Have you learned Spanish since high school?
• Have the students written their answers yet?
• Has Peter worked in Mexico since he graduated?
• The present perfect continuous tense, or present perfect progressive tense, indicates that something began in the past and is still going on now. The Verb-ing in the present perfect continuous tense shows that the action had been ongoing steadily for a considerable amount of time.

You might find the present perfect and present perfect continuous tense similar and confusing, but don’t worry; we will draw the line between them later.

Keep in mind that the word “have been” or “has been” means that the activity is still ongoing. For instance:

• We have been waiting for you for 45 minutes!
• I have been reading the book for three hours.
• Mauve has been finding her blue dress since morning.
• In some situations, people can use the present perfect continuous for temporary action. Example:
• Barney usually goes to the gym on Green Street, but it’s closed for repairs now so he has been going to the one in Star mall.
• All + time word (day, night, week, etc.)
• The whole + time word (day, night, week, etc.)

• Susan has been working as the CEO for 5 years.
• Mark has been living in Korea since 2010.
• We have been cleaning the street all day.
• Susan has not been working as the CEO for 5 years.
• Mark has not been living in Korea since 2010.
• We have not been cleaning the street all day.
• Has Susan been working as the CEO for 5 years?
• Has Mark been living in Korea for 5 years?
• Have they been cleaning the street all day?

Common Mistakes When Using Present Tenses

One of the most typical mistakes when using the simple present form is verb conjugation. Most new learners are likely to forget to add “s” or “es” for 3rd person singular subjects (he, she, it). So you need to be careful when using it, even the simplest form of tense can cause you to make mistakes.

• Tina brushes her teeth twice a day.
• Not: Tina brush her teeth twice a day.

For facts and repeated events, we don’t use this form of tense. Although it’s a basic thing, not everyone is aware of that.

When complaining about something, many people forget to add adverbs of frequency (always, etc.) before the Verb-ing. This will affect the tone of the speaker, leading to grammatical error and even miscommunication.

• You are always throwing the clothes everywhere. (People complain about your bad habit)
• Not: You are throwing the clothes everywhere. (At the moment, you’re throwing the clothes. But you don’t do this all the time.)

In the present perfect form, verb conjugation is even more difficult as learners need to remember the past participle verb. For instance, “eat” becomes “eaten”, “break” becomes “broken”.

What’s more, there are some irregular verbs, such as “put”, “set”, that English learners need to learn by heart.

It’s important to learn the root form of verbs and their past participle versions. This helps you avoid grammatical mistakes and even improve your English usage.

When a verb refers to an activity that is finished at one particular point in time, such as “start”, “stop”, or “finish”, you’ll need to avoid the present perfect continuous form. This is one of the most popular mistakes that many speakers and learners usually make when they aren’t aware of the context and tense.

• Has the show started already?
• Not: Has the show been starting already?

Like present continuous, present perfect continuous can’t be used with special verbs like sense, emotions, perception, etc.

• Has she heard the news?
• Not: Has she been hearing the news?

Most Confusing Tenses with Proper Usages

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Both forms describe ongoing actions, so when to use these present tenses and how to use them correctly? Remember that the present simple tense is the one to go for when mentioning a fact, truth, habits, or unchanged situation, while the other is not.

There are also some verbs which can’t be used in Continuous (Progressive) tense form, such as:

• Verbs of emotions: wish, desire, like, love, hate, want, hope, etc.
• Verbs of thoughts: think, suppose, believe, agree, disagree, understand, know, etc.
• Verbs of sense: smell, taste, hear, feel, see, touch, etc.
• Verbs of perception: recognize, notice, perceive, imagine, remember, etc.
• Verbs of appearance: appear, seem, look, etc.
• Verbs of possession: own, possess, belong, contain, consist, etc.

All you need to do is keep their base form when using these special verbs. Here are some examples of these verb usage:

• This tiramisu is smelling good. → This tiramisu smells good.
• I am thinking you are right. → I think you are right.
• Diane is looking gorgeous in the red dress. → Diane looks gorgeous in the red dress.

On the other hand, in some cases, you can use the above verbs in Progressive form with a change of meaning (indicating a physical action).

• I am feeling well this morning. (feel physically)
• He is seeing his relatives tonight. (see means visit)
• Cindy is looking at the strange figure on the street. (look means stare)

Present Perfect or Simple Past?

Present perfect form focuses on the completion of the action (either in the past or the present) and its effects on the current subject/object. Meanwhile, simple past tense only indicates actions completed in the past and have no relation in the present context.

• I swept the house yesterday. (in the past, no present context)
• I’ve just swept the house, don’t let the kids scatter the snack. (present context)

Present Perfect Or Present Perfect Continuous?

We use both tenses to discuss previous events or conditions that are still relevant to the present. Because of this, many people are confused about telling time apart. 

However, there are some differences between these two tenses.

While present perfect focuses on the activity’s result, present perfect continuous cares more about the activity. For example:

• You’ve cleaned your bedroom! It looks neat! (the result is the neat bedroom)
• She’s been gardening. The weather’s so lovely out there. (gardening because of the nice weather)

Present perfect answers “how many” questions, whereas present perfect continuous prefers “how long”.

• He has read 15 books this summer.
• Kathy has been reading that book all day.

Besides, present perfect describes a finished action (having an impact on the present), but the action in present perfect continuous is likely to continue. For instance:

• I’ve written essays, and one of them now receives an A. (finish writing – the result at the present)
• I’ve been writing essays. (not done yet)

Also, we use present perfect continuous when we can see proof of recent actions.

• The flowers are wet. Has it been raining all day?
• I know, I look quite pale now. I’ve been running for hours!

When discussing ongoing EVENTS or STATES, the present perfect is frequently used with the words “for”, “since”.

• How long have Duke and Clara known each other? (“know” is not an action verb, although Duke and Clara still know each other now)
• They’ve known each other since they were kids.

With the same signal words, however, present perfect continuous presents ongoing, repeated ACTIONS.

• How long has Alex been playing football? (they are still playing now, and “play” is an action)
• He has been playing football every Saturday afternoon for years.

Present Continuous Or Simple Future?

Most new English learners find the present continuous and future simple similar. This leads to common grammatical mistakes when speaking and writing. 

The two tenses differ due to the length of the respective time periods. Present continuous (present progressive) refers to current acts and events, predictions with evidence, or near-future plans. Meanwhile, future simple form relates to future actions and events, uncertain predictions, or spontaneous promises.

• She will turn up on time for tomorrow’s meeting. (We predict that she will come to the appointment on time)
• Not: She is going to turn up on time for tomorrow’s meeting. (We can’t be 100% sure whether she will come to the meeting timely or not)
• I am meeting Jacob at 7 o’clock. (We describe an upcoming plan or event)
• Not: I will meet Jacob at 7 o’clock. (We can’t use “will” to talk about near future plans)
• Wait a second. I will take the order. (This decision is made on the spot)
• Wait a second. I am going to take the order. (This action is being done at present)

Time for some exercise! It’s best to revise your knowledge with a little practice.

• Water _________________ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.
• Clara always _________________ (get up) at 6 in the morning because she _________________ (need) to catch the bus for school.
• He usually _________________ (drink) coffee, but today he _________________ (drink) tea.
• I am sorry I can’t hear what you _________________ (say) because everyone _________________ (talk) so loudly.
• That dress _________________ (fit) you perfectly. You _________________ (look) great.
• Do you want to drink something? I _________________ (go out).
• Look at those heavy gray clouds. It _________________ (rain).
• I _________________ (be) to many countries in Europe, but I _________________ (never visit) Poland.
• Anne _________________ (not eat) any meat since she was six.
•  My aunt _________________ (live) in the United States for over a decade.
•  The authorities _________________ (work) on a new set of guidelines for ages.
•  Billy is a great journalist. His newspaper _________________ (just offer) him an editing job.
•  Josh is so lazy. He never  _________________ (try) to help his mother do the chores.
•  Our team is in Berlin this week. We _________________ (take) part in a contest.
•  Can you help me, please? I _________________ (look) for Dr.Carlos’s office.

Answers For Exercise

Great job! Check the answers to see if you’ve grasped the concept of present tense!

• boils (present simple)
• gets up / needs (present simple)
• drinks / drinks (present simple)
• are saying / is talking (present continuous
• fits / look (present simple)
• am going out (present continuous)
• is going to rain (present continuous for a prediction with a proof)
• have been / have never visited (present perfect)
• has not eaten (present perfect)
•   has been living (present perfect continuous)
•   have been working (present perfect continuous)
•   has just offered (present perfect)
•   tries (present simple)
•   are taking (present continuous)
•   am looking (present continuous)

Final Words

Overall, present tenses in English seem easy, yet not as simple as you may think! Hope that this article has provided you with some helpful tips to avoid further mistakes when using this tense.

Practice makes perfect. Remember to do more exercise after reading the theory. Your English proficiency will improve in leaps and bounds!

If you have some advice or tips to prevent grammatical errors, feel free to share them in the comment section below!

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Definition of present

 (Entry 1 of 4)

Definition of present  (Entry 2 of 4)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

Definition of present  (Entry 3 of 4)

Definition of present  (Entry 4 of 4)

• fairing [ British ]
• freebee
• largess
• presentation
• present-day
• here and now

give , present , donate , bestow , confer , afford mean to convey to another as a possession.

give , the general term, is applicable to any passing over of anything by any means.

present carries a note of formality and ceremony.

donate is likely to imply a publicized giving (as to charity).

bestow implies the conveying of something as a gift and may suggest condescension on the part of the giver.

confer implies a gracious giving (as of a favor or honor).

afford implies a giving or bestowing usually as a natural or legitimate consequence of the character of the giver.

Examples of present in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'present.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from presenter

Middle English, from Anglo-French presenter , from Latin praesentare , from praesent-, praesens , adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin praesent-, praesens , from present participle of praeesse to be before one, from prae- pre- + esse to be — more at is

13th century, in the meaning defined above

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3b(1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Phrases Containing present

• all present and accounted for
• all present and correct
• at the present time
• co - present
• historical present
• present arms
• present company excepted
• present company excluded
• present - day
• present oneself
• present participle
• present perfect
• present tense
• present value
• present writer
• re - present
• the present
• the present day
• the present perfect
• the present writer
• there's no time like the present

Articles Related to present

We Got You This Article on 'Gift' vs....

We Got You This Article on 'Gift' vs. 'Present'

And yes, 'gift' is a verb.

Dictionary Entries Near present

presentable

Cite this Entry

“Present.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/present. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of present.

Kids Definition of present  (Entry 2 of 4)

Kids Definition of present  (Entry 3 of 4)

Kids Definition of present  (Entry 4 of 4)

Medical Definition

Medical definition of present, legal definition, legal definition of present.

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Legal Definition of present  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on present

Nglish: Translation of present for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of present for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about present

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Definition of presentation noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

presentation

• presentation on/about somebody/something The sales manager will give a presentation on the new products.
• Several speakers will be making short presentations .
• The conference will begin with a keynote presentation by a leading industry figure.
• a slide/video/multimedia presentation
• presentation on

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

• The trial was adjourned following the presentation of new evidence to the court.
• The presentation of prizes began after the speeches.
• The Mayor will make the presentation (= hand over the gift) herself.
• on presentation of something Members will be admitted on presentation of a membership card.
• a presentation copy (= a free book given by the author or publisher )
• a presentation ceremony/evening
• presentation to
• Improving the product's presentation (= the way it is wrapped, advertised, etc.) should increase sales.
• I admire the clear, logical presentation of her arguments.
• The main emphasis of the training will be on presentation skills .
• I've put my presentation on a memory stick.
• the school's annual presentation evening
• [countable] a performance of a play, etc. in a theatre
• [countable, uncountable] ( medical ) the position in which a baby is lying in the mother’s body just before birth

Nearby words

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Meaning of the present (tense) in English

The present (tense), translations of the present (tense).

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compassionate grounds

a reason, especially in law, to allow someone to do something out of sympathy for their suffering

Trial, judge, and jury: talking about what happens when a criminal is caught

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Look up a word, learn it forever.

Presentation, /prɛzənˈteɪʃɪn/, /prezənˈteɪʃən/.

Other forms: presentations

The noun presentation means the official giving, or presenting, of something. The presentation of diplomas at a graduation ceremony is the part that makes many of the parents in the audience cry.

A presentation can be a ceremony of giving some gift or award, and it can also be a demonstration or show — like a dog training presentation at your local pet store. Another meaning of presentation is a style of displaying something — like the presentation of plants and flowers in the florist's window or the presentation of food on a buffet table. In the 1600s, presentation was commonly used to mean "show or play," as in "a theatrical presentation ."

• noun the activity of formally presenting something (as a prize or reward) “she gave the trophy but he made the presentation ” see more see less type of: ceremony the proper or conventional behavior on some solemn occasion
• noun the act of presenting a proposal see more see less types: first reading the first presentation of a bill in a legislature second reading the second presentation of a bill in a legislature; to approve its general principles (Britain) or to discuss a committee's report and take a vote (US) type of: proposal , proposition the act of making a proposal
• noun the act of making something publicly available; presenting news or other information by broadcasting or printing it “he prepared his presentation carefully in advance” see more see less types: unveiling putting on display for the first time production a presentation for the stage or screen or radio or television staging , theatrical production the production of a drama on the stage type of: display exhibiting openly in public view
• noun formally making a person known to another or to the public synonyms: intro , introduction see more see less types: debut the presentation of a debutante in society reintroduction an act of renewed introduction type of: informing , making known a speech act that conveys information
• noun a show or display; the act of presenting something to sight or view “the presentation of new data” synonyms: demonstration , presentment see more see less types: show 19 types... hide 19 types... exhibition the act of exhibiting exposure presentation to view in an open or public manner performance the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment lecture demonstration presentation of an example of what the lecturer is discoursing about counterdemonstration a demonstration held in opposition to another demonstration dramatic performance , dramatic production the act of performing a drama encore an extra or repeated performance; usually given in response to audience demand extemporisation , extemporization , improvisation a performance given extempore without planning or preparation juggle , juggling throwing and catching several objects simultaneously conjuration , conjuring trick , deception , illusion , legerdemain , magic , magic trick , thaumaturgy , trick an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers musical performance the act of performing music one-night stand a performance in one place on one night only interpretation , rendering , rendition the act of interpreting something as expressed in an artistic performance last hurrah , swan song a final performance or effort (especially before retirement) debunking , repudiation the exposure of falseness or pretensions production (law) the act of exhibiting in a court of law rodeo an exhibition of cowboy skills program , programme a performance (or series of performances) at a public presentation reprise the act of performing a role again type of: show the act of publicly exhibiting or entertaining
• noun a visual representation of something synonyms: display see more see less types: show 5 types... hide 5 types... float an elaborate display mounted on a platform carried by a truck (or pulled by a truck) in a procession or parade Snellen chart display consisting of a printed card with letters and numbers in lines of decreasing size; used to test visual acuity spectacle an elaborate and remarkable display on a lavish scale bullfight , corrida a Spanish or Portuguese or Latin American spectacle; a matador baits and (usually) kills a bull in an arena before many spectators naumachia , naumachy a naval spectacle; a mock sea battle put on by the ancient Romans type of: representation a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something
• noun (obstetrics) position of the fetus in the uterus relative to the birth canal “Cesarean sections are sometimes the result of abnormal presentations ” see more see less type of: attitude , position , posture the arrangement of the body and its limbs

Vocabulary lists containing presentation

To improve your fluency in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR), learn this academic vocabulary list that includes words selected from the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) state standards.

Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grades 9 and 10. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1 , List 2 , List 3 , List 4 , List 5 , List 6 , List 7 , List 8

Vocabulary is key to performing well on Common Core-aligned tests for English Language Arts as well as for building literacy in social studies, science, and technical subjects. This collection features common tier-2 words that are taught and tested in Grade 6. These words are used in a variety of contexts, exhibit different shades of meaning based on those contexts, and appear commonly in classroom instruction and on standardized assessments. Here are links to our lists for the collection: List 1 , List 2 , List 3 , List 4 , List 5 , List 6 , List 7 , List 8

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