## Present Tense Summary

### The present simple and present continuous tenses

Present simple
The present simple tense is used for habits, I always wake up at 6am, permanent situations He lives in New York and truth The sun rises in the east.

It uses an s on the verb in the third person singular (he / she / it)
I / You / We / They play
He / She / It plays
It uses do(n't) or does(n't) in questions and negatives
I don't know.
She doesn't live here
Do you work hard?
Does it rain a lot?

Present continuous
The present continuous tense is used for actions happening now, I am talking to you! Listen to me!, or around now I'm staying at my parents house this week and next.

It is always formed using the verb be and an ing verb.
I am eating dinner.
You / We / They aren't eating dinner.
Is he / she / it eating dinner?

The future
The present continuous can be used for future arrangements - these are strong future plans.

I'm having dinner tomorrow.
They're driving to Madrid next week.
The present simple can be used for timetabled future events - such as bus, train or aeroplane departures.
My flight leaves at 6.30 tomorrow.
The queen opens the museum at 3.30pm on Monday.
State verbs
Some verbs cannot be used continuously. These are called state verbs. For example: need, know, want, have (possess). They are usually used in the simple form, even if we would normally use the continuous tense.
I am really hungry. I want some food.
I have three children.