Present Tenses – Simple, Progressive, Perfect • ESLnote Grammar

Clear forms, signals, examples, common mistakes, and a quick interactive practice for intermediate learners.

Today: we'll compare three present tenses and practise when to use each one. Read the rules, look at examples, then try the short practice below.

Quick grammar overview

Tense	Form	Use	Example
Simple Present	base verb / adds -s (3rd sg)	habits, general truths, schedules, permanent states	I work on Mondays. • She lives in Seattle.
Present Progressive	be (am/is/are) + verb -ing	actions now, temporary situations, changing trends	I am teaching this class now. • They are staying in a hotel this week.
Present Perfect	have / has + past participle	past actions connected to now; experiences; actions started in past and continuing	I have visited London. • She has worked here for five years.

Forms & signal words

Tense	Common signal words	Notes
Simple Present	always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week/month	Third-person adds -s (he/she/it).
Present Progressive	now, at the moment, this week, today (temporary), currently	Not used with stative verbs (know, like, believe) in most cases.
Present Perfect	already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for, recently, lately	Use to connect past → present; exact time usually not given.

Important contrasts (with examples)

Habit vs. happening now

Habit: I work from home on Fridays. (routine)
Now / temporary: I am working from home this week. (temporary)

Past → now (present perfect) vs. finished past

Present perfect: She has lived in Bangkok for three years. (she still lives there)
Past simple: She lived in Bangkok in 2010. (finished, time given)

Stative verbs

Verbs of state (know, like, believe, understand, own) usually use the simple present, not -ing forms:

I know the answer (NOT *I am knowing*).

Common learner mistakes

✖️ She work here. → ✔️ She works here.
✖️ I am knowing him. → ✔️ I know him.
✖️ I have seen him yesterday. → ✔️ I saw him yesterday. (use past simple with finished time)
✖️ He is always arriving late. → ✔️ Use present continuous + always only to show annoyance or repetition with emotion: He is always arriving late. (acceptable for irritation)

Short grammar checklist

Is it a general truth or habit? → Simple present.
Is it happening now or temporary? → Present progressive.
Does the past action connect to now, or is the exact time unimportant? → Present perfect.

Quick practice (interactive)

Three short tasks. Type the missing words or choose the best option, then click Check Answers. This is a warm-up — no account needed.

1) Fill the gap with the correct form of the verb in parentheses:

She (live) in Madrid since 2018.

2) Choose the best tense (select):

• "I _______ English classes now."

3) Is this sentence correct? (Yes / No)

• "I have finished my homework yesterday."

Teaching tips (for instructors)

Use timelines on the board: show "past — now — future" and place examples under each tense.
Contrast pairs quickly (habit vs temporary) to build intuition: one board column for Simple Present, one for Progressive, one for Perfect.
Give controlled practice first (fill-the-gap), then freer speaking prompts: "Tell me something you have done this year."

Present Tenses: Simple Present • Present Progressive • Present Perfect