Simple present and continuous present/continuous present tense

Obviously, time, tense, and aspects determine the functioning and formation of present tense. Simple present and continuous present tense are forms of present tense. Simple present describes state, qualities, and habitual actions. While, present continuous expresses action that is going on at the time of expression.

“Verb tense and time reference” in formation and functioning of present tense

“Verb tense” is a mean to show the time in which action or activity is occurred. It is expressed through conjugated forms of verbs.

In short, being the property of “Verb”, tense indicates the whether the action or activity is happened “Before, after, or now”

“Before – Now – After”

Neem is a deciduous tree. (describes state, characteristics, or nature)
It sheds leaves in the early summer. (describes truth, habitual act)
Nowadays, neem trees are shedding leaves. (current continuous action or process)
It has already shed leaves to save water. (action or process is just over)
Since autumn, neem has been shedding leaves. (action has already begun but yet to be over)
Surely, neem is going to shed leaves sooner. (process hasn’t begun but will begin soon)

In the above examples, “verb tense and time references” are in the present tense.

No.	Types of Present tense	Purpose / time reference	conjugated forms of verbs
1	Simple present	Facts, habits, commentary, State or schedules	conjugated forms of “Be” and -s for main verb when third person singular subject
2	Present continuous	Attitude and present action/ now at the moment, planned future events	conjugated forms of “Be” and + ing for main verb
3	Present perfect continuous	action spannes over period/ since, for	conjugated forms of “to have alone” been and ing for main verb
4	Present perfect tense	For total sense of completion/ just, alread, so far, yet, still.	conjugated forms of “to have” and paste participle of main verb

Table 1. Functions of Present tense and formation

Here, there are two examples show same sentence structure but different situational meaning.

Surely, neem Is going to shed leaves.
Nowadays, neem trees are shedding leaves.

In such situations, “Adverbial of time” which acts as time reference to locate action, helps to bring clarity.

In the second example, “Nowadays” specify the time reference for occurring activity or action.

This is the reason why time reference is vital when verb tense seems confusing in terms of contextual meaning.

Exactly, the different forms of verb indicates different locations of time.

However, sometimes, mere verb tense doesn’t manifest exact location of time of activities or state.Hence, adverbial of time or time expression become necessary to determine temporal aspect of action or activity.

Structure of time aspects in present tense

Further, to understand the specific time structure of occurred action, activity, or state, you should know the extension of time aspects in the form of “Simple, continuous, and perfect” present tense.

For example, “Neem sheds leaves in the autumn season. (sheds – simple present tense) Currently, neem trees are shedding leaves. (are shedding – continuous present tense) So far, neem trees haven’t shed leaves. (haven’t shed – perfect present tense)

As such, all three examples highlight the aspects of verb in the form of “simple, continuous, and perfect” present tense.Therefore, for understanding proper functions of present tense in theory or situation, all above vital points need to be studied carefully.

Role and importance of simple present tense

Simple present tense do not take helping verbs nor does it take time reference. Except -s suffix, conjugated forms of verbs have no place in formation.

In our daily conversations, we frequently use simple present tense to describe habitual acts, general truths, game commentary, schedules, timetables, modalities, desires, etc.

Game commentary
General truths
Habitual acts
Schedules and time tables
Modalities and desires

First of all, let’s begin to learn the formation of simple present tense.

Understanding Formation of simple present tense

Grammatically, “Helping verbs” do not have role in the formation of simple present tense but linking verbs. For this, just go through the following examples.

Andrew drives the ball into the fence.
She looks upset today.
Linda is a primary school teacher.

Primary auxiliary verbs such as “To Be, to do, to have” are used but as “main verbs”.

I know that Linda is a primary school teacher.
I’m from Finland.
Bob does rehearsal daily.
He doesn’t want to be an athlete.
I have a sport bike.He has ten years experience.

Except -s suffix, no conjugated forms of verbs are applicable in this tense formation. But, this suffix is only taken for third-person singular subject.

Tony writes a short story.
He sings classic songs.
They dance for hobby.

For negative and interrogative forms, do, does, and don’t or doesn’t preferred.

Does he sing classic songs?
Or, does he not sing classic songs?

After this short overview of formation of simple present tense, now, let’s see the functions of present simple tense in detail..

Likewise, linking verbs link the description of subject with subject. Besides, dynamic action verbs are used to describe habits, daily activities.

Whereas, stative verbs state the condition or states of subject.

Major functions of Simple present tense

Andrew drives the ball into the fence. (drive -s for third person singular subject)
He catches the ball. (catch – es for this see the spelling rules in “correct use of action verbs on this website)
John runs to defend. (same formation)
They foil the attempt. (no -s suffix due to plural subject)

Tense to describe general truth

Water boils at 100 degree celsius.
Earth revolves around the sun.
Trees breathe through leaves.
Frog is a amphibian.

In addition, it can be used either to express true, non-hypothetical or unreal, hypothetical information.

Habitual acts by simple present

Generally, dynamic verbs or action verbs are used to express habits.

We exercise daily.
I wake up early for rehearsal.
She goes for jogging with her friends.
My father used to meditate in the morning.
It looks regular phenomenon in the form of repeated actions.

Here, “Exercise, wake up, jogging etc” are action verbs.

On the other hand, to express state of mind, conditions, emotions, stative verbs seem appropriate.

Technically speaking, simple present tense is used for both indicative and subjunctive mood.

“Indicative mood” is used to express real truth, statements or opinions. Whereas, subjunctive mood expresses hypothetical things, beliefs, wish, suggestions etc.

Marry is a school teacher by profession. (indicative mood)
I demand that school teacher be punctual. (subjunctive mood)

To form simple present tense, auxiliary verbs do not have place but they can play the role of main verb.

John is from Finland. (linking verb)
He has ten years of experience. (Has-main verb)
Really, she doesn’t want to be an athlete. (do,does- main verb)

However, modal verbs are applicable to express modalities. But, you know that modal verbs are used with base form of main verb without conjugations.

Hello, you should check out before 10 a.m. (Duty, obligation, recommendations)
What! How dare he challenge me? (expressing courage to do something)
Seriously, I would like to swim in this river. (desire or wish)
Why not? If I were you, I would go. (hypothetical imagination)

Moreover, conjugation form of main verb is absent in present simple except -s forms when there is third person-singular subject.

Present simple tense for schedules and timetables

This is another function of simple present tense. Widely, present simple tense we use to express upcoming schedules and timetables.

I know that tomorrow is holiday.
Definitely, your train leaves at 8 a.m.
The movie begin at 9 p.m.
Our discounts are valid till next month only.

So far, we have learnt the first part of functions of present tense. Now, let’s begin to learn functions of present continuous tense.

Explanation of formation of Continuous present tense

Tense is the basic property of “Verb” in english grammar and used to describe action or activity in respect to location of time. Whereas, “Time” refers when the action is happened relative to the current expression. Simply, “Present tense” indicates the action or activity at the time of current utterance. First of all, let’s know continuous present tense.

Robert kicks the ball. (simple)
He is a key player of his team. (simple)
Now, he is defending the ball (continuous)
Since morning, Robert has been playing there. (perfect continuous)
So far, he hasn’t made even a single goal for his team. (perfect present tense)

Above examples show simple, continuous, perfect continuous, and perfect present tense

So far, we have learned about the simple present tense as part of formation and functions of present tense.

Usages and functions of present progressive tense

It is another aspect of “Verb” indicates actions in continuation at the time of expression. Or, it also describes the actions planned for the future.

Mainly, action verbs compare to stative verbs are taken to express continuous actions, activities, and events.Unlike simple present tense, continuous present needs time reference, helping verbs and conjugated forms of main verb as + ing to show continuous action.

In this type, conjugated forms of “Be” function as helping auxiliaries.(Am, is, are)

Continuous present tense for actions happening at the time of expression