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Present tenses overview The present simple and present continuous are used in See also:

different situations. There are different ways to form
Present simple 1 Present continuous 4
questions and negatives with these tenses. Forming questions 34 Infinitives and participles 51

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The present simple is used to talk about This is always true. This is a repeated action.
permanent situations, regular occurrences,
things that are always true, repeated actions,
and ongoing states.
This is a continuing state.
This is a repeated action happening
This is a temporary situation. around the present moment.
The present continuous is used to refer
to temporary situations, repeated actions
around the present moment, and ongoing
actions in the present moment.

This is an ongoing action
in the present moment.

PRESENT TENSE QUESTIONS PRESENT TENSE NEGATIVES

Present simple Present simple
questions with “be” negatives with
are formed differently “be” are formed
from other verbs. The form of “be” comes “Do” or “does” is added differently from “Not” is added after “Do not” or “does not” is added
before the subject. before the subject. other verbs. the form of “be.” between the subject and main verb.

Present continuous Present continuous
questions are always negatives are always
formed in the same way. formed in the same way.
The form of “be” comes “Not” is added after
before the subject. the form of “be.”

COMMON MISTAKES USING “S” IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE

“-s” is never added to the base form of the AFFIRMATIVE QUESTION NEGATIVE
verb when asking a question or making a
negative sentence, even in the third person An “-s” is added to the base The verb always goes in its The base form is used
singular (“he,” “she,” or “it”). form in affirmative sentences. base form in questions. in the negative.

The base form without an “-s” is only “-s” or “-es” are not added to the “-s” or “-es” are not added to the
used for “I,” “you,” “we,” and “they.” main verb when asking a question. main verb in negative sentences.

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