English grammar

Present Tenses

English has 4 present tenses. Each one has a different job.

Class Present Tenses

These are the forms taught in English classes all over the world. We show them with real videos, not made-up ones.

Present Simple

Subject + base verb (+ -s for he/she/it)

We use it for daily things, facts, and things that are always true. It is the most common tense in English.

Present Continuous

Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

We use it for things happening now, short plans, and things that will happen soon.

Present Perfect

Subject + have/has + past participle

It joins the past and now. We use it for experiences, news, and things that started before and are still true. Many students find this tense hard.

Present Perfect Continuous

Subject + have/has been + verb-ing

It shows how long something has been happening. We use it for actions that started before and are still going, or just stopped.

There's / There Are

There + is/are/was/were (+ something)

We use this to talk about something new. Or to say what is in a place. "There's a problem." "There are three choices." "There was no one around." People often say "there's" even with many things: "There's a lot of people."