Present Tenses, Present continuous tense

A list of all English tenses, including:

- the structure of each tense
- explanations of usage
- examples of common errors and how to avoid making them.

Present tenses

• Structure of present simple
• Structure of present continuous

How to form the present simple tense in English.

Structure of present simple
positive	negative	question
I work in a bank. You work in a bank. We work in a bank. They work in a bank.	I don't (do not) work. You don't (do not) work. We don't (do not) work. They don't (do not) work.	Do I work in a bank? Do you work in a bank? Do we work in a bank? Do they work in a bank?
He works in a bank. She works in a bank. The bank opens at 9 o'clock.	He doesn't (does not) work. She doesn't (does not) work. It doesn't (does not) open at 9 o'clock.	Does he work? Does she work? Does it open at 9 o'clock?

Present simple - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
I working in London.	I work in London.	The gerund ing form is not used in the present simple.
He work in London.	He works in London.	The third person he, she, it adds the letter s.
He work in London?	Does he work in London?	Questions - third person: does + subject + infinitive. All other persons: do + subject + infinitive.
Work he in London?	Does he work in London?
He not work in London.	He doesn't work in London.	Negatives - third person: subject + doesn't + infinitive. All other persons: subject + don't + infinitive.

The present continuous tense is sometimes called the present progressive.

Here is how to form the present continuous tense in English.

Structure of present continuous
positive	negative	question
I'm (I am) reading a book.   You're (you are) reading.  We're (we are) reading.  They're (they are) reading.	I'm (I am) not reading. You're (you are) not reading. We're (we are) not reading. They're (they are) not reading.	Am I reading? Are you reading? Are we reading? Are they reading?
He's (he is) reading a book. She's (she is) reading a book. It's (it is) raining.	He's not / he isn't (he is not) reading. She's not / she isn't (she is not) reading. It's not / it isn't (it is not) raining.	Is he reading? Is she reading? Is it raining?

Present continuous - common mistakes
Common mistakes	Correct version	Why?
They still waiting for you.	They are still waiting for you.	to form a continuous tense we use be + -ing.
They are still waiting for you?	Are they still waiting for you?	In questions the subject (they) and the auxiliary verb (be) change places.
Do they still waiting for you?	Are they still waiting for you?
Where they are waiting for you?	Where are they waiting for you?
She doesn't watching TV.	She isn't watching TV.	To form the negative we put not after the verb be (am not, is not = isn't, are not = aren't).
I'm believing you.	I believe you.	Some verbs are not used in continuous tenses - these are called stative verbs (e.g. believe, come from, cost, depend, exist, feel, hate, like).