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English Grammar›Ch 2: Verbs & Tenses›Mastering the Present Tense Family
Nail Simple, Continuous, Perfect & Perfect Continuous for all competitive exams
The present tense family expresses habits, actions happening right now, completed actions with current relevance, and ongoing actions with duration. Always match your time markers with the correct verb form and remember that stative verbs never take continuous forms.
Quick Memory Hooks
| Tense Type | Key Structure | Exam Signal Words |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | V1 / V1+s/es | always, daily, universal truth |
| Present Continuous | is/am/are + V1+ing | now, at present, currently |
| Present Perfect | has/have + V3 | just, already, yet, never |
| Present Perf. Cont. | has/have been + V1+ing | since, for, how long |
Habit / Truth
(Universal fact routine)
Universal fact routine
The sun rises in the east.
Action Now
(Happening right now)
Happening right now
She is studying for her exam.
Just / Yet
(Completed recently)
Completed recently
He has just left the office.
Since / For
(Duration till now)
Duration till now
It has been raining since morning.
I am knowing the answer.I know the answer.
Stative verbs like know, believe, belong, contain never take continuous -ing forms.
He is living here since 2018.He has been living here since 2018.
Use present perfect continuous (has/have been + ing) with 'since' or 'for' to show duration.
I have seen him yesterday.I saw him yesterday.
Never use present perfect with past time markers like yesterday, last week, in 2020.
Q1.Select the correct sentence regarding stative verbs.
Q2.Choose the right option: She ________ in this institute for five years.