Present simple
This is the most common of the present tenses. It is used for certain meanings, and also when the meaning is not covered by one of the other tenses, so use it if you are not sure which present tense is right.

Main meanings:
- frequency (how often an action is carried out)
In my school, prizes are given once a year.
- a general or permanent truth (not only now)
Good teachers explain the subject in a way that their students can understand.
- This tense also has a future meaning: see Student’s Book page 140.

Present continuous
Main meanings:
- a temporary activity happening at this moment
I won’t interrupt Johnny now because he’s writing an assignment.
- a temporary activity happening around now
In the music classes this year we’re using different materials to make instruments.
Only verbs referring to an action, whether physical or mental, can be used in the continuous tenses. This sentence is grammatical because the verb refers to a temporary action:
You’re being very silly.
However this sentence is ungrammatical, because to believe doesn’t refer to an action:
I’m believing in the importance of studying with other people.
This should be:
I believe in the importance of studying with other people.
- This tense also has a future meaning: See Student’s Book page 140.

Present perfect simple
This tense connects the past with the present.
Main meanings:
- an action or situation that started in the past and continues to the present
Schools of some sort have existed for well over two thousand years.
I’ve never studied economics.
- an action or situation that finished at an unspecified time in the past
The only foreign language I’ve studied is Spanish.
- an action or situation that started in the past, and may or may not have finished.
The emphasis is on its result in the present.
I’ve forgotten my password, so I can’t access my emails.

The present perfect simple is generally used with just, yet and the first/only time.
I haven’t finished reading this book yet.
That was a really good lecture – it’s the first time I’ve understood the subject.

Present perfect continuous
This combines the meanings of the continuous and perfect tenses.
Main meanings:
- actions which have lasted for some time and are likely to continue. Often a length of time is given.
I’ve been studying chemistry for three years and there’s another year to go.
- actions which have lasted for some time and have just stopped. Usually no length of time is given.
I’ve been reading about colleges in this area, and there are several that offer the qualification I want.
Like the present continuous, this tense can only be used with verbs referring to a physical or mental action.


These activities practise this Grammar: