Tenses - Present Tense

   

 THE  PRESENT  TENSE :--
  

      A Verb, that refers to present time, is said to be in the Present Tense; as,

    
     * I write.

     * You go.

     * Hema sings.

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   FORMS   OF   PRESENT   TENSE :--
 

  1. The Present Indefinite or the Simple Present Tense

  2. The Present Continuous Tense

  3. The Present Perfect Tense

  4. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense

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   USES   OF   PRESENT   TENSE :--

    {A} THE PRESENT INDEFINITE OR SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE :--
    

    ** This tense is used---

      (a) To expresses a habitual action; as,
         

         * He goes to school daily.

         * I get up everyday at five o' clock.

     
      (b) To express general truth; as,
         

         * The earth revolves round the sun.

         * Honey is sweet.

     
      (c) To introduce quotations; as,
         

         * Keats says, "A thing of beauty is joy for ever".

     

    (d) To express a future event that is part of fixed programme; as,
        

         * The next flight is at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

         * The match starts at 9 o' clock.

     

   (e) In exclamatory sentences begining with 'here' and 'there' to express what is actually taking place in the present; as,
         

         * Here comes the bus !

         * There she goes !

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  2. THE   PRESENT   CONTINUOUS   TENSE:--
    

      This is used --

      (*) For an action going on at the time of speaking; as,
         

         * She is singing (now).

         * The boys are playing.

         * Mohan is reading his book.

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  3. THE   PRESENT   PERFECT   TENSE :--

      This is used --

       (a) To indicate completed action in the immediate past (with just); as,
          

           * He has just gone out.

           * The sun has just risen.

       (b) To describe past events when we think more of their effect in the present than of the action itself; as,
         

           * I have finished my work.

           * Gopal has eaten all the biscuits.

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  4. THE   PRESENT   PERFECT    CONTINUOU  TENSE :--

      This is used --

 (*) For an action which began at some time in the past and still continuing; as,
     

           * I have been playing since four o' clock.

           * He has been playing for five hours.

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