The Present

Simple present tense is the most commonly used tenses, showing facts, actions
taking place one after another, action set by a timetable or schedule and action
in the present taking place once, never or several times.

Pattern Signal Words Affirmative Negative Question

Does he work very hard in

always, every, never,
the company?
Subject + Verb normally, often, He always works very He does not work very
Yes, he does. / No, he
(present form) sometimes, usually, hard in the company. hard in the company.
does not.
seldom
 Present continuous tense mainly indicates action taking place in the moment of
speaking. It could also be used for action taking place only for a limited period of
time and those arranged for the future.

Pattern Signal Words Affirmative Negative Question

Subject + Is he playing computer

at the moment, just now,
AM/IS/ARE + Verb - Look! He is talking He is not playing games at the moment?
now, right now, Listen!,
ing (continuous with his classmates. computer games now. Yes, he is. / No, he is not.
Look!
form)
 Present perfect tense puts emphasis on the result. It shows action that is still going
on or stopped recently. Moreover, it also shows finished action that has influence
on the present and has taken place once, never or several times before the
moment of speaking.

Pattern Signal Words Affirmative Negative Question

Has he completed the

Subject + arrangement for the coming
already, ever, just, He has already
HAS/HAVE+ Verb III He has not been to event up to now?
never, not yet, so far, till finished his
(past participle Australia so far. Yes, he has. / No, he has
now, up to now homework. not.
form)
 Present perfect continuous tense is also used with action that recently stopped or is
still going on and finished action that influence the present. However, compared with
the above one, present perfect continuous tense pays more attention on the course
or duration instead of the result.
Pattern Signal Words Affirmative Negative Question

Has he been playing the

Subject + HAS/HAVE for the past 5 years, how He has not been computer game all day?
He has been working
+ BEEN + Verb -ing long ?, the whole speaking for the last 3 Yes, he has. / No, he has
here since 1996.
(continuous form) week, since xxxx hours. not.