A1 · Beginner Chapter 2

Present Tenses

2 Total Rules
2 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of talking about your daily routines and what you are doing right now.

  • Describe daily habits using the Present Simple.
  • Explain actions happening at this moment with the Present Continuous.
  • Apply verb endings correctly based on the subject.
Speak about your life, past, present, and future.

What You'll Learn

Basic present tense guide.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe your daily schedule and current activities in short sentences.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Learn the basics of present tense.

Key Examples (2)

1

I study English.

Present Simple
2

I am studying.

Present Continuous

Tips & Tricks (2)

💡

The 'S' Rule

Always check your subject. If it's one person (not you), add an 's'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Simple
💡

The 'Right Now' Test

If you can add 'right now' to the end of your sentence and it makes sense, use the Present Continuous!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous

Key Vocabulary (6)

usually typically work to perform labor now at this moment study to learn listen to hear attentively always at all times

Real-World Preview

coffee

Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb (+s/es for he/she/it)
  • Subject + am/is/are + Verb-ing

Common Mistakes

In Present Simple, third-person singular (he, she, it) requires an 's' at the end of the verb.

Wrong: He work every day.
Correct: He works every day.

Don't forget the 'to be' verb (am, is, are) before the -ing verb.

Wrong: I eating now.
Correct: I am eating now.

Use the -ing form for actions happening now, not the base verb.

Wrong: I am work now.
Correct: I am working now.

Next Steps

You have taken the first step on your English journey. Keep practicing and stay curious!

Describe your house out loud for 5 minutes.

Continue to: Naming Things and People

Quick Practice (6)

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

They playing basketball in the park.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They are playing
The auxiliary verb 'are' is missing.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous

Choose the correct sentence.

Which sentence is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I like this pizza.
'Like' is a stative verb and is usually used in the Present Simple.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous

Find the mistake in the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Does he likes chocolate?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: likes
In questions with 'does', the main verb should be in the base form: 'like'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Simple

Choose the correct negative form.

They ___ like spicy food.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: don't
We use 'don't' for the subject 'they'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Simple

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

She ___ (watch) a movie at the moment.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is watching
We use 'is' for 'she' and add '-ing' to the verb.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Continuous

Fill in the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

She ___ (go) to the gym every morning.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: goes
For 'she', we add -es to 'go'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Simple

Score: /6

Common Questions (4)

This is a historical leftover from Old English. It's the only person that kept a unique ending in the present tense.
Yes, but only for fixed schedules like The bus leaves at 9 PM or The concert starts tomorrow.
I work is your general job (habit). I am working means you are doing your job right now.
Yes! Use it for fixed plans, like I am meeting my boss tomorrow.
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