Present tense

English verbs barely conjugate — one ending, -s, on he/she/it — but English has two presents and insists you choose: the simple (habits, facts) and the continuous (right now, temporary). Speakers of French, Spanish, Italian and German have one present for both; this is the thing to watch.

Present simple — habits, facts, schedules

Spelling: go → goes, do → does, watch → watches, study → studies, have → has.

Use it for:

• Habits & routines: I drink coffee every morning.
• General truths: Water boils at 100 °C.
• Timetables: The train leaves at six.
• States (verbs of thinking, feeling, possessing, sensing): I know. She likes it. We have a car. It seems fine. These rarely go continuous.

Present continuous — in progress, temporary, arranged

am / is / are + verb-ing

Spelling: make → making, run → running, lie → lying.

Use it for:

• Right now: I*'m eating** — can I call you back?*
• Around now, temporary: She*'s living** in Rome this year.*
• Changing situations: Prices are rising.
• Fixed future arrangements: We*'re meeting** at eight.*

The contrast that matters

When a Romance speaker says I work now they usually mean I*'m working** now.*

Questions and negatives need an auxiliary

Simple: do / does — Do you work? · She doesn't work. Continuous: be is already there — Are you working? · She isn't working.

be and have

Have got (British) = have, for possession: I*'ve got** a car.*

Present for the future

• Timetables: The film starts at nine.
• Arrangements: I*'m seeing** the dentist tomorrow.*
• Otherwise use will or going to — see Future & conditional.

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