Let’s compare PRESENT VERB TENSES in ENGLISH Simple / Progressive / Perfect / Perfect Progressive

Let’s compare PRESENT VERB TENSES in ENGLISH Simple / Progressive / Perfect / Perfect Progressive

Explanation + Extra Practice

Let’s compare the Simple Present / Present Progressive / Present Perfect / Present Perfect Progressive

Here’s an easy explanation of the differences between “I eat,” “I am eating,” “I have eaten,” and “I have been eating” with examples:


1. I eat – (Present Simple)

“I eat” describes a regular habit, routine, or something that happens in general.

Examples:

  • I eat breakfast every day at 7 AM. (habit)
  • I eat pizza on weekends. (regular action)

This tense talks about actions that happen regularly, not what you are doing right now.


2. I am eating – (Present Continuous/Progressive)

“I am eating” describes something happening right now, at this moment.

Examples:

  • I am eating lunch right now. (in progress at this moment)
  • I am eating pizza at the moment.

This tense is used when you are in the middle of an action at the current time.


3. I have eaten – (Present Perfect)

“I have eaten” describes something that happened in the past but has a connection to the present. It shows that the action is complete but affects now.

Examples:

  • I have eaten breakfast, so I’m not hungry now. (finished action with present result)
  • I have eaten pizza before. (I’ve tried it before in the past)

This tense is used to show that an action is complete and focuses on the result in the present.


4. I have been eating – (Present Perfect Continuous)

“I have been eating” describes an action that started in the past and continues or just recently finished. It focuses on the duration of the action.

Examples:

  • I have been eating lunch for 30 minutes. (started in the past and is still happening or just ended)
  • I have been eating pizza for an hour.

This tense is used when you want to emphasize how long an action has been happening, especially if it is still happening or has only just finished.


Summary:

  • I eat → Regular habit or general action.
  • I am eating → Action happening right now.
  • I have eaten → Completed action with a result that affects the present.
  • I have been eating → An action that started in the past and has continued for some time, often with a focus on how long it has been happening.

These different forms help show when and how an action is happening in relation to time!


Extra Practice

Beginner Level (15 Questions)

Instructions: Choose the correct form of the verb for each sentence.

  1. I __________ (eat) breakfast every day.
    a) eat
    b) am eating
    c) have eaten
  2. She __________ (play) soccer right now.
    a) plays
    b) is playing
    c) has played
  3. They __________ (live) in this city since 2020.
    a) live
    b) are living
    c) have lived
  4. He __________ (not go) to the city often.
    a) doesn’t go
    b) isn’t going
    c) don’t go
  5. I __________ (finish) my homework, so I can relax.
    a) finish
    b) am finishing
    c) have finished
  6. We __________ (study) for the exam every week.
    a) study
    b) are studying
    c) have studied
  7. They __________ (play) video games for three hours.
    a) play
    b) are playing
    c) have been playing
  8. She __________ (not read) that book yet.
    a) doesn’t read
    b) isn’t reading
    c) hasn’t read
  9. I __________ (go) to the gym every morning.
    a) go
    b) am going
    c) have gone
  10. He __________ (work) on his project right now.
    a) works
    b) is working
    c) has worked
  11. We __________ (not eat) lunch yet, so we’re hungry.
    a) don’t eat
    b) aren’t eating
    c) haven’t eaten
  12. You __________ (watch) a movie this evening.
    a) watch
    b) are watching
    c) have watched
  13. I __________ (not see) that movie before.
    a) don’t see
    b) am not seeing
    c) haven’t seen
  14. They __________ (work) on the project since last week.
    a) work
    b) are working
    c) have been working
  15. She __________ (dance) at the club right now.
    a) dances
    b) is dancing
    c) has danced

Answers (Beginner Level):

  1. a) eat
  2. b) is playing
  3. c) have lived
  4. a) doesn’t go
  5. c) have finished
  6. a) study
  7. c) have been playing
  8. c) hasn’t read
  9. a) go
  10. b) is working
  11. c) haven’t eaten
  12. b) are watching
  13. c) haven’t seen
  14. c) have been working
  15. b) is dancing

Intermediate Level (15 Questions)

Instructions: Choose the correct form of the verb for each sentence.

  1. I __________ (be) in this class for a few months now and have learned a lot.
    a) am
    b) have been
    c) have
  2. She __________ (attend) the meeting at the moment.
    a) attends
    b) is attending
    c) has attended
  3. They __________ (not finish) their project, but they are making progress.
    a) don’t finish
    b) aren’t finishing
    c) haven’t finished
  4. He __________ (not practice) the piano today, so he feels unprepared.
    a) doesn’t practice
    b) isn’t practicing
    c) hasn’t practiced
  5. We __________ (study) English every Tuesday and Thursday.
    a) study
    b) are studying
    c) have studied
  6. She __________ (work) on her assignment for two hours now and needs a break.
    a) works
    b) is working
    c) has been working
  7. I __________ (eat) lunch while you were at the store.
    a) eat
    b) am eating
    c) have eaten
  8. They __________ (play) soccer in the park every Saturday.
    a) play
    b) are playing
    c) have played
  9. He __________ (not see) that film yet, but he wants to.
    a) doesn’t see
    b) isn’t seeing
    c) hasn’t seen
  10. We __________ (watch) the series since last month, and we love it.
    a) watch
    b) are watching
    c) have been watching
  11. I __________ (not read) the article yet because I was busy.
    a) don’t read
    b) am not reading
    c) haven’t read
  12. She __________ (look) for her keys for an hour and still can’t find them.
    a) looks
    b) is looking
    c) has looked
  13. They __________ (discuss) the new policy for a while now.
    a) discuss
    b) are discussing
    c) have discussed
  14. I __________ (call) you later today after my meeting.
    a) call
    b) am calling
    c) have called
  15. He __________ (travel) to many countries for work over the years.
    a) travels
    b) is traveling
    c) has traveled

Answers (Intermediate Level):

  1. b) have been
  2. b) is attending
  3. c) haven’t finished
  4. a) doesn’t practice
  5. a) study
  6. c) has been working
  7. a) eat
  8. a) play
  9. c) hasn’t seen
  10. c) have been watching
  11. c) haven’t read
  12. b) is looking
  13. b) are discussing
  14. b) am calling
  15. c) has traveled

Advanced Level (15 Questions)

Instructions: Choose the correct form of the verb for each sentence.

  1. I __________ (never try) that restaurant, but I hear it’s excellent.
    a) never try
    b) am never trying
    c) have never tried
  2. She __________ (consider) changing her career path recently.
    a) considers
    b) is considering
    c) has considered
  3. They __________ (not finish) their presentation, but they are close.
    a) don’t finish
    b) aren’t finishing
    c) haven’t finished
  4. He __________ (be) very busy with work lately and feels overwhelmed.
    a) is
    b) has been
    c) was
  5. We __________ (practice) for the competition every weekend.
    a) practice
    b) are practicing
    c) have practiced
  6. I __________ (study) this topic for hours, and I still have questions.
    a) study
    b) am studying
    c) have studied
  7. She __________ (attend) online classes this semester.
    a) attends
    b) is attending
    c) has attended
  8. They __________ (work) on the same project for a month now.
    a) work
    b) are working
    c) have been working
  9. I __________ (not see) you around here before.
    a) don’t see
    b) am not seeing
    c) haven’t seen
  10. He __________ (clean) his room every Saturday without fail.
    a) cleans
    b) is cleaning
    c) has cleaned
  11. We __________ (wait) for the results for over a week.
    a) wait
    b) are waiting
    c) have been waiting
  12. I __________ (just finish) the report, and now I can relax.
    a) just finish
    b) am just finishing
    c) have just finished
  13. She __________ (not make) a decision yet, as she is still considering options.
    a) doesn’t make
    b) isn’t making
    c) hasn’t made
  14. They __________ (discuss) their plans for the trip at the moment.
    a) discuss
    b) are discussing
    c) have discussed
  15. He __________ (visit) several countries this year for business.
    a) visits
    b) is visiting
    c) has visited

Answers (Advanced Level):

  1. c) have never tried
  2. b) is considering
  3. c) haven’t finished
  4. b) has been
  5. a) practice
  6. b) am studying
  7. b) is attending
  8. c) have been working
  9. c) haven’t seen
  10. a) cleans
  11. c) have been waiting
  12. c) have just finished
  13. c) hasn’t made
  14. b) are discussing
  15. c) has visited
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