ESL Grammar: PRESENT TENSE (1) – Introduction

This ESL grammar lesson introduces students to the present tense, which is used to talk about things that always happen, things that are always true, or habits.

The present tense is a fundamental aspect of English grammar, used to talk about things that always happen, things that are always true, or habits. In this lesson, we will explore how to use the present tense correctly, along with examples and practice exercises to help you master this essential tense.

ESL Grammar: What is the Present Tense?

The present tense describes actions or states that are currently happening, habitual actions, or general truths. There are two main forms of the present tense: the simple present and the present continuous. This lesson focuses on the simple present tense.

Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense is used to describe:

1. Habitual actions or routines: Actions that happen regularly or habits.
2. General truths: Facts that are always true.
3. Scheduled events: Events that are planned and scheduled.
4. States of being: Descriptions of conditions or situations that are generally true.

Examples:

• She walks to school every day. (habitual action)
• The sun rises in the east. (general truth)
• The train leaves at 6 PM. (scheduled event)
• He loves chocolate. (state of being)

The English grammar lesson below introduces the present tense with several examples, in a clear and simple manner that is easy for beginner English learners to understand. Our series of ESL grammar lessons on subjects and verbs introduce these concepts and reinforce them through helpful and instructive exercises.

This lesson is available for free download, and you can download many more English grammar lessons focusing on basic English tenses (present tense, present continuous tense, past tense, future tense) in our comprehensive, beginner-level ESL grammar textbook Great, Great Grammar! (Book 2: Tenses).