English Tenses Complete Guide: Present Tenses Explained with Examples & Exercises

English Present Tenses Complete Guide (All 4 Present Tenses)

English Grammar • Beginner-Friendly • Urdu Examples • Updated December 2025 • Practice Exercises Included

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Tenses are the backbone of English grammar because they tell us when an action happens. In this guide you’ll master all 4 Present Tenses with rules, formulas, examples, and exercises — plus Urdu explanations for fast understanding.

📚 Present Tenses Overview (All 4)

English has 12 tenses. Present tenses describe actions in the present time (and their different aspects).

✅ The 4 Present Tenses:
  1. Present Indefinite (Simple Present) — habits, routines, facts
  2. Present Continuous — action happening now / near now
  3. Present Perfect — completed action with present result
  4. Present Perfect Continuous — action started in past and still continuing
Tense Main Use Signal Words Urdu Hint
Present Indefinite Habits, facts always, usually, often عادت، حقیقت
Present Continuous Happening now now, at the moment ابھی، اس وقت
Present Perfect Completed + result now just, already, yet حال ہی میں مکمل
Present Perfect Continuous Duration till now for, since, all day ماضی سے شروع، اب تک جاری

🟦 Present Indefinite Tense (Simple Present)

Used for habits, routines, facts, and general truths.

🧩 Formula:
I/You/We/They + V1
He/She/It + V1 + s/es

Common Uses

Usage English Example Urdu Signals
Daily Habits I wake up at 6 AM daily. میں روزانہ صبح ۶ بجے اٹھتا ہوں۔ alwaysusuallyoften
Facts / Truths The sun rises in the east. سورج مشرق سے نکلتا ہے۔ alwaysnever
Scheduled Events The train leaves at 8 PM. ٹرین شام ۸ بجے چھوڑتی ہے۔ dailyweekly
Permanent Situations She works in a bank. وہ بینک میں کام کرتی ہیں۔ permanently

He/She/It Rules (s / es / ies)

  • Most verbs: add -s → work → works, play → plays
  • Ends in s, ss, sh, ch, x, o: add -es → go → goes, wash → washes
  • Consonant + y: y → ies → study → studies

Negative & Questions

Type Formula Example
Negative Subject + do/does + not + V1 She does not work.
Question Do/Does + Subject + V1? Does she work?
⚠️ Common Mistake: Do/Does کے ساتھ verb پر s/es نہیں آتا۔
❌ Does she works?
✅ Does she work?

🟦 Present Continuous Tense

Used for actions happening right now, temporary situations, and future arrangements.

🧩 Formula:
Subject + am/is/are + V-ing
Situation Example Urdu Signals
Happening now I am studying English. میں ابھی انگریزی پڑھ رہا ہوں۔ nowright now
Temporary She is staying with her parents this week. وہ اس ہفتے اپنے والدین کے ساتھ رہ رہی ہیں۔ this week
Changing situation The climate is getting warmer. موسم گرم ہو رہا ہے۔ gettingbecoming
Future plan We are meeting tomorrow. ہم کل مل رہے ہیں۔ tomorrownext week

Verb + ing Rules

  • Most verbs: add -ing → work → working
  • Ends in -e: drop e → write → writing
  • CVC verbs: double last letter → run → running
  • Ends in -ie: change to -ying → lie → lying

🟦 Present Perfect Tense

Used for actions completed in the past but having present relevance.

🧩 Formula:
Subject + has/have + V3 (past participle)
Usage Example Urdu Signals
Recently completed I have finished my work. میں نے اپنا کام ختم کر لیا ہے۔ justalready
Life experience She has visited London. اس نے لندن کا دورہ کیا ہے۔ evernever
Unfinished time I have studied today. میں نے آج پڑھائی کی ہے۔ todaythis week
Present result He has lost his keys. اس نے اپنی چابیاں کھو دی ہیں۔ result now

Present Perfect vs Simple Past:

Present Perfect: I have seen that movie this week.

Simple Past: I saw that movie last week.

Present Perfect میں وقت ابھی ختم نہیں ہوا، Past میں وقت ختم ہو چکا ہے۔

🟦 Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Used for actions started in the past and still continuing now (focus on duration).

🧩 Formula:
Subject + has/have + been + V-ing
Situation Example Urdu Duration
Still continuing I have been studying for 3 hours. میں ۳ گھنٹے سے پڑھ رہا ہوں۔ for 3 hours
Visible result She has been crying. (eyes are red) وہ رو رہی تھی۔ (آنکھیں سرخ ہیں) result now
Repeated all day He has been calling me all day. وہ مجھے سارا دن فون کر رہا ہے۔ all day

For vs Since

For = period (duration) → for 2 hours, for 3 days (مدت)

Since = starting point → since morning, since 2020 (آغاز)

📝 Practice Exercises & Quick Test

Exercise 1: Choose the correct tense
  1. She ______ (work) in this company since 2010.
    Answer: has been working / has worked
  2. Look! It ______ (rain) outside.
    Answer: is raining
  3. I usually ______ (go) to bed at 10 PM.
    Answer: go
  4. They ______ (just/arrive) from London.
    Answer: have just arrived
  5. He ______ (study) for his exam all morning.
    Answer: has been studying
Exercise 2: Correct the mistakes
  1. She is work in a bank. → She works in a bank.
  2. I have seeing that movie yesterday. → I saw that movie yesterday.
  3. Does she works here? → Does she work here?

✅ Quick Comparison Table (All Present Tenses)

Tense Formula Use Example
Present Indefinite S + V1 / Vs Habits, facts I speak English.
Present Continuous S + am/is/are + Ving Happening now I am speaking English.
Present Perfect S + has/have + V3 Completed + result I have spoken English.
Present Perfect Continuous S + has/have + been + Ving Duration till now I have been speaking English.

انگریزی کے زمانے مشکل نہیں ہیں۔ روزانہ مشق اور درست استعمال آپ کو ان میں ماہر بنا دے گا۔

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