PRESENT TENSE

The present tense is the tense (form of a verb) that is often used to express:

• Action at the present time
• A state of being
• A habitual action
• An occurrence in the near future
• An action that occurred in the past and continues up to the present

There are two common types of present tenses found in most Indo-European languages: the present indicative (in the indicative mood) and the present subjunctive (subjunctive mood).

English present indicative tense

In English, the present tense is subdivided into the following forms:

• Present simple: "I go to school every day."
• Present progressive: "You are being rude." (at this moment)
• Present perfect: "I have had two computers."
• Present perfect progressive: "She has been living in London for a year."

Strictly speaking, these different "present tenses" are actually combinations of tenses and aspects (the progressive tenses include a continuous aspect).

Spanish present indicative tense

In Spanish, the present tense is used almost identically to that of English. Conjugation:

French present indicative tense

In French, the present tense is used almost identically to that of English. Conjugation:

To express the present continuous, expressions such as "en train de" or "en cours de" are frequently used.

Jean est en train de manger. John is eating, John is in the middle of eating.

On est en train de chercher un nouvel appartement. We're looking for a new apartment, we're in the process of finding a new apartment.

German present indicative tense

In German, the present tense is used in a similar fashion. However it has no present continuous tense. Conjugation:

Italian present indicative tense

In Italian, the present tense is used almost identically to that of English. Conjugation:

Portuguese present indicative tense

In Portuguese, the present tense is used almost identically to that of English. Conjugation:

• (*)These are rarely used in Brazilian Portuguese; instead they give preference to você (tu); vocês (vós), and a gente (nós).

Latin present indicative tense

In Latin, the present tense can be translated as being progressive or simple. Conjugation:

See also

• Future tense
• Past tense
• Grammatical aspect

External links

• Simple Present Tense
• Complete descriptions of the English Tenses