Present tenses

English has two present tenses that we use in different situations: the Present Simple and the Present Continuous. We use the Present Simple for habits, routines, timetables and general facts, and we add -s (or -es) to the verb after he, she or it (He works, She goes, It rains). In the third person we form negatives and questions with does and the base verb (He doesn't work, Does she work?), and for all other subjects we use do (They don't work, Do you work?). We use the Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for actions happening now, at the moment of speaking, or around the present time (She is reading now, They are studying these days). Some verbs called state verbs describe feelings, thoughts or possession (know, like, want, love, understand, believe, belong, need) and are not normally used in the continuous form. Common time markers help us choose the tense: always, usually, often, every day and never go with the Present Simple, while now, at the moment, today, Look! and Listen! go with the Present Continuous. For example: 'She usually walks to school, but today she is taking the bus' shows the Present Simple for a habit and the Present Continuous for what is happening now.