Page 90 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book

NOW
Present Tense and Present Continuous

Principal Parts and are both used to express something
that happens at the present time. The explanations below point
out when each is used.
The simple present tense form of any verb is identical to
Principal Part , the base form of the verb, except that -s
or -es is added to the base form of third-person singular forms.

Action in the present can be expressed in two ways—as the
simple present with one verb (see below, left side) and as the
present continuous with two verbs (see below, right side).
Present Tense Present Continuous

I eat breakfast I am eating
every day. breakfast now.
eat am eating

Base Form Helping Verb Present Participle
Today: Today:
Habits and Actions in Progress
Repetitive Actions and Continuous Actions
Andy states: I eat breakfast Andy says: I am eating breakfast
every day. It is a habit, a now, so we assume he is in the
repetition that happens process of eating. It is a continuous
daily. Use the base form of action. Use am, are, or is before
the verb, in this case, eat. the present participle of the verb,
in this, case, eating.

The present continuous states an action or condition
that is taking place at the present moment.

YESTERDAY
Past Tense and Present Perfect

Principal Parts and are both used to relate events to the
past, but they express time in different ways.

The past tense of a verb expresses an action
or condition that took place in the past.

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