Helping Hints for the Present
Auxiliary Verbs Used with Present Tenses
Knowledge of auxiliary verbs used in various tenses is the key to correct tense conjugation. Here is a review of auxiliary verbs used in present tenses:
Present Simple:
Use 'do / does' in questions and negative statements to express a routine or habitual action. Use no auxiliary verb in the positive form.
Example:
Business travelers don't fly on weekends.
When do you study the technical aspects of service?
BUT:
Bob usually throws a barbeque picnic for his neighbors in July.
The pastry chef usually bakes the short crust pastries at six o'clock.
Present Continuous:
Use 'am / is / are' in the present tense for the positive, negative and question forms in the present continuous tense to express something that is happening at the current moment, or around the present moment in time.
Example:
Is the vendor restocking the vending machine?
She's discussing which decoration works best with the designer right now.
Present Simple Passive:
Use the verb 'am / is / are' in the present for positive, negative and question in the present simple passive to express a present passive operation. Remember that the passive takes the participle form of the principal verb.
Example:
The consumers are surveyed every quarter.
In-house accounting isn't used very often.
Present Perfect:
Use 'have / has' in the present for the positive, negative and question forms for the present perfect tense to express something that has happened up to the present moment in time, or something which has occurred at an unspecified moment in the past.
Example:
The staff meeting hasn't concluded yet.
Has the full service hotel opened for business yet?
Present Perfect Continuous:
Use the verb 'have been / has been' in the present perfect for the positive, negative and question forms for the present perfect tense to express the duration of something that has been happening up to the present moment in time.
Example:
I've been working on the project since my first shift. That's why the project is nearly finished.
I've been visiting sports stadiums across the United States since July.