Welcome to Present Tenses and Everyday Description!
Being able to describe your world in the present is one of the most important skills in learning a new language. Whether you are telling a friend about your daily routine, describing a beautiful park, or explaining what is happening in a photo, you are using the "here and now." This chapter will help you master the tools you need to communicate clearly and confidently in everyday situations.
In the MYP, these skills are part of Criterion C (Speaking) and Criterion D (Writing). By learning these tenses, you are building the "range of grammatical structures" that helps you move from the emergent level to capable and proficient.
1. The Present Simple: Habits and Facts
The Present Simple is your "go-to" tense for things that are generally true or happen regularly. Think of it as the "permanent" tense.
When to use it:
1. Habits and Routines: I wake up at 7:00 AM every day.
2. General Facts: The sun rises in the east.
3. Opinions and States: She loves music. They live in Madrid.
How to form it:
For most subjects, we use the base form of the verb. However, we must remember the "Third Person S" rule!
\( I / You / We / They \implies \) play
\( He / She / It \implies \) plays
Quick Tip: Don't forget the -s or -es for he, she, and it! It is one of the most common mistakes for language learners. A simple trick is to imagine the He/She/It as a "Special Trio" that always brings an extra -s to the party.
Key Words to Look For:
Words like always, usually, often, sometimes, never, and every day are best friends with the Present Simple.
2. The Present Continuous: The "Right Now" Tense
The Present Continuous is used for actions happening at this exact moment or for temporary situations. Think of it as the "moving" tense.
When to use it:
1. Happening Now: I am typing a message right now.
2. Temporary Situations: She is staying at her grandmother's house this week.
3. Describing Photos: In this picture, the man is sitting on a bench. (This is very helpful for Criterion C: Speaking!)
How to form it:
This tense has two parts. You need a "helper" (the verb to be) and the main verb with -ing.
\( Subject + am/is/are + verb + -ing \)
I am eating.
You/We/They are eating.
He/She/It is eating.
Key Takeaway: If the action is like a movie playing in your head, use the Present Continuous. If the action is like a still map or a rule, use the Present Simple.
3. Everyday Description: Bringing it Together
In your MYP assessments, you will often be asked to describe people, places, or objects. Using a mix of present tenses makes your description much more professional.
Describing a Person
Use the Present Simple for permanent features and the Present Continuous for what they are doing or wearing at that moment.
Example: "My brother is tall and has black hair (Present Simple). Today, he is wearing a red sweater and he is playing football in the park (Present Continuous)."
Describing a Place
Focus on using the verb to be and there is / there are.
Example: "My school is very modern. There are many classrooms and a big library. Students usually study in the canteen during lunch."
4. Level Up: Phase by Phase
In the MYP, your teachers look for different things depending on your Phase:
Phases 1–2 (Emergent): Focus on getting the basic forms right. Can you use "I am" and "He is" correctly? Can you use simple words like big, small, happy, or sad to describe things?
Phases 3–4 (Capable): Start using more variety. Instead of just "He is nice," try "He usually acts in a friendly way." Use connectives (like because, but, or however) to make longer sentences.
Phases 5–6 (Proficient): Focus on register and style. This means choosing the right words for your audience. If you are writing a formal description for a travel brochure, you might use more descriptive vocabulary like breathtaking or vibrant.
5. Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them!)
Mistake 1: Leaving out the "to be" in continuous.
Incorrect: "I eating lunch."
Correct: "I am eating lunch."
Tip: Always check for the "helper" verb!
Mistake 2: Confusing the two tenses.
Incorrect: "I am going to school every day." (This sounds like it's temporary!)
Correct: "I go to school every day." (This is a habit.)
Mistake 3: Forgetting the -s for He/She/It.
Incorrect: "My friend live in London."
Correct: "My friend lives in London."
Summary Checklist
- Use Present Simple for habits, routines, and permanent facts.
- Use Present Continuous for actions happening right now or temporary situations.
- Remember the Third Person -s (He/She/It eats/plays/goes).
- Use "am/is/are + -ing" for continuous actions.
- Mix both tenses when describing people and photos to show your skills in Criterion C and D!
Note: For more information on how to arrange these into sentences, see the chapter "Sentence patterns and word order." If you want to talk about things that already happened, head over to "Past tenses and narration."