Subjects/Foundational Literacy/Present Tense: What is Happening Now?
Foundational LiteracyOral English & Grammar

Present Tense: What is Happening Now?

Learn to talk about things happening right now.

10 min

🎯 What You'll Learn

You will learn to use the present tense — talking about things happening right now or that happen regularly.

🌟 Let's Start

Look around you. What is happening right now? Maybe you are sitting. Maybe the fan is spinning. When we talk about what is happening NOW, we use the present tense.

📚 New Concept

The present tense tells us what is happening now or what happens regularly.

Right now (present continuous — using "is/are + -ing"):

  • "Amina is reading a book right now."
  • "The children are playing outside."
  • "I am eating my lunch."
  • "It is raining right now."

Things that happen regularly (simple present):

  • "I go to school every day."
  • "She eats breakfast every morning."
  • "We play football on Saturdays."
  • "The sun rises in the east."

Notice: When talking about he, she, or it, we often add -s to the verb: he runs, she eats, it rains.

🎮 Let's Practice

  1. What is happening right now? Use "is" or "are" + -ing: "The teacher ___ (write) on the board."
  2. What happens every day? "Chidi ___ (walk) to school."
  3. Make a sentence about something you do every morning.
Click to see answers
  1. "The teacher is writing on the board."
  2. "Chidi walks to school." (every day = simple present, add -s)
  3. Example: "I brush my teeth every morning." (any present tense sentence is correct)

💡 Remember

The present tense is for now and for things that happen regularly. Use "is/are + -ing" for right now, and add -s for he/she/it with regular actions.