eli5 the difference between the present simple and the present participle? Isn’t the present participle basically the present perfect?
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Omg, dont you tell me there is another time to learn. I haven’t even learned the others yet…
The present participle isn’t a tense, but basically an adjective that derives from a verb (it’s still considered a form of a verb though). You take a verb and add an -ing suffix.
verb: to sleep
present participle: sleep + -ing = sleeping
I’m not sure why you think it could be the same as present perfect, as there is no present participle to be found in present perfect tense (eg “I have slept”). However, by combining “to be” and the present participle you can create tense aspect, which is also more commonly known known as “progressive/continuous tenses” (eg “I am sleeping” or “I have been sleeping”).
So simply put, the present participle is a building block that can be used to form something like the present progressive. But it can’t do so on its own.
tom comes to the mall-present simple
bill is coming to the mall-present participle
joe has come to the mall-present perfect
notice that joe is already *at* the mall, while bill is in transit.
Simple present is generally for things that are habitual, while the to be + present participle is for things that are happening right now. “I eat pizza” means that, from time to time, when I am in the mood, I will eat a pizza. “I am eating pizza” implies that on the plate, in front of me, is a pizza that I am in the middle of eating.
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