The present tense is a grammatical tense used to describe actions or states that are currently happening or are generally true. It often conveys habits, routines, or facts. For example, in the sentence "She reads every morning," the verb "reads" is in the present tense, indicating a regular action. In English, the present tense can be simple, continuous, or perfect. The simple present tense uses the base form of the verb, while the present continuous tense adds "is" or "are" plus the verb ending in "-ing," as in "They are playing soccer." The present perfect tense combines "has" or "have" with the past participle, like "He has finished his homework."