Present tense verbs

[LucyLastik]

Can anyone help me out please?!

I'm currently planning a year 2 lesson on 'is' and 'are' (trainee teacher).

Are these words classed as present tense verbs?

TIA

Simple Present

The simple present is a verb tense with two main uses. We use the simple present tense when an action is happening right now, or when it happens regularly (or unceasingly, which is why it's sometimes called present indefinite).

Tom is watering the flowers

The children are playing hopscotch

The waves are crashing

People are dying on a daily basis

Thank you

I'm confused by AjasLipstick's answer. First Google hit takes me here: www.ef.co.uk/english-resources/english-grammar/present/

So, we have "simple present", eg Tom waters the plants - so not describing something that is necessarily happening now, but a habitual or general truth.

The verb "to be" can appear as simple present: Tom is a gardener, The plants are thirsty.

Then there's "present continuous" - which seems to be what Ajas is describing: Tom is watering the plants - happening now, not completed. In this case, "is" and "are" has a special role of forming this tense with the "-ing" form of the verb.

"To be" itself can also be used in the present continuous: The children are being naughty.

Language teacher here. On their own, 'is' and 'are' are the simple present of the verb to be.

e.g. He is a teacher.
The books are green.

But they can also be used as auxiliary verbs along with a present participle to form the present continuous tense.

E.g. He is playing.
They are watching.

We use the Present Continuous, not the Present Simple, to describe actions happening 'at the moment'.

As DDD said.