How to determine the verb-masu sentence whether it is a present tense or a future tense?

Sometimes beginners students are confused in between present tense and future tense for the verbs in Japanese. As you study the verb sentence like below, you would probably think about that it is a present tense or a future tense.

ごはんを たべます

If you have a same question, really a good point. When seeing only the sentence ごはんを　たべます, it is impossible to determine whether it is present tense or future tense. ます forms are used for both present and future tenses! Only the way to more specifically describe the tense is to add the time words which describes the tense.

・毎日 スタバで　朝ごはんを　たべます ( I eat breakfast at Starbucks coffee everyday)

Present tense describes your life style

・あした　スタバで　朝ごはんを　たべます( I will eat breakfast at Starbucks coffee tomorrow)

Future tense

Further more quiz, can you imagine the scene from the following each sentences?

A いま　朝ごはんを　たべます

B いま　朝ごはんを　たべています

A means ‘ I’m gonna eat breakfast now’. it means it’s not yet happened.

B means ‘ I am eating breakfast now’ . it means it’s being happened and in progress.