Present simple vs present continuous

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PRESENT SIMPLE vs PRESENT CONTINUOUS Everything you have always wanted to know about it…


PRESENT SIMPLE Everything you have always wanted to know about it‌


PRESENT SIMPLE

1. I am always late. I always come late. He always comes late.

2. I’m not always late. I don’t always come late. He doesn’t always come late. 3. Are you always late? Do you always come late? Does he always come late?


PRESENT SIMPLE POSITIVE FORM:

VERB + no ending OR + ending –S or –ES (3rd p. sg.)


PRESENT SIMPLE NEGATIVE FORM:

VERB in infinitive + auxiliary verb DO + NOT (DON’T)

OR + auxiliary verb DOES+NOT/DOESN’T(3rd p.sg.)


PRESENT SIMPLE INTERROGATIVE FORM: auxiliary verb DO

OR auxiliary verb DOES (3rd p.sg.)

+ VERB in infinitive


TO BE Form:

affirmative

negative

question

I

I am I’m

I am not I’m not

Am I?

he she it

He is He’s

He is not He’s not He isn’t

Is he?

you we they

You are You’re

You are not. You aren’t

Are you?


HAVE vs HAVE GOT Form:

I he she it you we they

affirmative

negative

I have got. I do not have. I have. I have not got. He has. He does not (doesn’t) He has got. have. He has not (hasn’t) got. You have. You do not You have (don’t) have. got. You have not (haven’t) got.

question

Have I got? Does he have? Do I have? Has he got?

Do you have? Have you got?


OTHER VERBS Form:

I

affirmative

I play.

negative

I do not (don’t) play.

question

Do I play?

he He plays. she it

He does not Does he play? (doesn't) play.

you You play. we they

You do not (don’t) play.

Do you play?


Exceptions in Spelling Put the following modal verbs into 3rd person singular:

he can she may it must


Exceptions in Spelling MODAL verbs (like: can, may, might, must) remain the same in all forms. So don't add –s or -es.

he can she may it must


Exceptions in Spelling Put the following verbs into 3rd person singular:

Do Wash Kiss Watch Box


Exceptions in Spelling Verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, ss, x) add -es instead of -s.

Do = DoES Wash = WashES Kiss = KissES Watch = WatchES Box = BoxES


Exceptions in Spelling Put the following verbs into 3rd person singular:

ď‚—worry ď‚—play


Exceptions in Spelling  A final y after a consonant becomes ie before s. (but:

don't modify y after a vowel)

worry = worrIES Play = playS


Uses of Present Simple ď‚—He lives in a caravan.

Permanent situations or states


Uses of Present Simple ď‚—Water boils at 100°C.

Permanent truths or laws of nature


Uses of Present Simple Messi passes the ball to Ćorluka.

Reviews/sports/ commentaries/ dramatic narratives


Uses of Present Simple  I play tennis.  She does not play tennis.  Does he play tennis?  The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.  She always forgets her purse.  Every twelve months, the Earth circles the

Sun.


Repeated actions, habits, routines  Use the Simple Present to express the idea

that an action is repeated or usual.  The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.  It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.


Repeated actions, habits, routines


Uses of Present Simple  Cats like milk.  Birds do not like milk.  Do pigs like milk?  California is in America.  California is not in the United Kingdom.  Windows are made of glass.  Windows are not made of wood.  New York is a small city. (It is not important

that this fact is untrue.)


Facts or generalizations  The Simple Present can also indicate the

speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future.  It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact.  It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.


Facts or generalizations


Uses of Present Simple The train leaves tonight at 6 PM. The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it

arrives at 11 PM. When do we board the plane? The party starts at 8 o'clock. When does class begin tomorrow?


Scheduled Events in the Near Future ď‚—Speakers occasionally use Simple

Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. ď‚—This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.


Scheduled Events in the Near Future


Uses of Present Simple I am here now. She is not here now. He needs help right now. He does not need help now. He has his passport in his hand. Do you have your passport with you?


Now (Non-Continuous Verbs) ď‚— Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present

to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. ď‚— This can only be done with non-continuous verbs and certain mixed verbs.


Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)


Active / passive form Examples:

ACTIVE: Once a week, Ryan cleans the car. PASSIVE: Once a week, the car is cleaned by Ryan.


Typical time markers  always  every ...  often  normally  usually  sometimes  seldom  never


PRESENT CONTINUOUS Everything you have always wanted to know about it‌


PRESENT CONTINUOUS FORM

1.You are watching TV. 2. Are you watching TV? 3. You are not watching TV.


PRESENT CONTINUOUS FORM

am/is/are + present participle (verb+ING)


Spelling Exceptions

Work Read Know


Spelling Exceptions

Basic rule, just add -ING Work = WorkING Read = ReadING Know = KnowING


Spelling Exceptions

Play Study


Spelling Exceptions

Just add -ING Play = PlayING Study = StudyING


Spelling Exceptions

See Be


Spelling Exceptions

Just add -ING See = SeeING Be = BeING


Spelling Exceptions

Die Lie


Spelling Exceptions

If the base verb ends in -ie, change the -ie to -y:

Die = DYING Lie = LYING


Spelling Exceptions

Come Mistake


Spelling Exceptions If the base verb ends in vowel + consonant + e, omit the -e:

ď‚—Come = ComING ď‚—Mistake = MistakING


Spelling Exceptions

Begin Run Stop


Spelling Exceptions If the base verb ends in consonant + stressed vowel + consonant, double the last letter:

Begin = BeginNING Run = RunNING Stop = StopPING


Uses of Present Continuous You are learning English now. You are not swimming now. Are you sleeping? I am sitting. They are reading their books. What are you doing?


Uses of Present Continuous ď‚—He is working in London this week.

Temporary situations


NOW Use the Present Continuous with

‘Normal Verbs’ to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.


NOW


Uses of Present Continuous  I am studying to become a doctor.  I am not studying to become a dentist.  I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.  I am not reading any books right now.  Are you working on any special projects at

work?  Aren't you teaching at the university now?


Uses of Present Simple ď‚—Nelly is putting on weight.

Changing or developing situations


Longer aactions in progress now ď‚—In English, "now" can mean: this

second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. ď‚—Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.


Longer actions in progress now


Uses of Present Continuous  I am meeting some friends after work.  I am not going to the party tonight.  Is he visiting his parents next weekend?  Isn't he coming with us tonight?


Fixed arrangements in the near future ď‚— Sometimes, speakers use the Present

Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.


Active / passive form Examples:

ACTIVE: Right now, Ryan is writing the letter. PASSIVE: Right now, the letter is being written by Ryan.


Typical time markers

Now Today This week, day, Wednesday, year, etc. At this moment Currently Momentarily Next week, month, etc.


What’s the difference? She ALWAYS comes late. She’s ALWAYS coming late.


Present Simple vs Continuous  A habit, a repeating action (with Present Simple)

 She ALWAYS comes late.  Present Continuous with words such as "always"

or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens.

She’s ALWAYS coming late.


Verb groups:  Normal verbs  Non-continuous verbs  Mixed verbs


Normal verbs  Most verbs are state verbs.  These verbs are usually physical actions

which you can see somebody doing.  These verbs can be used in all tenses.  Verbs: to run, to walk, to eat, to fly, to go, to say, to touch, etc.  Examples: I eat dinner every day. I am eating dinner now.


State verbs  These verbs are usually things you cannot see somebody

doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses.

Verbs of:

 THINKING and OPINION (believe, think, know,

suppose, expect, promise, deserve, imagine, etc.)  EMOTIONS and FEELINGS (like, love, wish, care, adore, prefer, etc.)  HAVING and BEING (have, belong, own, possess, need, etc.)  THE SENSES (look, hear, taste, smell, feel, sound)


State verbs Examples:

He is needing help now. He needs help now. He is wanting a drink now. He wants a drink now.


State verbs Examples:

He is needing help now. Not correct He needs help now. Correct He is wanting a drink now. Not correct He wants a drink now. Correct


Mixed verbs  The smallest group of verbs.  These verbs have more than one meaning.

In a way, each meaning is a unique verb. Some meanings behave like state verbs, while other meanings behave like normal verbs.  Examples: to appear, to feel, to have, to hear, to look, to see, to weigh...


VERB

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

THINK

Opinion

Mental activity

COME

Was born, live in

Travel from

SEE

Understand

Consult

HAVE

Possess

Various activities

BE

Identity / character

Behaviour

SMELL TASTE WEIGH

Perception – measurement Act of perception – measurement

CONSIDER

Opinion

Mental activity

LOOK

Appear

Study

FEEL

Believe Have a soft texture

Experience Touch

MIND

Object to

Take care of

DEPEND ON

Require

Rely upon

FIT

Be the right size

Put on

APPEAR

Seem

Take part

EXPECT

suppose

Be pregnant


Mixed verbs to appear: ď‚— Donna appears confused. State verb (Donna seems confused.) ď‚— My favorite singer is appearing at the jazz

club tonight. Normal Verb (My favorite singer is giving a performance at the jazz club tonight.)


Mixed verbs to have:

ď‚—I have a dollar now. State verb

(I possess a dollar.)

ď‚—I am having fun now. Normal verb

(I am experiencing fun now.)


Mixed verbs to hear: ď‚— She hears the music. State verb

(She hears the music with her ears.)

ď‚— She is hearing voices. Normal verb

(She hears something others cannot hear. She is hearing voices in her mind.)


Mixed verbs to look: ď‚— Nancy looks tired. State verb

(She seems tired.)

ď‚— Farah is looking at the pictures. Normal

Verb (She is looking with her eyes.)


Mixed verbs to miss: ď‚— John misses Sally. State verb

(He is sad because she is not there.)

ď‚— Debbie is missing her favorite TV

program. Normal Verb (She is not there to see her favorite program.)


to see:  I see her. State verb

(I see her with my eyes.)  I am seeing the doctor. Normal Verb I am visiting or consulting with a doctor. (Also used with dentist and lawyer.)  I am seeing her. Normal Verb (I am having a relationship with her.)  He is seeing ghosts at night. Normal Verb (He sees something others cannot see.)


Mixed verbs to smell: ď‚— The coffee smells good. State verb

(The coffee has a good smell.) ď‚— I am smelling the flowers. Normal Verb

(I am sniffing the flowers to see what their smell is like.)


Mixed verbs to taste: ď‚— The coffee tastes good. State verb

(The coffee has a good taste.)

ď‚— I am tasting the cake. Normal verb

(I am trying the cake to see what it tastes like.)


Mixed verbs to think: ď‚— He thinks the test is easy. State verb

(He considers the test to be easy.)

ď‚— She is thinking about the question.

Normal Verb (She is pondering the question, going over it in her mind.)


Mixed verbs to weigh: ď‚— The table weighs a lot. State verb

(The table is heavy.)

ď‚— She is weighing herself. Normal verb

(She is determining her weight.)


to be:  Ryan is Canadian. State verb

(Ryan is an American citizen.)  Ryan is being very American. Normal Verb (Ryan is behaving like a stereotypical American.)  Ryan is being very rude. Normal Verb (Ryan is behaving very rudely. Usually he is not rude.)  Ryan is being very formal. Normal Verb (Ryan is behaving very formally. Usually he is not formal.)


to feel:  The massage feels great. State verb

(The massage has a pleasing feeling.)

 I don't feel well today. Sometimes used as

state verb (I am a little sick.)

 I am not feeling well today. Sometimes

used as Normal Verb (I am a little sick.)


Put the verbs into PS or PC: 1. Every Monday, Sally _________ (drive) her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I _________ (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I ________(study) French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John ____________(sleep) . 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It _____________(rain) . 5. I hate living in Seattle because it ________________(rain, always) .


Put the verbs into PS or PC: 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you ___________(say) because everybody _____________(talk) so loudly. 7. Justin _____________ (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I ____________ (go) to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards ______________(be, normally ) printed by a company in New York. Their prices __________(be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate ___________ (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.


1. Every Monday, Sally DRIVES her kids to 2.

3. 4. 5. 6.

football practice. Usually, I WORK as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I AM STUDYING French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John IS SLEEPING. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It IS RAINING. I hate living in Seattle because it IS ALWAYS RAINING/ ALWAYS RAINS. I'm sorry I can't hear what you ARE SAYING because everybody IS TALKING so loudly.


7. Justin IS CURRENTLY WRITING a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I AM GOING to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards ARE NORMALLY printed by a company in New York. Their prices ARE inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate IS made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.


Questions?


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