present simple versus present continuous

Present Simple vs

Present Continuous

Present Simple vs

Present Continuous

Present Simple Present Simple

Present SimplePresent Simple

The simple present tense is one of themost common tenses in English.

There are only two basic forms for the simple present tense; one ends with –s and the other doesn’t.

positive negative interrogati

ve

I play I don’t playDo you play?

He playsHe doesn’t

playDoes he

play?

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING IDIOMS AND COMMON SAYINGS:

An apple a day KEEPS the doctor away.Mas vale prevenir que curar.

The early bird CATCHES the worm.A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda.

The apple DOESN’T FALL far from the tree.De tal palo tal astilla.

Barking dogs never BITE.Perro ladrador, poco mordedor.

A cat in gloves CATCHES no mice.Gato con guantes no caza ratones.

A stitch in time SAVES nine.Más vale prevenir que curar.

It never RAINS, but it POURS.Las desgracias nunca vienen solas.

Las desgracias nunca vienen solas.

The shoemaker's son goes always barefoot.En casa de herrero, cuchara de palo.

Present SimplePresent Simple

WE USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE TO TALK ABOUT:

1. General things and scientific facts.

2. Permament or long-lasting situations.

3. Things which happen repeteadly.

4. One action follows another.

5. Timetables and schedules.

6. Stative verbs.

1. GENERAL THINGS and SCIENTIFIC FACTS.1. GENERAL THINGS and SCIENTIFIC FACTS.

The sun SETS in the West.

* the sun nevers sets in the east or south or north, but always in the west.

1. GENERAL THINGS and SCIENTIFIC FACTS.1. GENERAL THINGS and SCIENTIFIC FACTS.

The Earth REVOLVES around the Sun.

2. PERMANENT or LONG-LASTING

SITUATIONS. 2. PERMANENT or LONG-LASTING

SITUATIONS.

He LIVES in a small village.

2. PERMANENT or LONG-LASTING

SITUATIONS. 2. PERMANENT or LONG-LASTING

SITUATIONS.

He WORKS as a fireman

3. THINGS WHICH HAPPEN REPETEADLY.

Regular habits and daily routines.

3. THINGS WHICH HAPPEN REPETEADLY.

Regular habits and daily routines.

He usually WAKES UP at ten past ten.

3. THINGS WHICH HAPPEN REPETEADLY. Regular habits and daily routines.

3. THINGS WHICH HAPPEN REPETEADLY. Regular habits and daily routines.

She GOES hiking every Saturday.

4. ONE ACTION FOLLOWS ANOTHER. 4. ONE ACTION FOLLOWS ANOTHER.

They TAKE their bags and LEAVE.

(actions in the present taking place one after another –first, then, after that …)

5. TIMETABLES and SCHEDULES. 5. TIMETABLES and SCHEDULES.

Our course BEGINS next week.

The plane DOESN’T LEAVE until 4.22.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

After verbs expressing STATES, POSSESSION, SENSES, FEELINGS, EMOTIONS and MENTAL ACTIVITY.

When you love someone, that's a state, a fact or emotion, but not an action (like running for example). Whenever you want to express a state, possession, sense or emotions, use the simple form (not the progressive). The following words all belong to this group:

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

be (state) believe (mental activity) belong (possession)hate (feeling and emotion) hear (senses) like (feeling and emotion) love (feeling and emotion) mean (mental activity) prefer (mental activity)

remain (state) realize (mental activity) see (senses) seem (feeling and emotion) smell (senses) think (mental activity)understand (mental activity)want (feeling and emotion) wish (feeling and emotion)

After the following verbs:

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

6. STATIVE VERBS. 6. STATIVE VERBS.

Present Continuous Present Continuous

Present ContinuousPresent Continuous

We form the present continuous with thre present tense of the verb “BE” + ING

AM

AREVERB (+ing)

IS

Present ContinuousPresent Continuous

WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO TALK ABOUT:

1. Something that is in progress now, at this moment. AT THE TIME OF SPEAKING.

2. Temporary activity or situation – not necessarily happening at the time of speaking.

3. Arrangements we’ve made for the future.

1. AT THE TIME OF SPEAKING.1. AT THE TIME OF SPEAKING.

She IS READING a book now.

2. TEMPORARY ACTIVITY OR SITUATION.2. TEMPORARY ACTIVITY OR SITUATION.

I AM LIVING in the street until I can find a flat.

3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE. 3. ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUTURE.

He IS GOING to the cinema tomorrow.

Present Simple vs

Present Continuous

Present Simple vs

Present Continuous

1. PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY SITUATIONS. 1. PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY SITUATIONS.

She LIVES in a small village.

She IS LIVING in the street now until she can find a flat.

1. PERMANENT OR LIMITED IN TIME. 1. PERMANENT OR LIMITED IN TIME.

He WORKS as a fireman.

He IS WORKING as a farmer this summer.

2. IN GENERAL OR RIGHT NOW. 2. IN GENERAL OR RIGHT NOW.

He WORKS as a fireman.

Now he IS CLIMBING.

3. DAILY ROUTINE or EXCEPTION. 3. DAILY ROUTINE or EXCEPTION.

He usually GETS UP at ten past ten.

Today he IS GETTING UP at quarter past five.