PRESENT SIMPLE VERSUS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT SIMPLEWe use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period. John sleeps eight hours every night during the

week. 2. For facts.

The President of The USA lives in The White House. 3. For habits.

Carol brushes her teeth twice a day. 4. For things that are always / generally

true. It rains a lot in winter.

VERB CONJUGATION & SPELLING We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without

the TO). In general, in the third person of singular we add “S”.

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb: 1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the

third person. go – goes catch – catches wash – washes kiss – kisses

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES. marry – marries study – studies

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S. play – plays enjoy – enjoys

In negative and question sentences, we add the auxiliary “do” or “does”

We don’t go to Norway every year. Julia doesn’t swim in her swimming-pool at the weekends.

Question and short answer:

Do you go? Yes, I do Does she go? No, she doesn’t

Adverbs of frequency or expressions which go with present simple:

Always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never, every day, once a week… They go before the main verb and after the verb To Be.

She always dances. She doesn’t always dance. Does she always dance? We are often happy.

PRESENT CONTINUOUSWe use it to refer at the time of speaking. The

action isn’t complete. Also, it’s used for temporary situations and to talk about future plans.

It is raining now. (Está lloviendo ahora)This month Jane is living with her cousins.

(Este mes Jane está viviendo con sus primos)Tomorrow I am going to the movies. (Mañana

voy al cine)

VERB CONJUGATION & SPELLING It is formed with the present of the verb “to be” and the gerund

form of the main verb.

Spelling to add “ing”:

Y doesn’t change before –ing. Play - playing If a verb ends in –ie, ie changes to y before the ending –ing:

die – dying; lie – lying If a verb ends in –e, we leave out e before the ending –ing: hope – hoping; smile – smiling If the verb ends in vowel + consonant, it doubles the consonant when

it has just one syllable, if the final syllable is stressed or it ends in –l: Stop – stopping; prefer – preferring; travel – travelling

 

In negative and question sentences, we add “not” to the verb to be.

We aren’t going to the gym today. Julia isn’t swimming in her swimming-pool this weekend.

Question and short answer:

Are you going? Yes, I am Is she going? No, she isn’t

  Adverbs or expressions which go with present continuous:

Today, this week, this year, now, right now, tomorrow, next month…

You are working hard today. Steve is reading a really good book at the moment.

Verbs which aren’t normally used in the present continuous:

Like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, know, realise, suppose, mean, understand, believe, remember, belong, consist, seem.

PRESENT SIMPLE VS

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Jane reads a book before going to bed every night.Jane is reading a book tonight.

Where do your parents come from? They come from Denmark.

Where are they coming from? They are coming from Denmark this week after some vacation.

What do you do? I am a doctor.What are you doing? I am writing a letter to my cousin.

VIDEOS http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzL6Ww7xUWc&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqdToylBDg&hd=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcyyKtmFMiQ&hd=1 (Present Simple, cartoon)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RYdMEDfRdU&hd=1 (Present Continuous, “The Simpsons”)