Present Simple and Present Continuous

The present seems like an easy idea to understand.

Well, kind of. Yes, the present means now, but English speakers have two ways of thinking about now.

Two kinds of present

Present Continuous

Let's look at the present continuous first.

There are two ways we use it.

Examples

Positive sentences

Ronaldo

is kicking

a ball.

[am, is, are] verb+ing

Ashley

is watching

TV.

am, is, are verb+ing

Negative Sentences

No, she

isn't paying

attention.

[am not, isn't, aren't] verb+ing

Questions

What

are

you

looking

at?

question word [am, is, are] + person + verb+ing?

These were examples of the first way that we use present continuous. The kicking, watching, paying attention and looking are happening NOW.

Examples

Kay

is staying

at her sister's house.

We use "is staying" because it is only for a short time. It is temporary.

She's not going to stay there forever... at least her sister hopes not!

Larry

is reading

a good book.

what?? No he he isn't.

He is playing basketball!

Actually, Larry IS reading a good book. Just not RIGHT NOW.

It is at his house. The reading is TEMPORARY. He will read the

book for a short time, not forever.

Khalid

is studying

English at HCT.

Yes, you can also say, "Khalid is driving," or "Khalid is talking on his mobile."

We can say "Khalid is studying English" because it is only for 2 years. He will not study it forever. He hopes!

So, Let's review.

What's the first way we use present continous?

1. We use the present continuous to talk about something that is happening right now.

And what's the second way?

2. We also use the present continuous to talk about something that is temporary, or may change soon.

now let's look at the present simple.

Present Simple

When do we use it?

We use the present simple when we are talking about something that is always true, like facts, hobbies, routines, or permanent things.

Here are some words that you see a lot with the present simple:

How do you make it?

he

she

it

I

you

We

they

don't work

doesn't

work

So, how do we make negative sentences?

With "don't" or "doesn't" before the verb.

And when do we use "doesn't"?

He

she

it

do

you

Do

they

Does

she

so how do you make questions with the present simple?

Put "do" or "does" before the subject, and the main verb after the subject.

And when do we use "does" instead of "do"?

Yes, you guessed it.

with "He," "she" or "it"

Examples

She normally studies in the library.

We say "she studies" NOT "she is studying" because we are talking about normally, in general, NOT right now.

No, Josh doesn't like vegetables.

No, they don't teach English.

They teach math.

Why do we say "don't teach" and "teach" and NOT "aren't teaching" and "are teaching"?

We use present simple because it is their job. They do it every day, not just now. It is for a long time, not a short time.

No, that's wrong, isn't it?

Actually, it is right. Khalid speaks Arabic in general. It is true all the time, so we use present simple. If we want to talk about right now, we say "Khalid is speaking English."

Practice

TIME

present

future

past

It means NOW, right?

Choose the right tense

Present Simple

Present Continuous (Present Progressive)

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/66.html

http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgpressimple.htm

http://school.discoveryeducation.com/quizzes17/jaeckerly/prescont.html

http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentContinuous1J.html

http://www.learn-english-online.org/Lesson14/TestIt/PSvsPC.htm

http://esl.about.com/library/beginner/bl_bgprescont.htm

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present_quiz.htm

http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/present_simple_continuous_quiz_1.shtml

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-continuous_quiz.htm

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/65.html

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs1.htm

http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/exercises

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs2.htm

Another kind of present is more general. It means that something is always true or it doesn't change.

One kind of present is RIGHT NOW. This means something that is happening at this very moment.

So when do we use "do" and when do we use "does"??

Every day

Always

All the time

sometimes

usually

often

not very often

every afternoon

rarely

normally

speak English?

usually study?

live here?

Main verb

live?

s

subject

don't work

you

work

Kay

Khalid

Helping verb

do

I

you

we

they

Larry

postive sentences

Negative sentences

When

Where

Question word

questions

What is Ronaldo doing?

What is Ashley doing?

What do you want to ask these kids?

Is she paying attention to her math homework?

Examples

Where does Allison normally study?

Jacob

Khalid speaks Arabic.

Do Susan and Jacob teach English?

Does Josh like vegetables?

Susan