PRESENT SIMPLE & PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT SIMPLE
As you already know, we use the present simple for:
● Regular actions, routines or habits (things that you do every day, week,
year).
I always have breakfast at 7 am.
● True facts (things that are always true).
The sun rises in the east.
● Descriptions of states, and not actions, through state verbs (think, believe,
know, like, hate, want, need, prefer, smell, taste, hear, see…).
It smells of roses.
I
You speak
He / She / It speaks
English and French.
We
You speak
They
I
don’t have
You
He / She / It doesn’t have much money.
We
You don’t have
They
1
I
Do
you
Does he / she / it
like going to the cinema?
we
Do you
they
Don’t forget to add the -s for 3rd person singular. Do you remember the
spelling rules to do that?
general rule look → looks add -s
study → studies
verbs ending in consonant + y y and add -ies
fly → flies
teach → teaches
verbs ending in -sh, -ch, -s, -o, -x add -es
go → goes
ADVERBS AND EXPRESSIONS OF FREQUENCY
We often use the present simple with adverbs of frequency (usually, always, often,
sometimes, never, …).
I usually play tennis every Monday night.
Adverbs of frequency always go before the main verb, but after the verb to be.
I never have coffee at night.
but
She is never late.
2
Expressions of frequency (every day, every week, once a week, twice a week…)
usually go at the end of a sentence.
I have piano lessons twice a week.
3
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
And, as you also know, we use the present continuous for:
● Things that are happening now, at or around the time of speaking (the
action is not complete).
I’m writing an essay at the moment.
● Temporary situations.
I’m using this car until I can buy a new one.
● Activities in progress, but not necessarily at the time of speaking.
I’m studying four new subjects this semester, so I’m very busy.
● Complaints (things that someone finds strange or annoying). In these cases,
we usually use always in the sentences.
They are always making noise. They are so noisy!
● Describing pictures.
In this picture, people are having lunch together.
We form the present continuous with the present simple of the verb to be and the
-ing form of the main verb. Revise how to form it by looking at these examples:
I am
You are
He / She / It is working hard today.
We
You are
They
4
I ’m not
You aren’t
He / She / It isn’t listening.
We
You aren’t
They
Am I
Are you
Is he / she / it learning English now?
we
Are you
they
The most common expressions to indicate that the action is happening now
are: at the moment, now and right now.
Revise the spelling rules for the -ing endings:
general rule work → working add -ing
arrive → arriving
decide → deciding usually remove -e and
verbs ending in -e
Exception: be → add -ing
bei ng
verbs ending in plan → planning double the last
consonant-vowel-consonant consonant before -ing
verbs ending in
consonant-vowel-consonant (not open → opening no change, add -ing
stressed on the final syllable)
