The document summarizes the differences between the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. The present simple is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, general truths, and timetables. It is formed using the base form of the verb. The present continuous is used for temporary actions happening at the moment of speaking and to show that something is changing. It is formed using the present tense of the verb "be" plus the present participle ("-ing" form) of the main verb. Examples are provided to illustrate when to use each tense.
2. We use the present simple
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to say that something happens all the time or
repeatedly (again and again)
to talk about things in general
to talk about something that is always true
to say how often we do things
I live in France
The cafe opens at 7.30 am in the morning
The earth goes round the sun
We play tennis together every Saturday
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But the third person (she/he/it) adds an -s:
She works in London.
Present simple
The present simple tense is the base form of the verb :
I read, You Speak, We listen, You write, They learn
4. Remember:
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works
eats
writes
works
eats
writes
reads
plays
goes
reads
plays
goes
watches
carries
changes
watches
carries
changes
He
She
It
He
She
It
/S//S/
/Z//Z/
/IZ//IZ/
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continuous
for something that is happening at the moment of speaking
for something which we think is temporary:
to show that something is changing, growing or developing:
The population of the world is increasing very fast.
I’m talking about the present simple and present continuous.
Michael is at university. He’s studying History.
6. Present continuous
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The present continuous tense is formed from :
the present tense of the verb be:
I am, You are, He/She/it is
the present participle (-ing form) of a verb:
Working, drinking, playing
and
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We can use the
present simple with
We can use the
present continuous with
Always
Every
…
Ofte
n
Never
Sometimes
…day
Now
At the
moment
This
week
Toda
y
…
week
…year
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We use the
Present Continuous for
ACTIONS & HAPPENINGS
But not with state verbs
LIKE, WANT, NEED
KNOW, SUPPOSE, MEAN,
UNDERSTAND, BELIEVE,
REMEMBER
BELONG, OWN, CONSIST,
SEEM
SEE, HEAR, SMELL, TASTE
You are listening to me.
It is raining a lot.
He’s playing football in the
garden.
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Questions and Negative sentences
• Present simple
We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences
Do
Does
I/You/We/You/They
He/She/It
work ?
do ?
watch
? I/You/We/You/They
He/She/It
Don’t
Doesn’t
work.
do.
Watch.
We use do/does with question words like Where, What and Why:
• Present Continuous
Where do you come from ?
Are
Is
I/You/We/You/They
He/She/It
working?
doing?
watching
?
I
He/She/It
You/We/You/They
am not
is not
are not
working.
doing.
Watching
.
I am not= I’m not - are not= aren’t - is not = isn’t
To show that sth is changing, growing or developing around now, especially with the verbs :
get, change, become, increase, rise, fall, grow, improve , begin, start
Verbs of : Emotion (love, hate,…), thought (know, understand,…), possession (belong, own,…), sense (see, taste,….)
