PRESENT SIMPLE VERSUS PRESENT CONTINUOUS

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
 We 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.

3. 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

4.  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.

5. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 We 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)

6. 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

7.  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.

8. 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.

9. 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&h
d=1 (Present Simple, cartoon)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RYdMEDfRdU&h
d=1 (Present Continuous, “The Simpsons”)