Present Simple Tense

I sing

How do we make the Present Simple Tense?

subject + auxiliary verb + main verb do base There are three important exceptions: 1. For positive sentences, we do not normally use the auxiliary. 2. For the 3rd person singular (he, she, it), we add s to the main verb or es to the auxiliary. 3. For the verb to be, we do not use an auxiliary, even for questions and negatives. Look at these examples with the main verb like: subject I, you, we, they + He, she, it I, you, we, they do He, she, it Do ? Does he, she, it like coffee? does I, you, we, they not like like coffee. coffee? not likes like coffee. coffee. auxiliary verb main verb like coffee.

Look at these examples with the main verb be. Notice that there is no auxiliary: subject I + main verb am French. French. French. not old.

You, we, they are He, she, it is am

You, we, they are He, she, it Am ? Are Is is I you, we, they he, she, it

not not

old. old. late? late? late?

How do we use the Present Simple Tense?

We use the present simple tense when:

the action is general the action happens all the time, or habitually, in the past, present and future the action is not only happening now the statement is always true John drives a taxi. past present future

It is John's job to drive a taxi. He does it every day. Past, present and future. Look at these examples:

I live in New York. The Moon goes round the Earth. John drives a taxi. He does not drive a bus. We meet every Thursday. We do not work at night. Do you play football?

Note that with the verb to be, we can also use the present simple tense for situations that are not general. We can use the present simple tense to talk about now. Look at these examples of the verb "to be" in the present simple tense - some of them are general, some of them are now: Am I right? Tara is not at home. You are happy.

Past

present

future

The situation is now.

I am not fat. Why are you so beautiful? Ram is tall. past present future

The situation is general. Past, present and future. This page shows the use of the present simple tense to talk about general events. But note that there are some other uses for the present simple tense, for example in conditional or if sentences, or to talk about the future. You will learn about those later. Present Simple Quiz

Form of the Present Progressive Tense The progressive is formed with the present of ''be + the -ing form''. I am > I'm > waiting. You are > You're > waiting. He is > He's > writing. She is > She's > running. It is > It's > beginning. We are > We're > lying. You are > You're > lying. They are > They're > lying.

Spelling: how to add '-ing' to a verb wait/waiting We can add -ing to most verbs without changing the spelling of their base forms. Other examples: beat/beating, carry/carrying, catch/catching, drink/drinking, enjoy/enjoying, hurry/hurrying. write/writing If a verb ends in -e, omit the -e and add -ing. Other examples: come/coming, have/having, make/making, ride/riding, use/using. This rule does not apply to verbs ending in double e: agree/agreeing, see/seeing; or to age/ageing and singe/singeing. run/running A verb that is spelt with a single vowel followed by a single consonant doubles its final consonant. Other examples: hit/hitting, let/letting, put/putting, run/running, sit/sitting. Compare: e.g. beat/beating which is not spelt with a single vowel and which therefore does not double its final consonant. begin/beginning

With two-syllable verbs, the final consonant is normally doubled when the last syllable is stressed. Other examples: for'get/forgetting, pre'fer/preferring, up'set/upsetting. Compare: 'benefit/benefiting, 'differ/differing and 'profit/profiting which are stressed on their first syllables and do not double their final consonants. Note 'label/labelling, 'quarrel/quarrelling, 'signal/signalling and 'travel/travelling (BrE) which are exceptions to this rule. Compare: labeling, quarreling, signaling, traveling (AmE): -ic at the end of a verb changes to -ick when we add -ing: panic/panicking, picnic/picknicking, traffic/trafficking. lie/lying Other examples: die/dying, tie/tying.

Uses of the Present Progressive Tense Actions in progress at the moment of speaking

The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.

We use the Present Progressive to describe actions or events which are in progress at the moment of speaking. To emphasize this, we often use adverbials like now, at the moment, just, etc.: Someone's knocking at the door. Can you answer it? What are you doing? - I'm just tying up my shoe-laces. He's working at the moment, so he can't come to the telephone.

Actions in progress are seen as uncompleted: He's talking to his girlfriend on the phone.

We can emphasize the idea of duration with still: He's still talking to his girlfriend on the phone.

Simple Present Present Progressive

Exercises and tests

Form
Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak
Exceptions

form of 'be' and verb + ing

I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

Exceptions when adding 's' :

For can, may, might, must, do not add s.

Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing

Example: he can, she may, it must

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.

After o, ch, sh or s, add es.

Example: sit - sitting

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).

Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays

Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: traveling (American English)

Final ie becomes y.

Example: lie - lying See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present Present Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday.

right now Look! Colin is playing football now.

present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same time First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words

always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never first then

at the moment at this moment today now right now Listen! Look!

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?
Simple Present action set by a timetable or schedule Present Progressive arrangement for the near future

The film starts at 8 pm.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

I am going to the cinema tonight.

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present daily routine

Present Progressive only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)

Bob works in a restaurant.

Certain Verbs

Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.

possession: belong, have

Example: Sam has a cat.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He feels the cold.

feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example: Jane loves pizza.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I believe you.

Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: I am watching TV, he says.

Temporary situations The Present Progressive can be used to describe actions and situations which may not have been happening long, or which are thought of as being in progress for a limited period: What's your daughter doing these days? She's studying English at Durham University.

Such situations may not be happening at the moment of speaking: Don't take that ladder away. Your father's using it. (i.e. but perhaps not at the moment) She's at her best when she's making big decisions.

Temporary events may be in progress at the moment of speaking: The river is flowing very fast after last night's rain.

We also use the Present Progressive to describe current trends: People are becoming less tolerant of smoking these days.

Planned actions: future reference We use the Present Progressive to refer to activities and events planned for the future. We generally need an adverbial unless the meaning is clear from the context: We're spending next winter in Australia.

This use of the Present Progressive is also commonly associated with future arrival and departure and occurs with verbs like arrive, come, go, leave, etc. to describe travel arrangements: He's arriving tomorrow morning on the 13.27 train.

The adverbial and the context prevent confusion with the present progressive to describe an action which is in progress at the time of speaking: Look! The train's leaving. (i.e. it's actually moving)

Repeated actions The adverbs always (in the sense of 'frequently'), constantly, continually, forever, perpetually and repeatedly can be used with progressive forms to describe continually-repeated actions: She's always helping people.

Some stative verbs can have progressive forms with always, etc.: I'm always hearing strange stories about him.

Sometimes there can be implied complaint or annoyance in this use of the progressive when it refers to something that happens too often: Our burglar alarm is forever going off for no reason.

Test your knowledge on Simple Present and Present Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how well you have done in the test.

Form
Write the verbs in Present Progressive. 1. speak - I 2. jump - you 3. bake - she 4. play - they 5. run - we Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular. 1. be - it 2. have - he 3. eat - she 4. can - he 5. wash - she

Use
When to use which tense? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use . For actions happening now, we use . The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in . The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use . The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use .

Positive sentences
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. Look! They (leave) 2. Brian (cycle) 3. Samantha (do) the house. 30 km every day. her homework at the moment.

4. My parents (shop) 5. He usually (get up)

right now. early in the morning.

Negative sentences
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. You (see / not) 2. The baby (sleep / not) 3. I (read / not) 4. We (go / not) 5. He (watch / not) her every day. at the moment. a book now. to school on Sundays. the news every day.

questionn
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive. 1. (you / go) 2. (they / play) 3. (she / eat) 4. What (they / do) 5. (she / visit) on holiday by plane sometimes? computer games every day? dinner at the moment? right now? her grandma very often?

Text
Sieh dir das Bild von Jenny an und ergnze die sentences (Simple Present oder Present Progressive). 1. Look! Jenny (go) 2. On her back, Jenny (carry) 3. The school bag (be) 4. Normally, Jenny (wear) wellies. 5. And look, she (wear) 6. Jenny (not / want) to school. her school bag. very heavy black shoes, but today she (wear) a raincoat because it (rain) to get wet. outside. red

Present Progressive - Use

1) actions happening at the moment of speaking

Peter is reading a book now.

2) fixed plan in the near future

She is going to Basel on Saturday.

3) temporary actions

His father is working in Rome this month.

4) actions happening around the moment of speaking (longer actions)

My friend is preparing for his exams.

5) trends

More and more people are using their computers to listen to music.

6) repeated actions which are irritating to the speaker (with always, constantly, forever)

Andrew is always coming late.

Signal words
now, at the moment, Look! Listen!

Form

to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing

Examples
Affirmative sentences: I am playing football. I'm playing football. Negative sentences: I am not playing football. I'm not playing football. You are not playing football. You're not playing football. You aren't playing football. You are playing football. You're playing football.

Questions: Am I playing football? Are you playing football?

Present Continuous
FORM

[am/is/are + present participle] Examples:

You are watching TV. Are you watching TV? You are not watching TV.

Complete List of Present Continuous Forms USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

You are learning English now. You are not swimming now. Are you sleeping? I am sitting. I am not standing. Is he sitting or standing? They are reading their books. They are not watching television. What are you doing? Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second. Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

I am studying to become a doctor. I am not studying to become a dentist. I am reading the book Tom Sawyer. I am not reading any books right now. Are you working on any special projects at work? Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future. Examples:

I am meeting some friends after work. I am not going to the party tonight. Is he visiting his parents next weekend? Isn't he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing." Examples:

She is always coming to class late. He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up. I don't like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present. Examples:

She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples:

You are still watching TV. Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

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