each time

every time
at the moment
all the time
at once
at the some time
24 hours a day

cada vez
cada vez
En el momento
todo el tiempo
a la vez
en un cierto tiempo
Las 24 horas del da

Simple Present

Present Progressive

infinitive

form of 'be' and verb + ing

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

I speak

I am speaking

you speak

you are speaking

he / she / it speaks

he / she / it is speaking

we speak

we are speaking

they speak

they are speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 's' :

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

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Example: he can, she may, it must

Example: come - coming

but: agree - agreeing

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

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

After a consonant, the final

consonant y becomesie. (but: not after a vowel)
Example: worry - he worries

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

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is

doubled.
Example: sit - sitting

but: play - he plays

After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British

English (but not in American English).
Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)

Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying

Adverbs of Frequency
With the present simple, we often use adverbs of frequency to say 'how often' we do
something. Here's a list of common adverbs:

always

frequently

generally

hardly ever

infrequently

never

normally

occasionally

often

rarely

regularly

seldom

sometimes

usually

We usually put these adverbs in the middle of the sentence, between the subject and
the verb:

I often go to the cinema.

She sometimes visits me at home.

We usually drink coffee.

We can also put them at the very beginning or end of the sentence. This makes them
stronger:

Often I go to the cinema.

I go to the cinema often.

But never: I go often to the cinema.

Here are some other expressions we can use to say 'how often'. All of these longer
phrases go at the beginning or the end of the sentence but not in the middle.

once in a while: I go to the cinema once in a while.

every now and again: She drinks wine every now and again.

from time to time: From time to time I visit my mother.

To say how often something happens, you can use a number or 'several' or 'many',
followed by 'times'.( If the number is one, use 'once' instead of 'one time'. If the
number is two use 'twice,' instead of 'two times') Then add 'a' and a period of time:

I go to the cinema twice a week.

She takes these tablets three times a day.

I change the sheets once a fortnight (fortnight = two weeks).

I meet him several times a year.

I visit my parents once a month.

We can also use 'every' + period of time:

every morning

every day

every Tuesday

every week

every month

A day of the week with 's' at the end (for example 'on Tuesdays') means the same as
'every Tuesday':

I take a dance class on Wednesdays.

I relax on Saturdays.

Return to the present simple page from adverbs of frequency