G RA M M A R

Present continuous and

6 present simple

Explanat ions
Present cont inuous To t alk abo u t t h in gs h ap p en in g at t h e
m o m en t , u se t h e p resen t co n t in u ou s.

Jim is w a t ch in g television a t the

moment.

Present sim ple To t alk abo u t h ab it s an d ro u t in es u se t h e

p resen t sim p le.
Th in gs we d o o ft en , every d ay, every
week, et c.
Th in gs t h at always h ap p en .

I a rr ive a t school a t 8.30.

Jim is wa tching TV.
The first lesson st a r t s a t 8.45.
The lesson fin ish es a t 9.30.

Careful! Joe lives in New York. New York is his home. He lives there a ll the time.
We a re livin g nea r the sta tion a t the moment. We wa nt to move to a nother
house soon.

Verbs u su ally u sed wit h t h e p resen t sim p le:

co st This bike costs 200.
like Anna likes ra p music.
kn o w Do you know the a nswer?
u n d erst an d I dont understa nd this.
believe Do you believe me?

So m e verbs h ave o n e m ean in g in t h e sim p le fo rm , bu t a d ifferen t m ean in g in

t h e con t in u o u s fo rm .

D o you h a ve a bike? = Do yo u o wn a bike? (in gen eral)

Im h a vin g a grea t time! = It s a great p art y! (at t h e m o m en t )

I t h in k this film is grea t! = I like t h is film a lo t . (in gen eral)

Quiet! Im t h in kin g. = Im d o in g a d ifficu lt exercise. (at t h e m o m en t )

18 Macmillan, Max Hueber Verlag , Ismaning, Elementary Language Practice, 3-19-002886-9