PRESENT

SIMPLE CONTINUOUS

Past Future Past Future

AUX: DO/ DOES AUX: TO BE (AM, IS, ARE)

(- ; ?) (+; -; ? )

1. FOR SOMETHING THAT IS ALWAYS/ 1. FOR AN ACTIVITY DONE AT THE MOMENT

GENERALLY TRUE OR AROUND THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

e.g. I am from Canada. I live in Rome. e.g. You are watching me right now.
Water boils at 1000 Celsius.

2. FOR HABITS OR ROUTINES 2. TO INDICATE THAT THE SITUATION IS

TEMPORARY
e.g. I normally teach English on weekdays.
She doesnt usually go running on Fridays. e.g. She is living with her parents until her
house is renovated.

3. FOR FIXED TIMETABLES 3. FOR CHANGES, TRENDS, PROGRESS, ETC

e.g. Our train leaves at 5:00 p.m. e.g. Rome is becoming a modern capital.

4. TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENS IN A BOOK, 4. WITH ALWAYS/FOREVER TO INDICATE

FILM, ETC. THAT SOMETHING IRRITATES US

e.g. In his last movie he plays a detective e.g. You are always asking questions about
working in NYC. my life.
TIME EXPRESSIONS TIME EXPRESSIONS

ALWAYS, NEVER, OFTEN, RARELY, EVERY NOW, RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT,
DAY/WEEK, etc. , ON SATURDAYS, etc. CURRENTLY, AT PRESENT, etc.
 PRESENT

SIMPLE CONTINUOUS

(+) PERSON + VERB

I/YOU/WE/THEY + VERB (e.g. I speak English) I/ YOU/SHE/HE/IT/WE/THEY + TO BE + VERB+ ING

( in the present)

SHE/ HE/ IT + VERB + S/ES (e.g. She speaks English)

e.g. I am writing an e-mail.
She is watching TV.
!!! He goes; She misses; She watches;
You are studying Physics this year.
He wishes; He relaxes;
!!! like- liking;
She cries
( if there is a consonant before Y, in the 3rd person singular, Y turns into I
sit- sitting ( if the last syllable ends in consonant-vowel- consonant,
and after that we add ES) we double the last consonant and after that add ING)

lie- lying

(-) PERSON + AUX + NOT + VERB

I/ YOU/ WE/ THEY + DO+ NOT+ VERB PERSON+ TO BE + NOT+ VERB+ ING
(in the present)

e.g. I do not (dont) speak French.

e.g. I am not writting a letter.
You are not ( arent) watching TV.
SHE/HE/IT+ DOES + NOT+ VERB
She is not (isnt) reading a book.
e.g. He does not (doesnt) speak French.

(?) WH-WORD + AUX + PERSON + VERB

e.g. Where do you live? e.g. Why is he listening to her?

Where does she work? Why are you always asking crazy questions?
Do you speak French? Is she watching the new movie?
Does she speak Italian?

!!!! STATE VERBS ( SENSES, FEELING, THINKING, POSSESSION, BEING, ETC.) ARE NOT USUALLY USED IN ANY
CONTINUOUS FORM.

e.g. appear, hear, like, hate, love, want, agree, believe, forget, understand, belong to, contain, exist, need, etc.