GRAMMAR

A. Present simple and present continous

Present Simple Present continuous

Habitual actions or permanent states Repeated actions with always, forever,

constantly (often use to show annoyance)
He goes swimming every day. Youre always leaving the cap off the
She works in a bank. toothpaste.

Arranged and unalterable futures actions Actions in progress, temporary actions

(timetables, programs, agenda,etc)
The match begins at 8:30 next Monday evening. Hes sleeping at the moment.
Theyre hunting for a flat.
Law of nature/ scientific facts and instructions. Fixed arrangements for the near future.
Ice melts when heated. They are going on an excursion tomorrow.
First you chop the meat then you fry it.
Dramatic, narration. Current trends and developments.
The lights go out and a figure tears out of the
villa. Oil prices are rising at the moment..
Time expressions: usually, often, always, every Time expressions: now, at present, at the
day, in the morning, on Mondays etc moment, these days, still, today, tonight,
nowadays etc

State verbs describe a state and do not have continuous forms

Verb Correct Not Correct

agree She didnt agree with us. She wasnt agreeing with us.

appear It appears to be raining. It is appearing to be raining.

believe I dont believe the news. I am not believing the news.

belong This book belonged to my This book was belonging to my

grandfather. grandfather.
concern This concerns you. This is concerning you.

consist Bread consists of flour, water and Bread is consisting of flour, water and
yeast. yeast.
contain This box contains a cake. This box is containing a cake.
depend It depends on the weather. Its depending on the weather.
deserve He deserves to pass the exam. He is deserving to pass the exam.
disagree I disagree with you. I am disagreeing with you.
dislike I have disliked mushrooms for years. I have been disliking mushrooms for
years.
doubt I doubt what you are saying. I am doubting what you are saying.

feel I dont feel that this is a good idea. I am not feeling that this is a good idea.
(=have
an
fit This shirt fits me well. This shirt is fitting me well.
opinion)
hate Julies always hated dogs. Julies always been hating dogs.
hear Do you hear music? Are you hearing music?
imagine I imagine you must be tired. I am imagining you must be tired.
impress He impressed me with his story. He was impressing me with his story.

include This cookbook includes a recipe This cookbook is including a recipe

for bread. for bread.
involve The job involves a lot of The job is involving a lot of
travelling. travelling.
know Ive known Julie for ten years. Ive been knowing Julie for ten years.

like I like reading detective stories. I am liking reading detective stories.

love I love chocolate. Im loving chocolate.*

matter It doesnt matter. It isnt mattering.
mean Enormous means very big. Enormous is meaning very big.

measure This window measures 150cm. This window is measuring 150cm.

(=be
long)
mind She doesnt mind the noise. She isnt minding the noise.
need At three oclock yesterday I At three oclock yesterday I was
needed a taxi. needing a taxi.

owe I owe you 20. I am owing you 20.

own She owns two cars. She is owning two cars.
 prefer I prefer chocolate ice cream. I am preferring chocolate ice cream.

promise I promise to help you tomorrow. I am promising to help you

tomorrow.
realise I didnt realise the problem. I wasnt realising the problem.
recognis I didnt recognise my old friend. I wasnt recognising my old friend.
e
rememb He didnt remember my name. He wasnt remembering my name.
er
seem The weather seems to be The weather is seeming to be
improving. improving.
sound Your idea sounds great. Your idea is sounding great.
suppose I suppose John will be late. Im supposing John will be late.
surprise The noise surprised me. The noise was surprising me.
understa I dont understand this question. Im not understanding this question.
nd
want I want to go to the cinema I am wanting to go to the cinema
tonight. tonight.
weigh This cake weighs 450g. This cake is weighing 450g.

wish I wish I had studied more. I am wishing I had studied more.

Some verbs can function as BOTH action verbs and stative verbs!

Verbs Stative Actions

be He is immature. (he is always He is being immature. (he is

immature) temporarily acting immature)

have I have a car. He has a dog. Im having breakfast (eating

breakfast).
Hes having fun (experiencing
fun).

see I see some birds. Ill be seeing the doctor

I see what you mean. tomorrow.

look That cake looks delicious!
smell the quality of smell or taste
possessed by something
The bar smells of smoke.
This meat tastes like chicken.
Think/feel when talking about your
opinion
I think thats a great idea!
I feel that this is not the best
use of our time.
Weigh/measure when talking about the quality
possessed by something
The suitcase weighs 20
pounds.
The surfboard measures 2
meters by 55 centimeters.
Theyve been seeing each
other for a month.
directing your eyes to
something; phrasal verbs
Hes looking at the computer
screen.
Shes looking for (= seeking)
a job.
Theyre looking after (=
taking care of) my dog for the
weekend.
when a person uses their nose
or mouth to test something
Hes smelling the cookies.
Shes tasting the soup to see if
it needs more salt.
when using your mind, or
experiencing emotions or
health issues
Were thinking about moving
to another city.
Ive been feeling unusually
tired lately.
when a person performs the
action of weighing/measuring
something
The butcher is weighing the
meat on the scale.
The architects
were measuring the distance
between the pillars.
Present perfect and present perfect continuous

Present Perfect Present perfect continous

Recently completed actions Past actions producing visible results in the present.

She has just painted her room. She has been painting her room. (It smells of paint.)
Actions beginning in the past and continuing Actions beginning in the past and continuing up to the
up to the present, focusing on the result. present, focusing on the duration.

He has written three books. Ive been ironing my shirts this morning.
Indefinite past actions or experiences Action showing annoyance, irritation or surprise

She has seen this film. (We do not know What have you been doing to my computer?
when).

Ive been to Berlin twice.

Repeated actions still continuing

He has worked as a teacher for 4 years. ( He is

still a teacher.)
Time expressions: since, for, yet, already, just, Time expressions: since, for, recently, lately, how long
ever, so far, recently, lately, still, how long etc etc

HAS BEEN TO/ HAS BEEN IN/ HAS GONE TO

He has been to Berlin. (= He has gone and come back)

He has been in Buenos Aires for a year. (= He lives there)

He has gone to Toledo. ( He hasnt come back yet)

Note

We use PRESENT PERFECT with other present tenses:

with report, comment verbs or phrases (guess, imagine, suppose, reckon,etc)

I reckon Gloria has been held up in traffic.
Do you suppose theyve forgotten theyre meant to be here.
With the phrase This is/Its/ Thats the first/second/only,etc.time
This is the first time he has been late.
Its the only time Ive ever really got angry with him.
When an event is unusual or unique in your life ( often with superlative and ever or never)
Ive never met anybody who is so absent-minded.
 When commenting on the present results of something in the past (usually with appear, seem,
sound, etc)
He sounds as if he has run all the way here.
It seems theyve already decided without consulting us.