PRESENT SIMPLE & PRESENT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT SIMPLE

‘Simple’ tenses are formed by using the base form of the principal verb. In the present tense the auxiliary verb
‘do/does’ is used. In the affirmative the third person singular always finishes in ‘s’.

The ‘simple’ verb construction is used to express habits, general truths, facts, repeated actions, unchanging
situations, emotions, the senses.

Adverbs of frequency are often used with ‘simple’ verbs: always – frequently - occasionally - often, sometimes
- usually - every

‘Regular verbs’ construction in the present tense

AFFIRMATIVE: subject + base form verb + (s/es/ies in the 3 rd person singular only) + remaining part of
sentence.

 I play tennis every Friday. They produce wine in Italy. He lives with his parents.
Mr Brown teaches English. John studies French at university. Mary has breakfast at 7.30.

NEGATIVE: Subject + don’t/doesn’t + base form verb + remaining part of sentence.

 We don’t come from Spain. I don’t live in Rimini. They don’t often go to the cinema.
It doesn’t work. Alberto doesn’t eat fish. She doesn’t have lunch at 12.00

QUESTION: Do/Does + subject + base form of verb + remaining part of sentence

 Do you live in Italy? Does John live in Birmingham? Do they work in a factory?
Does it work? Do you like chocolate? Yes, I do. No, I don’t.

COMBINED WITH A QUESTION WORD: (Interrogative adverbs)

 What do you do? I’m a teacher. Where do you live? How does he get to work?
 Who takes private English lessons? (Who is subject – affirmative verb construction) – Mary takes private
lessons.
 Who meets you every Sunday? (Who is subject – affirmative verb construction) – John meets me
every Sunday.
 Who do you meet every Sunday? (who is object – interrogative verb construction) – I meet John every
Sunday.
 Whose bicycle needs repairing? (whose is subject – affirmative verb construction)
 Whose (umbrella) can I borrow? (whose is object – interrogative verb construction)
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Continuous/Progressive verbs are used to define ‘something which is happening at a certain moment in time’.

Verb construction of this present tense

AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + am/are/is + verb in ‘ing’

 I am cooking dinner. She is sitting on a chair. The children are playing in the garden.
NEGATIVE: Subject + am/are/is + not (n’t) + verb in ‘ing’

 I’m not working today. John isn’t doing his homework. You are not going without me!
QUESTION: Am/Are/Is + subject + verb in ‘ing’.

 Am I doing the right thing? Is Mary doing her homework? Are they playing tennis?
Are you coming with me? Are you listening to me? Is the dog eating its food?

This verb construction in the present tense is used :

With action verbs (we can see this thing/action being done.)

 John is playing the piano.

They are listening to classical music. (‘ To listen’ - action verb associated
with one of our senses)
With verbs with more than one meaning to represent movement/action

 John thinks that Mary is beautiful. (This is his opinion – verb of state of mind – Simple present)
 John is thinking of visiting New York. (His mind is elaborating this thought – action)
With ‘always’ to represent something we disapprove of

 John smokes a lot. (This is a truth/fact. We use the simple present.)

 John is always smoking. (We do not approve. This action troubles us a lot)

In the present, action is associated with adverbs of the present time: –now – at the moment – today – still

I can’t come with you. I am still doing my homework.

I’m watching TV at the moment.

GRAMMAR PRACTICE

1. My sister ________________(not/play) the guitar but she ___________(play) the violin.

2. They ______________________ (sing)a song at the moment.
3. My father never _________(smoke).
4. Listen!!Somebody __________________________ (come) here.
5. Look! That woman ___________________ candies. (give)
6. Every morning, I ________________ my breakfast at the snack bar. (have)
7. Every year, our neighbour John _______________ (change) his hair style.
8. She _______________ (not/drink) milk at nights. She ______________________(always drink )
different soda like Coke and can’t sleep – it’s really annoying.
9. I _________________________________ (not/ water/ usually) the flowers.
10. We rarely ______________________(speak) to each other.
11. Hey!!! _______ you _________________ (listen) to me?
12. ________you ________(do) your homework every day?
13. ________ he __________(do) his projects on Mondays?
14. ________ he________(not/eat) his salad at present?
15. Tomorrow at 4 Bill __________________________ (see) his boss.
16. What time ____________________________ ( the train go)?
17. What ____________________________ ( you do) tomorrow at 5?
18. What _________________________ ( you do)? - I am a teacher?
19. Where ________________________ ( she/ live ) ?
20. My mother ___________(go) to hairdresser once a month.
21. They often ____________(play) basketball but today they____________ (play) football.
22. Twice a week my brother and I _______________ (swim) in the pool.
23. My mother always __________ (cook) well but my sister __________ (not/ cook) well at all.
24. We __________(not/listen) to music right now.
25. In the mornings my father __________(get up) early but we _________(not/get up) early.
26. Normally I _______________ (live) with my parents but currently _________________ (stay) with my
best friend
27. You _________________ (write) an exercise now.
28. When ______________________ ( you leave )? - On Sunday
29. Susan _________________ (work) from 9 to 5 o’clock.
30. Billy normally ______ ( stay ) with us, but currently he ________ ( stay) with Tom
31. What time ______________________________ ( the train arrive) ?
32. _____________________ ( you believe) in miracles?
33. __________ you __________ (watch) TV every night?
34. I __________________ (meet) Sam at 6pm today
35. What time _____________________ ( you / leave) tomorrow?
36. I ___________________ ( want) to go to Spain next week
37. You know Mary, right? She ______________________ ( always / ask) me stupid questions. I really hate
it !
38. Mark _______________ (read) a book now.
39. Every weekend, the boys ________________ their father. (visit)

EDUCATION - VOCABULARY + READING PRACTICE

LISTENING PRACTICE