SIMPLE PRESENT VS PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

Form

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' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

 For can, may, might, must, do not add s.  Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

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 short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is
doubled.
 After a consonant, the final
Example: sit - sitting
consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worries  After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in

but: play - he plays British English (but not in American English).

Example: travel - travelling (British English)

but: traveling (American English)

 Final ie becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

 see also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right
now?

Simple Present Present Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never) right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin is playing football now.

present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same time

First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

 always  at the moment

 every ...  at this moment
 often  today
 normally  now
 usually  right now
 sometimes  Listen!
 seldom  Look!
 never
 first
 then

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:

be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
 Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time
set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present Present Progressive

arrangement for the near future

action set by a timetable or schedule
I am going to the cinema tonight.
The film starts at 8 pm.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only
going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present Present Progressive

only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly
daily routine
at the moment of speaking)
Bob works in a restaurant. Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

 state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.

 possession: belong, have

Example: Sam has a cat.

 senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He feels the cold.

 feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

 Example: Jane loves pizza.

 brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I believe you.

 Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak – I _____________________________________________
2. jump – you ____________________________________________
3. bake – she ____________________________________________
4. play – they ____________________________________________
5. run – we ______________________________________________

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be – it _________________________________
2. have – he _______________________________
3. eat – she _______________________________
4. can – he _______________________________
5. wash – she _____________________________

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They (leave) ________________________ the house.

2. Brian (cycle) _______________________________ 30 km every day.
3. Samantha (do) _________________________ her homework at the moment.
4. My parents (shop) ________________________________ right now.
5. He usually (get up) _________________________ early in the morning.
 When to use which tense?

1. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Look!, now? Simple
present or present progressive
2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom, never?
Simple present or present progressive
3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use Simple present or present
progressive
4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use Simple present or present
progressive
5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use Simple present or
present progressive
6. For arrangements for the near future, we use Simple present or present progressive
 Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak - I am speaking

2. jump - you are jumping
3. bake - she is baking
4. play - they are playing
5. run - we are running

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be - it is
2. have - he has
3. eat - she eats
4. can - he can
5. wash - she washes

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They are leaving  the house.

2. Brian cycles  30 km every day.
3. Samantha is doing  her homework at the moment.
4. My parents are shopping  right now.
5. He usually gets up  early in the morning.

When to use which tense?

1. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Look!, now? Present
Progressive
2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom,
never? Simple Present
3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use Present Progressive.
4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use Simple Present.
5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use Simple Present.
6. For arrangements for the near future, we use Present Progressive.