English. Cristina Antón Homsy. English. Cristina Antón Homsy.

PRESENT SIMPLE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

HOW DO WE FORM PRESENT SIMPLE? HOW DO WE FORM PRESENT CONTINUOUS?
STATEMENT NEGATIVE QUESTION To be (am/are/is) + verb-“ing”
I drive I do not drive Do I drive?
You drive You do not drive Do you drive? STATEMENT NEGATIVE QUESTION
He drives He does not drive Does he drive? I am driving I am not driving Am I driving?
She drives She does not drive Does she drive? You are driving You are not driving Are you driving?
It drives It does not drive Does it drive? He is driving He is not driving Is he driving?
We drive We do not drive Do we drive? She is driving She is not driving Is she driving?
You drive You do not drive Do you drive? It is driving It is not driving Is it driving?
They drive They do not drive Do they drive? We are driving We are not driving Are we driving?
You are driving You are not driving Are you driving?
They are driving They are not driving Are they driving?

WHEN DO WE USE PRESENT SIMPLE?

1. We use present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say thay something WHEN DO WE USE PRESENT CONTINUOUS?
happens all the time or repeatedly (habits), or that something is true in general.
a. Nurses look after patients in hospitals. 1. We use present continuous to talk about unfinished actions: we started doing it and
b. I usually go away at weekends. haven’t finished; we’re in the middle of doing it.
c. The earth goes round the sun. a. Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try).
d. The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning. b. ‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)
2. We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences. c. Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)
a. I come from Canada. Where do you come from? d. How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
b. I don’t go away very often. e. What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?
c. What does this word mean? Sometimes the action is not happening at the time of speaking.
d. Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates. a. Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian (but perhaps she isn’t learning
e. What do you do? Italian at the time of speaking)
f. He is always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help. b. Some friends of mine are building their own house. They hope to finish it next
3. We use present simple to say how often we do things: summer.
a. I get up at 8 o’clock every morning. c. I’m reading a really good book at the moment. It’s about a man who …
b. How often do you go to the dentist? 2. We use present continuous with today/this week/this year/etc. (periods around now):
c. Julie doesn’t drink tea very often. a. A: You’re working hard today (not You work hard today)
d. Robert usually goes away two or three times a year. B: Yes, I have a lot to do.
4. I promise/I apologise/etc. b. The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year
a. I promise I won’t be late. (not I’m promising) 3. We use present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen.
b. ‘What do you suggest I do?’ ‘I suggest that you …’ We often use these verbs in this way: getting, becoming, changing, improving, starting,
beginning, increasing, rising, falling, growing…
a. Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better).
We use present simple to talk about… b. The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)
 Present habits: Marsha goes to dance lessons every Saturday c. At first, I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start).
 Permanent situations: Does Dan work at the cinema?
 States: I like the new James Bond film.
 General truths: You play chess with 32 pieces We use present continuous to talk about…
 Actions happening now: Jan is watching a DVD upstairs.
 Temporary situations: She is working at the museum until the end of the month.
 Annoying habits (usually with ‘always’): My brother is always borrowing my CD’s without asking
 English. Cristina Antón Homsy.

PRESENT SIMPLE vs.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
PRESENT SIMPLE
HABITS, REGLAR ACTIONS OR SITUATIONS
- I wash my hair every day.
- He usually gets up early
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
ACTIONS IN PROGRESS ‘NOW’/’AROUND
NOW’
- I can’t talk. I’m bruising my teeth.
- I’m reading a new book. I love it!

FACTS, PERMANENT SITUATIONS OR TEMPORARY ACTIONS OR SITUATIONS

STATES - I’m going to work by bus this week.
- I have one brother. He lives in Paris. - I’m living with my cousins until I find an
- Water boils at 100 degrees. apartment.

WITH STATIVE VERBS* CHANGING OR DEVELOPING SITUATIONS.

- Give me the money. I need it now. - The climate is changing very quickly.
- What happened? You look sad. - Your English is improving.

FUTURE TIMETABLED EVENTS FUTURE ACTIONS THAT ARE DECIDED

- The train leaves at 4. - I’m meeting John this evening.
- The exams start next Monday. - We are leaving tomorrow at 7 a.m.

SIGNAL WORDS: always, never, often, SIGNAL WORDS: now, at the moment, these
sometimes, every day, once a month, etc. days, this week/month, etc.
*Verbs o the senses: hear, see, smell, look, seem, sound; opinion verbs: believe, consider, like,
love, hate, think, prefer, etc.; possession verbs: have, own, belong, etc,; also: agree, be, depend,
need, mean, remember, realise, recognise, seem, want, etc.