Present Simple vs.

Present Continuous
Pres. Simple Pres. Cont.

Infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

Form 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
1) something happens in general 1) something is happening right now

ex. Colin plays football every ex. Look! Colin is playing football now.
Tuesday.
2) for several actions happening
2) present actions happening at the same time
one after another

ex. Colin is playing football and Anne is

ex. First Colin plays football, then he watching.
watches TV.
3) arrangement for the near future
3) action set by a timetable or schedule
Use

ex. The film starts at 8 pm. ex. I am meeting Tom near the cinema.

4) only for a limited period of time (does

4) daily routine not have to happen directly at the moment of
speaking)

ex. Bob works in a restaurant. ex. Jenny is working in a restaurant this

week.

Certain Verbs
Signal words

always
every ...
often at the moment
normally at this moment
usually today
sometimes now
seldom right now
never Listen!
first Look!
then
 Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
We do not use Pres. Cont, but Pres. Simp instead
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.

Practice
Exercise 1. Underline the right tense:
1. My mum goes/is going to the market on Friday.
2. Do you like/Is he liking cinema?
3. The children play/are playing chess now.
4. “Where’s Tony?” “He studies/is studying”
5. The programme finishes/is finishing at 10.
6. Sally has/is having coffee after lunch.
7. Do you fly/ Are you flying to Paris on Monday or on Tuesday?
8. My mother doesn’t play/ isn’t playing tennis.
9. What time does the concert begin/ is the concert beginning?
10. I usually get up/ am usually getting up at 7:30 on weekdays.

Exercise 2. Are the sentences right or wrong? Correct the verbs that are wrong.
1. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
2. The water boils. Can you turn it off?
3. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car.
4. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?
5. The moon goes round the earth.
6. I must go now. It gets late.
7. I usually go to work by car.
8. 'Hurry up! It's time to leave.' 'OK, I come.'
9. I hear you've got a new job. How do you get on?
Present Simple vs. Present Continuous