SIMPLE PRESENT

TENSE VS PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
(PROGRESSIVE) TENSE
 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
• Use the Simple Present Tense to show that something happens
regularly or for unchanging facts.
A) happens regularly (always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely)
e.g. People always call him Joe.
e.g. We usually prefer first names.
e.g. Dusya sometimes uses nicknames.
B) unchanging facts
e.g. She comes from Moscow. It’s the capital.
 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
• Remember to add –s or –es to third person singular (he, she, it) of
simple present verbs. Use do/does in questions and do not /does not
in negative sentences.
e.g. Dusya lives in Toronto. She doesn’t live in Ottowa.
• We often use adverbs of frequency with verbs in the simple present
tense. The adverb usually goes before the verb. If the verb is be, the
adverb goes after be.
e.g. Dusya usually gets home at 7:00 p.m.
e.g. She usually finishes work on time.
e.g. She is never late for class.
 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
• Sometimes and usually can also go at the beginning of the sentence.
e.g. We sometimes eat lunch together.
e.g. Sometimes we eat lunch together.
 SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE
Other uses of Simple Present Tense
•Use the Simple Present Tense for situations that are connected to
time-for example, scientific facts and physical laws.
e.g. Water freezes at 0 °C.
e.g. The Earth orbits the Sun.
•Writers often use the simple present in book or movie reviews, in
newspaper reports, and description of sporting events.
e.g. This book gives information about names.
e.g. The movie takes place in Paris in 1945.
 TIME EXPRESSIONS
• every day/morning/afternoon/evening/week/month/year

• on Mondays, on the weekends, in the mornings, in the evenings

• Adverbs of frequency: always, generally, usually, often, sometimes,

rarely, never

• once a day / twice a week / three times a month / many times a year
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
(PROGRESSIVE) TENSE
• Use the Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense to show that something
is happening now or in a longer present.
A) happening now (now, right now, just now, at the moment, at
present)
e.g. A: What is Dusya doing?
B: Right now, she is studying in the library.
B) happening in a longer present time, but perhaps not at this exact
moment (this month, this year, these days, nowadays)
e.g. A: What is Jorge doing these days?
B: He is working on a new project.
 PRESENT CONTINUOUS
(PROGRESSIVE) TENSE
• Use am, is, and are with –ing for the present progressive. Do not
forget to add –ing to the verb.
e.g. Dusya is working in Canada this year.
e.g. Eric is writing his report at the moment.
• We often use time expressions (right now, this month, these days,
etc.) with verbs in the present progressive. The time expression can
go at the beginning or end of the sentence. Now can also go after be.
e.g. These days, Dusya is looking for a new job. OR Dusya is looking for
a new job these days.
e.g. Now, she is preparing for a job interview. OR She is now preparing
for a job interview. OR She is preparing for a job interview now.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
(PROGRESSIVE) TENSE
IMPORTANT!!
• Be careful with imperative sentences:
Look! / Listen! / Shhh!

e.g. Look! The baby is touching the dog.

e.g. Listen! Some small children are playing outside in the park.
 PRESENT PROGRESSIVE WITH
ALWAYS
• You can use the present progressive with always to describe a
repeated action. Always usually goes after be.
e.g. She is always smiling. That’s why we call her ‘Sunshine.’ It’s her
nickname.
• We often use the present progressive to describe a situation that
causes a negative reaction.
e.g. He is always calling me ‘Sweetie.’ I really hate that name.