Grammar 1a

Grammar 1a

Present Simple and Present Continuous 

Present Simple (base form) 

We use the Present Simple: for permanent situations: I live in a flat. She works for an insurance company. 

For repeated actions or habits: I use my mobile phone every day.

For general truths: The sun rises in the East. Water boils at 100 degrees. 

To tell stories, or summarise the plot of a film or book: Our hero goes off to search for the treasure, which he eventually finds after many adventures.

Present Continuous (present of be + ... -ing) 

We use the Present Continuous: for temporary situations existing for a period at the present time: I'm staying with a friend at the moment. She's working very hard nowadays. 

For situations which are changing during the present time: The weather's getting hotter and hotter.

For actions, or repeated actions or habits, occurring at the moment of speaking: I am using John's mobile phone because I left mine at home. You're eating too fast. 

To express annoying habits with words like always: You're always borrowing money! 

Present Simple

When we use always with the Present Simple, it usually means 'every time': I always complain if the service is bad in restaurants. When we use always with the Present Continuous, it means 'all the time' or 'too/very often': You're always complaining that waiters are rude. We cannot use never ... again with the Present Simple.

Incorrect - I never speak to you again.

Correct - I'm never speaking to you again.

Present Continuous

We do not usually use certain verbs in the Present Continuous, e.g.: 

appearance: appear, resemble, seem composition: consist of, contain, have connection: come from, concern, cost, fit, suit existence: be, exist knowledge: forget, know, realise, understand likes and dislikes: dislike, hate, like, Love, prefer needs and wants: need, want, wish opinion: believe, doubt, imagine, suppose, think possession: belong to, have, own, owe, possess senses: feel, hear, notice, see, smell, sound, taste 

Here are some examples: Present Simple

• She has (got) a big car. (possession)

• I have three brothers. (connection) 

• They think it's too expensive. (opinion) 

• I feel what we did was wrong. (opinion)

• Do you see what I mean? (knowledge; understand) 

• This juice tastes good. (senses)

• She appears to be very upset. (appearance)

Here are some examples:  Present Continuous

• She is having an operation/a good time/a meal/a bath. (actively involved in) 

• They are thinking of buying a cheaper car. (considering) 

• I'm just thinking. (at this moment) 

• Are you seeing a lot of Mary nowadays? (spending time with) 

• You're seeing things- there's nobody at the window. (imagining) 

• He is tasting the milk to see if it's OK. (checking the quality)

• The Blues Band is appearing at the Odeon on Saturday. (performing) 

We can use verbs that describe the way we feel physically in a Simple or Continuous form with no change of meaning: 

I feel sick. or: I am feeling sick.

My feet ache. or: My feet are aching.

My leg hurts. or: My leg's hurting.