Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple and Present Continuous

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Present Simple

Let's take it slow!

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the

time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

• Nurses look after patients in hospitals.

• I usually go away at weekends.

• The earth goes round the sun.

• The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.

Remember to add -s in the third person singular (she, he, it). We say:

• I work .... but .... he works

• you go .... but .... it goes

• they teach .... but .... my sister teaches

• I have .... but .... he has

Adding -s can sometimes be a bit difficult!

1. For most verbs, add -s to the infinitive.

draw --> draws , cook --> cooks

2. For verbs that end in -s, -sh, -ss, -ch, -x, or -o add -es.

do --> does , watch --> watches

3. For verbs that end in consonant + -y, omit the -y and add -ies.

fly --> flies , study --> studies

4. Irregular verbs don't follow the rules!

have --> has , be --> is

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:

• I come from Canada. Where do you come from?

• I don’t go away very often.

• What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)

• Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn’t do)

• ‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a shop.’

• He’s always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help.

• They don't do test on Fridays, it's a safe day.

• 'How do you do?' 'I'm fine, thank you.'

If you are wondering about short forms:

• I do not drive ---> I don't drive

• She does not like me ---> She doesn't like me

• I am happy ---> I'm happy

• You are great! ---> You're great!

• She is a scientist ---> She's a scientist.

• They are not worried ---> They aren't worried.

• It is not a problem ---> It isn't a problem.

We use the present simple to say how often we do things

• I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.

• How often do you go to the dentist?

• Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.

• Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

• She never listens to her mother's advice!

• I always check the door twice before I leave.

We use Present Simple to talk about timetables and scheduled events

• Our train leaves at 7pm.

• English classes start at 4am Warsaw time.

• What time does the exam begin?

• The museum opens at 9am every day except Monday.

• null

• 
  

And finally, we use Present Simple when we talk about our beliefs, opinions, promises

• I promise I won't be late.

• I suggest you try this one.

• I believe this is the correct answer.

• I don't know that to do.

• What do you suggest I do?

OK. Seems simple enough. Let's practice!

Choose the correct answer!

Multiple Choice

.............. Sam like English?

• Does

• Do

Multiple Choice

 Yes, he .............. .

• do
• does

Multiple Choice

Why__________ Sally__________( work) so hard?

• do/work
• do/works
• does/ work
• does/works

Multiple Choice

Ron often _____________( try) his best.

• try
• trys
• tries
• trying

Multiple Choice

I_________(not like) ice cream.

• don't like
• doesn't like
• doesn't likes
• doesn't like

Multiple Choice

_________she_______(have) many friends?

• Does/has
• Does/have
• Do/have
• Do/has

Multiple Choice

We_________(not read) newspapers every day.

• doesn't read
• doesn't reads
• don't read
• not read

Multiple Choice

My friends_________(study) English on Sundays.

• studies
• study
• studied
• studie

Multiple Choice

He _________(go) to school every day.

• goes

• go

• went

• gos

A bit more difficult!

Write down the correct form of the verb in brackets, all in Present Simple! You can use short or long forms - your choice!

It's enough! Lets move to Present Continuous!

We use the Present Continuous to talk about things that are happening right now or they haven't finished yet.

• Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)

• ‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)

• Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)

• How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?

• What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?

It's very important to remember that the action isn't always NOW. It simply must be different that a routine or it is temporary.

• Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.

  (but perhaps she isn’t learning Italian at the time of speaking)

• I live in Lodz, but this week I'm living in Warsaw because I came for a conference.

• I'm reading a really good book. It's about war! (but she isn't reading it NOW)

You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year to show that it is a temporary situation, it's not always like that.

• You’re working hard today. That's strange! (not You work hard today)

• The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

• This week we are studying only grammar. Usually we also learn vocabulary.

We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use these verbs in this way:

getting, becoming changing, improving, starting, beginning, increasing, rising, falling, growing

• Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)

• The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)

• At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)

Present Continuous can also be used to talk about future arrangements, but let's talk about it different time.

• I'm flying to Rome next Monday.

• They are getting married on the 6th of June.

• I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow.

Ok. That's all. Let's practice Present Continuous.

Multiple Choice

Where ____ the students ____ the exam this morning?

• is, take

• are, take

• is, taking

• are, taking

Multiple Choice

Why ____ your sister ____? She looks very sad.

• is, cry

• is, crying

• are, cry

• are, crying

Multiple Choice

Question: ....................................

Answer: "It's sleeping."

• What are you doing?

• What's he doing?

• What's your mum doing?

• What's the dog doing?

Multiple Choice

We ............... (have) a very good time on holidays.

• have

• has

• are having

• is having

Multiple Choice

My sister ............... (watch) TV and I ............... (read) a great novel.

• is watching / am reading

• am watching / is reading

• isn't reading / isn't watching

• are watching / is reading

Multiple Choice

The children ...................... (not swim) at the moment.

• is swimming

• are swimming

• am swimming

• aren't swimming

Multiple Choice

They ...................... (drive) to work right now.

• is driving

• aren't driving

• are driving

• driving

Multiple Choice

The boys ...................... (not play) tennis today.

• isn't playing

• are playing

• are'nt playing

• aren't playing

Multiple Choice

My sister ...................... (watch) TV right now.

• is watching

• are watching

• am watching

• is watched

Now, put the verb into the correct form, positive (I’m doing etc.) or negative (I’m not doing). It's your choice!

Let's compare Present Simple and Present Continuous

Please remember that there are some verbs that are NOT normally used in Present Continuous

like, want, need, prefer, know, realise, understand, recognise, believe, suppose, remember, mean, belong, fit, contain, consist, seem

• I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting)

• Do you understand what I mean? (not Are you understanding?)

• This book belongs to me.

• I need a drink now!

What's more, some verbs change thier meaning if they are used in Simple or Continuous

• I think you are wrong (my opinion) / I'm thinking about changing a job (I'm considering it)

• I see an ocean (I can look at it) / I'm seeing a girl (I'm meeting her)

• I have a car (I own it) / I'm having lunch (I'm eating)

That's all for now!

Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

What time ............the film ................. (start)?

• do ... start
• is... starting
• does ... start

Multiple Select

How are you? ______________ a good time?

• Do you have

• Are you having

Multiple Select

______________________ the answer?

• Do you know

• Are you knowing

Multiple Choice

She usually ......... a car but she ................ a bike today

• Drives   -   is riding
• Drive   -   is riding
• Is driving  -  rides

Multiple Choice

A: Where’s Luke?
B: He _____________ (see) the doctor now. 

• is seeing
• sees
• see
• saw

Multiple Choice

Are you hungry? Do you ___________ a sandwich?  

• are you wanting
• wants
• want
• wanting

Multiple Choice

My grandmother .... for a walk every day.

• goes
• go
• is going

Multiple Choice

A: Why _________ ? (smile)
B: Because I’m happy. 

• do you smile
• are you not smiling
• are you smiling
• don't you smile

Multiple Choice

Sandra and her husband are vegetarian. They ________ (eat meat)

• are not eating meat
• don't eat meat
• eat meat
• eating meat

And now, the last exercise. Put the verbs in correct form, present simple or present continuous.

The End

Thanks for doing the lesson. If your result is not great, try again. It will be easier :)