Present Simple, Continuous and Non-Action Verbs

Present Simple and Continuous plus Non-Action Verbs​

By José Vidal

Present Simple

Facts, habits and routines :)

• ​Water boils at 100 °C.

• The sun rises in the east.​

• I work in a bank.

• She studies Russian.

• We don't have any pets

• Jack doesn't wear glasses.

• Where do you live?

• Does you brother have a car?​

​We use the Present Simple to talk about facts, things that are always true or things that happen regularly.

• Tom usually comes home for lunch.

• I never speak Spanish in class.​

• My mother sometimes cooks.

• We walk around the park every day.

​We often use the Present Simple with adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, never) or expressions of frequency (every day, once a week).

Present Continuous

Things happening at the moment in which we speak. Arrangements for the future :)

A: ​Who are you waiting for?

​B: I am waiting for a friend.

​

A: Is your sister ​still studying French?

B: Yes! She is now taking English lessons, too!

​We use the Present Continuous (also known as present progressive) to describe things that are happening at the moment we speak. These are usually temporary activities.

A: ​Where are you going for the holidays?

​B: Nowhere. We are not travelling this year.

​

A: Is your mother cooking dinner this Friday?

B: I don't think so. She is working late all the week.

​We also use the Present Continuous to refer future arrangements.

Non-Action Verbs

Verbs that refer feelings or states (so also known as stative verbs) :)

Verbs that describe states or feelings (not actions) are not usually used in the present continuous even if we mean now.

​

A: What are you preparing?

B: Lemonade.

A: Great! I love lemonade!​

​

​A: What are you looking for?

B: My dictionary...

A: Ok. I'll help you in a moment!

B: I need it now...​

​

​

Some of these verbs are: need, prefer, agree, believe, belong, depend, forget, hate, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, prefer, realize, recognize, remember, seem, suppose.

Practice

Do the following activities so as to test your comprehension of the presentation :)

Complete the sentences using the verbs and the extra information in parentheses.

PART 1

Fill in the Blanks

Most children

too many fizzy drinks. (have)

Fill in the Blanks

any vitamins at the moment? (you take)

Fill in the Blanks

We never

pizza during the week. (get)

Fill in the Blanks

Don't eat the spinach if

it. (you not like)

Fill in the Blanks

how to cook fish? (he know)

Fill in the Blanks

What

right now? (your mother cook)

Fill in the Blanks

The diet in my country

worse. (get)

Fill in the Blanks

You look very happy. What

about? (you think)

Choose the right answer. Present Simple or Continuous

PART 2

Multiple Choice

Are you ready to order? The waiter ____.

• comes

• is coming

Multiple Choice

Kate ____ to have dinner now. She isn't hungry.

• doesn't want

• isn't wanting

Multiple Choice

The head chef is ill. So he ____ today.

• doesn't work

• isn't working

Multiple Choice

The Bill ____ very high to me.

• seems

• is seeming

Multiple Choice

We've had an argument, so we ____ to each other at the moment.

• don't speak

• aren't speaking

Multiple Choice

Her mum ____ her diet is awful these days.

• thinks

• is thinking

Multiple Choice

____ to go shopping today?

• Do we need

• Are we needing

Multiple Choice

Can I call you back? ____ lunch right now.

• I have

• I'm having

Multiple Choice

I didn't use to like fish, but now ____ it.

• I'm loving

• I love