Present Simple vs Present Continuous II

7/30/2019 Present Simple vs Present Continuous II

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We use THE PRESENT

CONTINUOUS:

- to express actions or events that

are happening now

Can you call me back later, I am

working right now.

- to express planned actions in the

near future

We are having a party tonight,

would like to join us?

- to express gradual changes

The weather is getting colder and

colder.

- with certain time expressions

now, at the moment, today, these

days, this week etc.

We use THE PRESENT SIMPLE:

- to express habitual actions/

routines

I do the shopping on Fridays.

- to express general facts in the

present that are permanent

I work in a bank.

- to express general truths

The sun sets in the west

- with certain time

expressions/adverbs of

frequency

always, usually, often sometimes,

occasionally, rarely/seldom, never

Note that if you would like to

express your anger or

annoyance you use the Present

Continuous with the time adverb

’always’

E.g. You are always losing your

keys! How careless you are!

- with the verbs of the senses

feel , hear, see, smell, taste



Formation of the Present

Simple

Affirmative:

We use the infinitive form of the

verb and add an ’s’ for the

third person singular:

I always get up at 6 in the

morning.

He never helps me with thehousework.

Note: Verbs ending in s, sh, ch,

x and o have an ’es’ ending

instead of an ’s’

Whenever he goes out with his

friends, he is late for school the

next day.

She watches soap operas every

day, she is addicted to them.

Negative:

We use the auxiliary verb ’do’ +

not+ infinitive or ’does’ + not +

infinitive respectively.

I do not have any free time on

weekdays, I’m too busy.

He does not eat any meat.

Short forms:

do+not -> don’t

does+not -> doesn’t

Interrogative:

Do you work full time?

Does she visit you often?

Fromation of the Present

Continuous

Affirmative:

We use the present form of the

auxiliary verb ’be’ + the

present participle that is the –

ing form of the verb

Don’t disturb him, he is working

right now!

Short forms: I’m working

You’re working

He/She’s working

We’re working

You’re working

They’re working

Negative:

We always negate the auxiliary

verb ’be’ and the present

participle remains the same.

She is not listening to the radio,

she is watchig TV.

Here we can also use

contractions:

She isn’t listening to the radio.

Interrogative:

The auxiliary verb ’be’ comes

before the subject.

Is the postman delivering the

letters today?



Try to imagine that you are well known reoprter of a famous magazine. You are

invited to the White House to make an interview with President Obama.

What are the ten most interesting questions you would ask him? Below you find

some words/phrases to help you. You do not need to use all of them, you may use

your own imagination. After writing down the questions, find a classmate who canplay the role of Mr. Obama and write down the answers, too.

spend, vacation, relax, do sports, do-it-yourself, parties, time on your own, dance,

raise children, outdoor hobbies etc.

1.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………..

2. ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………….………………………………………………………..

3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

4.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

5.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

6.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………



You can see five funny quotes from famous people. Try to match the two halves of

each quote.

don’t understand

’I’m an excellent housekeeper.

2. ’I am so clever that sometimes

3.’ A pessimist sees the difficulty

in every opportunity, an

optimist

4. ’Just because nobody

complains

5. ’I am not sleeping. I am just

taking

a, …sees the opportunity in

every difficulty.’ (Winston

Churchill)

b, …a good look at the

insides of my eyelids.’

(Jonathan Raban)

c, …doesn’t mean allparachutes are perfect.’

(Benny Hill)

d, …Every time I get a

divorce, I keep the house.’

(Zsa Zsa Gabor)

e, …I don’t understand asingle word of what I am

saying.’ (OscarWilde)



Complete the following jokes with the suitable verbs from the list. Use the

appropriate tense.

n

int he back seat in the go

ox to her

2.’ I am so clever that sometimes

The little polar bear…………………….his

mother:’Mummy, am I a 100%

polar bear?’ His mother

………………….: ’Of course, darling.

The bruin insists:’Are you sure,

Mummy?’ His mother

answers:’Well, sweetheart, your

father’s mother is a 100% polar

bear, your father’s father is a 100%

polar bear. Your mother’s mother is

a 100% polar bear, your mother’sfather is 100% polar bear. Your dad

is 100% polar bear and I am a

100% polar bear. That means you

are a 100% polar bear as well. ’But

why …………………….?’ ’Beacause I

……………………………..!!!!’

freeze, ask, reply, bother

A family with three boys…………………….in a traffic jam. As

they ………………………….in the

car, the boys going mad in the

back seat, the wife sees a

beautiful baby girl in a car next to

them. She says to her husband:

’As soon as I gain back my ideal

weight, we should try and

……………………….a little girl!’Her

husband …………………………a

boksz and to her and says: ’Havesome more cookies, darling!’

go for, sit, hand over, get

stuck

A man

…………………………….home from

the funeral of his mother-in-law.

Suddenly, a brick

………………………….right next to

him and almost

……………………..him on the head.

The man ………………… in the sky

and says: Dear Mama, are you up

there so quickly??!’

hurtle down walk look u

An errant …………………………. in

the forest and he is very hungry.

Suddenly, he ……………………

sight of a hut. He ………………

there, ………………………on the

door. An old woman opens it and

the man ………………………..that

the old woman

………………………………..dinner.

He asks her: ’May I have

something to eat? I am terriblyhungry!’

’Would you accept

some soup from yesterday?’

’Of course! It would be just

great!’-says the errant.



……………………….tomorrow!’-

replys the woman.

cook, roam, catch, knock, come

back, see

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Present Simple vs Present Continuous II