The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

8/3/2019 The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

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Use of Present Tense Simple

1. We use the present simple tense for actions that happen again and again (everyday, sometimes, ever, never).

Examples: I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak Greek. Do they get up early?

He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?

2. We use it for facts that are always true.Examples: Our planet moves round the sun. Lions eat meat.

3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) it is used for planned future actions (timetables).

Examples: The train leaves at 8.15. They return tonight.

The Present Continuous Tense - When to use

1. We use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening now.

ExamplesThe kids are watching TV.I am sitting down, because I am tired.

I am not learning German, because this is an English class.Who are you writing to?

2. We can also use the Present Continuous Tense to talk about activities happening around now, and not necessarily this verymoment.

Examples

Sally is studying really hard for her exams this week.I am reading a really interesting book now.How are you brushing up on your English for the trip?We aren't working hard these days.

3. The Present Continuous Tense is also used to talk about activities happening in the near future, especially for plannedfuture events.

Examples

I am seeing my dentist on Wednesday.Polly is coming for dinner tomorrow.

Are you doing anything tonight?

We aren't going on holiday next week.

Present Continuous - Information Questions

Information questions are also sometimes called "Wh" questions.

What am I doing?

Where are you living now?

Who is he speaking to?

When is she coming?

What is it doing here?

When are we having the test?

What are they watching?

Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. What company (you work) for?2. What class (they study) in?


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3. Who (John shake) hands with?4. What time (your friends come)?5. What country (they visit) at the moment?

are you working;

Click on the words in the correct order to make information question ("Wh" questions) in the Present Continuous Tense

1 are your What friends coming? time

2 country What visiting on you are vocation?

3 speaking are Who you to?

4 tonight? you staying are Where

5 are hell the doing? you What

6 your Moscow? train in arriving When is

7 Who's my with? dancing wife

8 they are buying? What car

9 How people are coming? many

10 are you drinking? What

Exercise: Put the verb in brackets in the correct form to make different form of the Present Continuous Tense.
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1. John (read) a book now.2. What (you do) tonight?3. Jack and Peter (work) late today.4. Silvia (not listen) to music.5. Maria (sit) next to Paul.6. How many other students (you study) with?7. The phone (not ring).

Exercise. Click on the words in the correct order to make different sentences in the Present Continuous Tense - positive; negative; yes/no

and information questions.

1 for glasses. I'm my looking

2 What you are book kind reading? of

3 Why is crying? Pamela

4 National Kharkov studying Paul at is University. economics

5 Why everyone laughing? is

6 Are waiting for me? you

7 leaving? you are When

8 Saudi Arabia moment. is John at in the working

9 company working same Jennifer the you? for Is as
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10 party next to do you want come? - Saturday I'm having a

is reading|'s read

The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses

1. Permanent (usual) and Temporary (now, around now) actions.

o We use the Present Continuous tense to speak about things which arehappening nowor things which aretemporary.I am not working now. I am on holiday.Sally is listening to a new CD.

Who are you phoning?

o The Present Simple tense describesusual, repeated and permanent things - for example, always, usually, often,sometimes, never.

I work as an accountant.John doesn't know German.

How often do you play tennis?

o Compare how these two tenses are used.Why are you walking to work? Don't you usually go by bus?I live in Kharkiv, but now I am living in Moscow.Usually we have dinner at 7, but today we are having it at 9.

2. Some verbs are not normally used in the Continuous Tense. They are called "state" verbs.

In English language there are verbs that are not normally used in the Continuous Tense, because they describe rather state thanan action. They are called state verb (stative verbs, non-progressive verbs).

The verbs that can be used in the Continuous Tense are called action verbs (dynamic verbs).

Some verbs can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.

Here are someverbsthat arenot normally used in the Continuous Tense.

like dislike love hate

prefer remember forget believe

mean seem understand want

need know belong own
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Here are some a few verbs that can be both state and action verbs depending on their meaning.

o I think you made a mistake.think = believe

I am thinking about my mum now.think = mental process

o I have two cars.have = possess, ownI am having my lunch now.

have = eat

o I am seeing my friend tomorrow evening.see = meeting with

I see what you mean.

See = understand

English Action and State Verbs - More Practice

Choose the correct form of the verb depending on whether in this meaning it is an action or a state verb. If both the Present Continuous andthe Present Simple tenses are possible, use the Present Continuous tense.

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1. a) Why are you smelling the soup?b) Why do you smell the soup?

2. a) She was feeling his arm on her shoulder.b) She felt his arm on her shoulder.

3. a) Are you having an English dictionary?b) Do you have an English dictionary?

4. a) What are you thinking about?b) What do you think about?

5. a) I am feeling much better today.b) I feel much better today.

6. a) What are you looking at?b) What do you look at?

7. a) I am not hearing you.b) I can't hear you.


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8. a) What are you thinking of me?b) What do you think of me?

9. a) I am feeling we should go home now.b) I feel we should go home now.

10. a) This bread is tasting funny.b) This bread tastes funny.

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The Present Continuous and Present Simple Tenses