SIMPLE PRESENT AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS

THEME ONE

         SIMPLE PRESENT

FORM

[VERB] + s/es in third person

Examples:

• You speak English.
• Do you speak English?
• You do not speak English.
• 
  

Simple Present Forms

Most Verbs

Most verbs conjugate like the verb "run" below. Notice how you add an "s" to third-person forms. Third-person negative forms and third-person questions are made using "does."

Positive	Negative	Question
I run. You run. We run. They run. He runs. She runs. It runs.	I do not run. You do not run. We do not run. They do not run. He does not run. She does not run. It does not run.	Do I run? Do you run? Do we run? Do they run? Does he run? Does she run? Does it run?

Instead of "s," "es" is added to positive, third-person forms of verbs ending with the following sounds: s, z, sh, ch, j or zs (as in Zsa Zsa). These special "es"-forms have been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive	Negative	Question
I rush. You rush. We rush. They rush. He rushes. * She rushes. * It rushes. *	I do not rush. You do not rush. We do not rush. They do not rush. He does not rush. She does not rush. It does not rush.	Do I rush? Do you rush? Do we rush? Do they rush? Does he rush? Does she rush? Does it rush?

To Have

The verb "have" is irregular in positive, third-person forms. This irregular form has been marked below with an asterisk*.

Positive	Negative	Question
I have. You have. We have. They have. He has. * She has. * It has. *	I do not have. You do not have. We do not have. They do not have. He does not have. She does not have. It does not have.	Do I have? Do you have? Do we have? Do they have? Does he have? Does she have? Does it have?

To Be

The verb "be" is irregular in the Simple Present. It also has different question forms and negative forms.

Positive	Negative	Question
I am. You are. We are. They are. He is. She is. It is.	I am not. You are not. We are not. They are not. He is not. She is not. It is not.	Am I? Are you? Are we? Are they? Is he? Is she? Is it?

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs behave differently from other verbs. Notice that they do not take "s" in the third person - there is no difference between first-person, second-person or third-person forms. Like the verb "be" described above, modal verbs also have different question forms and negative forms in Simple Present.

Positive	Negative	Question
I should go. You should go. We should go. They should go. He should go. She should go. It should go.	I should not go. You should not go. We should not go. They should not go. He should not go. She should not go. It should not go.	Should I go? Should you go? Should we go? Should they go? Should he go? Should she go? Should it go?

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

• I play tennis.
• She does not play tennis.
• Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
• The train does not leave at 9 AM.
• When does the train usually leave?
• She always forgets her purse.
• He never forgets his wallet.
• Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

• Cats like milk.
• Birds do not like milk.
• Do pigs like milk?
• California is in America.
• California is not in the United Kingdom.
• Windows are made of glass.
• Windows are not made of wood.
• New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

• The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
• The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
• When do we board the plane?
• The party starts at 8 o'clock.
• When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done withNon-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

• I am here now.
• She is not here now.
• He needs help right now.
• He does not need help now.
• He has his passport in his hand.
• Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You only speak English.
• Do you only speak English?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Once a week, Tom cleans the car. Active
• Once a week, the car is cleaned by Tom. Passive

Presente Simple - (Simple Present Tense)

El Presente Simple es un tiempo verbal que se utiliza para describir acciones habituales que suceden con cierta frecuencia y no hace referencia a si está ocurriendo en el momento actual.

I play tennis. Yo juego al tenis.

(Hace mención de un deporte que realizo cotidianamente y que no necesariamente lo estoy jugando en este momento).

He works in an office. Él trabaja en una oficina.

(Se refiere al trabajo que desarrolla una persona frecuentemente).

They travel to Madrid. Ellos viajan a Madrid.

(Habla de un viaje que se repite a diario, aunque el sujeto no lo esté realizando ahora).

A continuación se muestran las formas afirmativa, interrogativa ynegativa de este tiempo verbal:

En el cuadro superior se ha tomado como ejemplo el verbo PLAY (jugar). Observe que en el modo afirmativo, en la 3º persona del singular, se le añade una "S" al verbo.

He eats vegetables. Él come vegetales.

Alice dances at the theatre. Alice baila en el teatro.

The dog breaks the fence. El perro rompe la cerca.

En el modo interrogativo y negativo se utiliza el auxiliar DO, aunque en la 3º persona del singular se coloca como auxiliar DOES y se le quita la "S" al verbo.

Existen algunos casos particulares como por ejemplo, si el verbo empleado termina en "SS", "SH", "CH", "O" y "X" al formar la 3º persona del singular en la forma afirmativa se le agrega "ES". Aquí vemos algunos ejemplos:

Si el verbo es FISH (pescar), se conjugará: He fishes at the sea. Él pesca en el mar.

Si el verbo es KISS (besar), se conjugará: She kisses to her boyfriend. Ella besa a su novio.

Si el verbo es WATCH (observar), se conjugará: He watches the mountain. Él observa la montaña.

Si el verbo es FIX (arreglar), se conjugará: He fixes his car. Él arregla su coche.

Si el verbo es GO (ir), se conjugará: She goes to the office. Ella va a la oficina.

Otra excepción se presenta si el verbo termina en "Y" tras consonante. Para formar la 3º persona del singular se sustituye esta "Y" por una "i" acompañada de la terminación "ES". Por ejemplo:

Si el verbo es STUDY (estudiar) se conjugará: She studies the lesson. Ella estudia la lección.

Para la forma negativa se puede emplear la forma contraída de DON'T en lugar de DO NOT o DOESN'T en vez de DOES NOT.

I don't play tennis. Yo no juego al tenis.

He doesn't work in an office. Él no trabaja en una oficina.

They don't travel to Madrid. Ellos no viajan a Madrid.

EXERCISES

Sentences and questios in the Simple Present - Exercise 1

Explanation: Simple Present

Put in the verbs in brackets into the gaps. Use the Simple Present. Watch the punctuation and form sentences or questions. Example: ____ she ____ books? (to read) Answer: Does she read books? 1) They  hockey at school. (to play) 2) She  e-mails. (not/to write) 3)  you  English? (to speak) 4) My parents  fish. (not/to like) 5)  Anne  any hobbies? (to have) 6) Andy's brother  in an office. (to work) 7) Leroy  very fast. (can/not/to read) 8)  Jim and Joe  the flowers every week? (to water) 9) Yvonne's mother  a motorbike. (not/to ride) 10)  Elisabeth  cola? (to drink)

Change the verb into the correct form, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if you don't know. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints!

1. I usually  (go) to school.

2. They  (visit) us often.

3. You  (play) basketball once a week.

4. Tom  (work) every day.

5. He always  (tell) us funny stories.

6. She never  (help) me with that!

7. Martha and Kevin  (swim) twice a week.

8. In this club people usually  (dance) a lot.

9. Linda  (take care) of her sister.

10. John rarely  (leave) the country.

11. We  (live) in the city most of the year.

12. Lorie  (travel) to Paris every Sunday.

13. I  (bake) cookies twice a month.

14. You always  (teach) me new things.

15. She  (help) the kids of the neighborhood.

 

Test

Form of Affirmative Sentences - Part 1

Choose the correct form.

1. We sometimes readreads books.
2. Emily gogoes to the disco.
3. It often rainrains on Sundays.
4. Pete and his sister washwashes the family car.
5. I always hurryhurries to the bus stop.

Form of Affirmative Sentences - Part 2

Put the verbs into the correct form.

1. I (to like)  lemonade very much.
2. The girls always (to listen)  to pop music.
3. Janet never (to wear)  jeans.
4. Mr Smith (to teach)  Spanish and French.
5. You (to do)  your homework after school.

Simple present with 'have' and 'be'

Fill in the correct form of the verbs.

1. We (to have)  a nice garden.
2. She (to be)  six years old.
3. Simon (to have)  two rabbits and five goldfish.
4. I (to be)  from Vienna, Austria.
5. They (to be)  Sandy's parents.

Negative Sentences

Make negative sentences.

1. My father makes breakfast. → 
2. They are eleven. → 
3. She writes a letter. → 
4. I speak Italian. → 
5. Danny phones his father on Sundays. → 

Questions

Make questions.

1. you / to speak / English → 
2. when / he / to go / home → 
3. they / to clean / the bathroom → 
4. where / she / to ride / her bike → 
5. Billy / to work / in the supermarket → 

Signal Words

Find the signal words for simple present.

1. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    now  last Monday  often
2. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    sometimes  at the moment  yesterday
3. Which is a signal word for simple present?
    last Friday  every Friday  next Friday
4. Which is not a signal word for simple present?
    never  already  usually
5. Which is not a signal word for simple present?
    Listen!  first ... then ...  seldom

Before submitting the test, check the following:

• Got the spelling right?
• Put in the full stop or question mark where required?
• Used the correct key to type the apostrophe (Shift and #)?

In the test we cannot give you a second try. Such careless mistakes would therefore cost you valuable points.

THEME TWO

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

FORM

[am/is/are + present participle]

Examples:

• You are watching TV.
• Are you watching TV?
• You are not watching TV.

Complete List of Present Continuous Forms

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

• You are learning English now.
• You are not swimming now.
• Are you sleeping?
• I am sitting.
• I am not standing.
• Is he sitting or standing?
• They are reading their books.
• They are not watching television.
• What are you doing?
• Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

• I am studying to become a doctor.
• I am not studying to become a dentist.
• I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
• I am not reading any books right now.
• Are you working on any special projects at work?
• Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

• I am meeting some friends after work.
• I am not going to the party tonight.
• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
• Isn't he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

• She is always coming to class late.
• He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
• I don't like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

• She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct
• She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

• You are still watching TV.
• Are you still watching TV?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

• Right now, Tom is writing the letter. Active
• Right now, the letter is being written by Tom. Passive

Present Continuous - Practice Forming Present Continuous

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A.-Exercise: Put the verb in brackets in the correct form to make different form of the Present Continuous Tense.

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).

Answers

1. John ---is reading (read) a book now.
2. What ---are you doing (you do) tonight?
3. Jack and Peter ---are working (work) late today.
4. Silvia ---isn't listening (not listen) to music.
5. Maria ---is sitting (sit) next to Paul.
6. How many other students ---are you studying (you study) with?
7. The phone ---isn't ringing (not ring).

 Present Continuous Tense - More Practice

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B.-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. Tip! If you have no idea what word should go next, you can click on all the words one by one. 1  for looking my I'm glasses.   2  you are What of book reading? kind   3  is crying? Pamela Why   4  University. Kharkov is at National Paul economics studying   5  is everyone Why laughing?   6  Are me? you waiting for   7  are you When leaving?   8  moment. is Saudi John Arabia working the in at   9  Jennifer as you? for Is the same working company   10  a - I'm next want having Saturday you party come? to do   C.-Simple Present or Present Progressive/Continuous - Exercise 1 Explanation: Simple Present or Present Progressive Choose the correct verb form from the dropdown menu and form sentence in the Simple Present or the Present Progressive. 1) John    play plays am playing is playing are playing  football at the moment. 2) We often    write writes am writing is writing are writing  tests at our school. 3) I    talk talks am talking is talking are talking  to my teacher now. 4) Look! Mandy and Susan    watch watches am watching is watching are watching  a film on TV. 5) Olivia    visit visits am visiting is visiting are visiting  her uncle every weekend. 6) Now the sun    shine shines am shining is shining are shining  . 7) They sometimes    read reads am reading is reading are reading  poems in the lessons. 8) Listen! The band    test tests am testing is testing are testing  the new guitar. 9) First I    wash washes am washing is washing are washing  , then I dress. 10) Every morning my mother    get gets am getting is getting are getting  up at 6 o'clock.       D.-Verb Tense Exercise  Simple Present / Present Continuous Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive)  her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work)  as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)  French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) . 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) . 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) . 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)  because everybody (talk)  so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently)  a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go)  to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally )  printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be)  inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be)  made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.