Present Simple

and Present
Continuous

Module
1
1

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

(+) I play
He plays

(+) I am (Im) playing

He is (hes) playing

(?) Do you play?

Does he play?

(?) Are you playing?

Is he playing?

(-) They do not (dont) play

It does not (doesnt) play

(-) It is not (isnt) playing

They are not (arent) playing

REMEMBER
When we use, he, she and it in the
Present Simple we have to put s at
the end of the verb

REMEMBER
I am + (verb + -ing)
He / She / It is + (verb + -ing)
You / They / We are + (verb + -ing)

We use the Present Simple:

For habits or actions that happen regularly in
the present
e.g. I usually eat cereal and milk in the morning.

For permanent states in the present

e.g. We live in London.

For actions that take place accordding to a

schedule
e.g. What time does the English class start?

We use the Present Simple:

In story telling, film and book reviews, sports
commentaries and instructions
e.g. The Twilight Saga books are amazing .

TIME EXPRESSIONS
Always, usually, often, occasionally, rarely,
never, hardly ever
Every day/week, etc.
Once/twice/three times a day/month
On Sundays, in the morning, in winter, etc.

We use the Present Continuous:

For temporary states
e.g. Paul is writing the Science project this week.

For actions taking place at the moment of

speaking
e.g. Shes studying for the Maths test now.

For future arrangements

e.g. We are going to Madrid next week.

We use the Present Continuous:

For annoying habits or repeated actions with
adverbs of frequency such as always,
constantly...
e.g. My brother is always telling me what to do.

TIME EXPRESSIONS
now, at present, at the moment, today, these
days, this week/year, etc.
tonight, tomorrow, next week, etc.

Attention:
The adverbs of frequency:
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
Are usually placed before the main verb:
e.g. Susan always watches TV in the evening.

But after the auxiliary verb (do / does) and the

verb to be.
e.g. Peter is always late for school.

Attention:
The verbs that express states are not usually
used in the Present Continuous:
Senses: feel, hear, smell, sound, look (= seem).
Emotions: love, hate, like, dislike, prefer, want, fear,
wish, need, admire.

Thought,

knowledge,

perception:

believe,
imagine, hope, know, mean, understand, expect,
remember, forget, etc.

Permanent states: be, have (= possess), cost,

belong, appear, weigh, seem, consist, own.

Choose the correct verb.

1. Can you please answer the phone?
I have/ m having a shower.
2. Winter comes / is coming after Autumn.
3. That man looks / is looking at you.
I think / m thinking he wants / is wanting to
talk with you.

Choose the correct verb.

4. Susan is / is being at home this week because
she studies/ is studying for a test.
5. My mum drinks / is drinking three cups of tea
every day.