Present Continuous vs Simple Present

Present Continuous vs. Simple Present
Bram Eekman
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolhavoLeerjaar 4,5

This lesson contains 18 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 30 min

Items in this lesson

Present Continuous vs. Simple Present
Bram Eekman

Slide 1 - Slide

Objectives of this LessonUp
At the end of this LessonUp, you know:
1)  Difference between Present Continuous & Simple Present
2)  Signal words for the Simple Continuous
3)  When you have to use the Present Continuous 
4)  Signal words for the Simple Present
5)  When you have to use the Simple Present 

Slide 2 - Slide

What do you know about
the Simple Present?

Slide 3 - Mind map

What do you know about
the Present Continuous?

Slide 4 - Mind map

Choose the correct tense:

Listen! The birds ___ a song!
A
sing
B
singing
C
are sing
D
are singing

Slide 5 - Quiz

Form of the 
Present Continuous
How do you make 
the Present Continuous tense?

Slide 6 - Slide

Present simple
Present continuous 

He is writing a book.

He writes books.

I am studying English.

I usually go to bed by 9 o'clock.

She does yoga every Monday.

I am calling my best friend.

He plays Fortnite all the time.

Slide 7 - Drag question

When do you use the Present Continuous?
How would you translate these two sentences in Dutch?

Slide 8 - Slide

The problem for Dutch students
  • The Present Continuous doesn't exist in Dutch:
  • Dutch doesn't have a similar tense
  • However, we can give a sentence about the same meaning 
Gebruik van tijdsbepalingen
Door 'tijdsbepalingen'  te gebruiken kunnen wij in het Nederlands benadrukken dat iets op dit moment gebeurt

Slide 9 - Slide

When to use the Present Continuous?   (1)
Use the Present Continuous:
  • Whenever something is going on or happening right now
  • And you want to stress or it is important it happens now 
Pay attention to signal words
Do pay attention to the signal words in red
These signal words emphasise it is happening RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING

Slide 10 - Slide

Signal words Present Continuous   (2)
Whenever you see these signal words 
use the Present Continuous

  • now
  • right now
  • at the moment 
  • tonight
  • these days
  • this week
  • this month
  • still
  • Look!
  • Listen!

Slide 11 - Slide

When to use the Present Continuous?   (2)
You must know 2 other uses of the Present Continuous:

Slide 12 - Slide

Use of Simple Present
The Simple Present 
is used in quite a number of 
different situations

Signal words:
always, never, often, usually,
regularly, sometimes,
hardly ever, every day

Slide 13 - Slide

Let's check whether you got this ...
Try to get the next 4 questions correct

Slide 14 - Slide

Present simple 
Present continuous
Algemene waarheden
Irritante gewoontes
Dingen in de toekomst die vastliggen in een tijdsschema
Dingen in de toekomst die je al hebt geregeld of afgesproken
Routines en vaste situaties
Acties en gebeurtenissen die regelmatig voorkomen
Activity that is taking place right now

Slide 15 - Drag question

Sleep de signaalwoorden naar de juiste tekstbox 
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Always
Every day
Never
At the moment
currently
Right now
Today
Often
Regularly
Sometimes
Usually

Slide 16 - Drag question

She is playing the piano right now
A
Present Simple
B
Present Continuous

Slide 17 - Quiz

She plays the piano every day
A
Present Simple
B
Present Continuous

Slide 18 - Quiz