Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1,2

Present Tenses

Present Tenses?

The 'Present Tenses' (Tegenwoordige Tijd) all describe actions that are happening right now. 

"I walk to school every day"

"She is a great football player"

"We are listening to music together."

Present Tenses?

As you can see there are different ways of making the Present. The Present Simple and Present Continuous.

"I walk to school every day"

"She is a great football player"

"We are listening to music together."

What is the difference between the two?

It can make a very big difference when you're using the wrong tense. There are a two important things that make them different:

• Meaning         (What does the sentence mean?
• Form                (How is the tense formed?)

Meaning

When we use the Present Simple, we are talking about things that are always happening:

I walk to school every day. 

The sun always rises in the east.

He likes pizza.   -->  He likes pizza today, tomorrow and right now

Meaning

When we use the Present Continuous, we are talking about things that are happening right now:

I am walking to school right now. 

He is enjoying this music.

The sun is rising. 

Right now

Always

Which of these actions is happening right now? Which ones are always happening?

He is talking.

She loves that music.

I am a boy.

We are listening to you.

That is fun!

Form

When we make the Present Simple we only need a verb. We add an -s with the SHIT-rule:

I walk to school every day. 

The sun always rises in the east.

He likes pizza. 

Form

When we make questions (vragen) in the Present Simple we also add 'do' or 'does' (SHIT-rule) to the beginning of the sentence. The original -s in the SHIT-rule disappears:

Do I walk to school every day?

Does the sun always rise in the east?

Does he like pizza?

Form

When we make negations (ontkenningen) in the Present Simple we also add 'do' or 'does' (SHIT-rule) and 'not' to the beginning of the sentence. The original -s in the SHIT-rule disappears:

I do not walk to school every day.

The sun does not always rise in the east.

He does not like pizza.

Helping words

Words that help you recognise which present tense to use

Present Simple: Adverbs of Frequency 

-these show how often you do something (habit/ routine)

Present Continuous: Words that indicate that something is going on right now, currently, at the moment

Which one is the correct form?

1. He walk to school.
2. He walks to school.

Which one is the correct form?

1. She do not like school.
2. She not like school.
3. She does not like school.
4. She does not likes school.

Which one is the correct form?

1. Does she like that film?
2. Do she like that film?
3. Does she likes that film?
4. Do she likes that film?

Form

When we make the Present Continuous we first choose between am/are/is. Then we add the verb + ing. When the verb ends with an -e we delete that to make space for the -ing.

I am walking to school right now. 

He is enjoying this music.

The sun is rising.     (rise)

He ________________ eating. (love)

Form

When we make questions in the Present Continuous we simply put the am/are/is at the beginning of the sentence.

Am I walking to school right now? 

Is he enjoying this music?

Is the sun rising?

Form

When we make negations in the Present Continuous we simply put 'not' between am/are/is and the verb.

I am not walking to school right now.

He is not enjoying this music.

The sun is not rising.

Which is the correct form?

1. He am staying here.
2. He are staying are.
3. He is staying here.
4. He is stay here.

Which is the correct form?

1. I are driveing.
2. I am driveing
3. I is driving.
4. I am driving.

Which is the correct form?

1. Is she listening?
2. Are she listening?
3. Am she listening?

Which is the correct form?

1. Are we reading the same book?
2. Is we reading the same book?
3. Am we reading the same book?
4. We reading the same book?

Present Simple

Always happening

Verb, shit-rule, do/does

He listens to music all the time.

Do they talk every day?

She does not enjoy that food.

Present Continuous

Happening right now

am/are/is + verb + ing

He is listening to music.

Are they talking?

She is not enjoying this food.

They ________________ to music right now. (listen / not)

We ________________ that film! (love)

She ________________ very well. (sing / not)

______ you ______ faster than me? (work)

Present Simple

Always happening

Verb, shit-rule, do/does

He listens to music all the time.

Do they talk every day?

She does not enjoy that food.

Present Continuous

Happening right now

am/are/is + verb + ing

He is listening to music.

Are they talking?

She is not enjoying this food.