Grammar Explanation Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 3

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Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple

Pronoun

I

You

They

She

He

It

Verb

eat /dream/ walk/ sit

(verb only)

eats /dreams/ walks/ sits

(verb + s)

verbs ending with: o, s, sh, ch and x = verb + es

go

gues

wash

watch

sex

 verb + es

goes

 guesses

washes

watches

sexes

verb ending with y > ies

carry

study

try

fly

"y" becomes "ies"

carries

studies

tries

flies

Present Simple
When do you use it?

Present Simple

1. To talk about general truths and facts.

2.   Habits and routines. 

3. To give instructions.

Present Simple

1. To talk about general truths and facts.

Examples:

The sky is blue.

British people drink a lot of tea. 

I live in Rotterdam.

Broken bones don't heal as fast as they do in children.

Which statement of when to use Present Simple was given in the previous slide?

1. to talk about the past
2. to talk about the present
3. general truths and facts
4. series of actions or events

Give an example sentence of a general truth or fact.

Present Simple

2. Habits and routines.

Examples:

I usually eat an apple in the morning.

He goes to the gym three times a week.

Share prices typically change on a daily basis - but often very little.

Our chefs provide an excellent choice of hot meals every day.

Present simple is used to talk about habits and routines.

1. true
2. false

Present Simple

3. To give directions or instructions.

Examples:

Listen to me now! Get up! Wake up!

Go left and then go to the right.

From here you cross the road, go through an iron gate and follow the path west.

Present simple can be used to give ...

Which one is incorrect?

1. He eat an apple.
2. I eat an apple.
3. You eat an apple
4. They eat apples.

Present Continuous

Present Continuous Rule

I

You 

They 

She

He 

It 

"to be" + verb + ing

am working

are working

are working

is working

is working

is working

Sometimes if the verb ends with e like 'take' the 'e' gets removed;

 take > taking

 receive > receiving

Sometimes we add an extra consonant;

swim > swimming

run > running

Present Continuous

1. Describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking.

2. Repeated events or actions. 

Present Continuous

1. Describes an action in progress at the moment of speaking.

(temporary action)

Examples:

I'm cooking dinner now.

Francis is walking to the store.

We are staying with John this summer.

Give an example sentence when talking about something happening "now".

Present Continuous

2. Repeated events or actions.

 ( Usually, if they happen within a temporary period.)

Examples:

I'm feeding the neighbour's cat this week while she's in the hospital. 

I'm feeding the neighbour's cat this week while she's in the hospital.

1. it's a routine or habit
2. it's a temporary thing

Comparison Present Simple and Present Continuous:

Graham's a confirmed smoker. He smokes about fifty a day. (habit / routine)

Graham's having a tough time at the office at the moment and he's smoking about fifty cigarettes a day!

(repeated action in a temporary period)

Graham's a confirmed smoke. He smokes about fifty cigarettes a day.

1. present simple
2. present continuous

This store (sell) womenswear.

1. is selling
2. sells

He never (buy) his clothes alone.

1. buys
2. buy

Give me a second. I (talk) on the phone, now.

1. talk
2. am talking

On Saturdays I (work) in a supermarket.

1. am working
2. work

Can I help you? No, thank you; I (look around)

1. am looking
2. look

At the moment share prices (fall).

1. falls
2. are falling

Our manager often (travel) abroad.

1. is travelling
2. travels

A butcher (sell) meat.

1. is selling
2. sells

Every evening she (watch) the news on TV.

1. watches
2. is watching

We (send) a new price list every year.

1. are sending
2. send

Where is the manager? He (talk) to a customer.

1. is talking
2. talks

Some customers never (pay) on time.

1. are paying
2. pay

Where is your boss?
He (prepare) a meeting.

1. prepares
2. is preparing

I (fly) business class for this trip.

1. am flying
2. fly

I see that you (watch) a new series.

1. watch
2. are watching

We usually (deliver) within two weeks.

1. deliver
2. are delivering

Write something you've learned or remember from this lesson.

How did this lesson go?

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