present simple vs present continuous

Learning Intentions

1. I know the difference between present simple and present continuous (rules)
2. I know when to use which tense (signal words)
3. I know how to form the two tenses
   

What is the difference?

I play hockey.

I am playing hockey.

Present simple: THE RULES

When to use the present simple?

The Present Simple

• 1.Facts
• The earth revolves round the sun.
• 2.Characteristics
  
• I have curly hair.
• 3.(nearly) Permanent situations
• My parents live in Amsterdam.
• 4.Habits
• I never go to school by bus
• 5.Future 'timetable events' (vertrek/openingstijden etc) 
• My flight departs at 6 am tomorrow. The shops close at 9 pm.
• 6.Coverage of book/film or football match
  
• Ronaldo passes the ball to Messi and Messi scores!

Present simple: THE FORM

How to form the present simple?

Present continuous: THE RULES

When to use the present continuous?

(wordt ook wel progressive form genoemd, in het Nederlands de duurvorm)

The Present Simple

• 1.Things are happening at the moment of speaking.
• Look! The children are playing football..
• 2.Temporary situations
• My sister is staying with her boyfriend this week.
• 3.Situations that are slowly changing
• I am improving my French.
• 4.Temporary/new or annoying habits
• You are always asking for money!
• 5.Future 'definite arrangements' (agenda-afspraken)
• I am playing tennis this afternoon.
• 6.Talking about people in pictures/photos
  
• In this picture, Sue and John are lying on the beach.

Present continuous: THE FORM

How to form the present continuous?

special 'cases' 

Stative of state verbs 

- not action / active 

- (rule!) you cannot use the present continuous with stative verbs

• Feelings / emotions: love, hate, like
• Senses: hear, see, feel, smell, sound (tricky!)
• Thinking: forget, remember, be, know, understand, imagine
• Belongings: own, have, belong, possess

Special cases: sense verbs

Can be used as both a state verb and an action verb because they each have two different meanings.

No action/a condition/ a state

This smells bad

This tastes salty

I feel sick. 

Action / happening now

I am smelling my armpits

I am tasting the coffee. 

I am feeling the top of the desk.

Special cases:  the verb think

Can be used as both a state verb and an action verb because they each have two different meanings.

No action/a condition - state

I think pink is cute colour.

> belief, or an opinion. 

Action / happening now

I am thinking of the answer

> using my brain to try and find the answer

Special cases:  the verb have

Can be used as both a state verb and an action verb because they each have two different meanings.

No action/a condition/ a state

I have a pen

> possession. 

idioms that are actions

I am having a baby 

> to give birth

I am having a party

> to host a party

We are having trouble

> to have difficulty with something

    PRESENT SIMPLE OF CONTINUOUS...

1. You can’t see Tom now. He ....................... a bath. (have)

2. He usually ....................... coffee, but today he ............. tea. (drink, drink)

3. I won’t go out now because it ...................... and I ................. an umbrella. (rain, not have)

4. My cousin .................................. (not smoke).

5. Who ...................... that terrible noise? It is John. He .................. his nose. (make, blow)

6. My dentist ................... me to clean my teeth. I hate that. (always tell)