Present Simple or Present Continuous

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Learning objective

After this lesson you:

• can use the present simple and present continuous correctly.

Messi is playing football.
(right now)

Messi plays football.
(but NOT at the moment)

Present simple vs present continuous

SIMPLE

How? Verb

He, she, it? Verb + S

Use: habit, routine,

often or never

Key words: always,

often, never, every day/week

CONTINUOUS

How? To be + verb+ ING

Use: something that is happening right now

Key words: now, right now, at this moment

Present simple vs present continuous

SIMPLE

I work every day.

She never eats pizza.

Do you read often?
They don't play tennis.

CONTINUOUS

I am working today.

She is eating pizza right now.

Are you reading a book at this moment?

They are not playing tennis now.

Present simple or present continuous?

When you want to talk about something that is happening right now, which tense do you use?

1. present simple
2. present continuous

"He is watching tv."

--> This sentence describes an action in the present.

1. True
2. False

"She is washing her hair."

--> This sentence describes a daily routine.

1. True
2. False

1. I like scary movies.

2. He is walking the dog.

3. We are dancing all night long.

4. She plays the piano.

5. They are my parents.

Present Simple

Present Continuous

1

2

3

4

5

Present simple USE 

• routines                                                   -->  I have a shower every morning.

• sequence of events/actions          -->  I have a shower, I put on clothes, I                                                                           have  breakfast and I leave for school.

• permanent situations                         -->  I live with my parents.

• general truths                                        -->  The sun rises in the east.
                                                                                  I live in Paris.

• timetables                                                -->  School starts at 8:30. 
                                                                                   The bus leaves at 9.

Daily routines

Permanent situations

Timetables

General truths

Every morning I eat a kiwi.

I live in Antwerp with my parents.

We have to go! The bus leaves at 8:30!

London is a large city.

KEYWORDS in the present simple

• never, always, usually, often, .... --> adverbs of frequency
  
• every (Monday, week, year, day, ...)
  
• each (Monday, week, year, day...)
  

Present continuous

• used for actions going on right NOW
  

   --> Look, it's raining.

• to talk about temporary situations

   --> Normally I go to school by bike, but today I'm going on foot.

• future arrangements

   --> I'm seeing the dentist next Thursday.

Other key words in the present continuous are...

KEYWORDS in the present continuous

• NOW
  
• at the moment
  
• today
  
• look
  
• listen
  

--> KEYWORDS can indicate that you have to use the present continuous.

Present Simple

key words

Present Continuous

key words

Never

Now

Listen!

At the moment

Often

Every day

Sometimes

Non action verbs

I’m liking English

I’m not caring about her

I’m not understanding the text

She is thinking that it is important

The snow is looking cold

-->  Are not used in the present continuous in this context! 

Different uses

She thinks it is important

She is thinking about him

The school has one large room

She is having breakfast 

I am having fun

I am having a shower 

                                                          vinden

denken

hebben

eten

plezier maken

nemen

Annoyance

Adverbs of frequency can also be used when you are annoyed.

--> "They are always talking in class."

Mrs. Jones (to drink) ... tea every Sunday.

1. drinks
2. drink
3. is drinking
4. am drinking

Now she (to drink) ... hot chocolate.

1. drink
2. drinks
3. is drinking
4. am drinking

Susan (to play)... a nice song on the piano.

1. play
2. plays
3. is playing
4. are playing

He (to play)... the guitar in a band every Friday.

1. play
2. plays
3. is playing
4. am playing

We always (to eat) ... chicken on Monday.

1. eat
2. eats
3. are eating
4. is eating

We use the ______ for something that always or regularly happens.

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous
3. Past simple
4. Past continuous

Choose the right answer: present simple or present continuous.

Janey ... cats.

1. loves
2. is loving
3. love
4. loving

"My brother is always singing that annoying song!"

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous

Complete the sentence with the appropriate tense (present simple or present continuous). Write down the complete sentence, including capital letters and punctuation marks (?!.). => He .... (to eat) pizza every Sunday.

Complete the sentence with the appropriate tense (present simple or present continuous). Write down the complete sentence, including capital letters and punctuation marks (?!.). => I can't believe my eyes, ... he ... pizza again? (to eat)

00:11

1. He's watching home videos.
2. He watches home videos.
3. He am watching home videos.
4. He watch home videos.

00:31

Do you experience life through your smartphone?

00:40

Which tense is 'Tomorrow I'm leaving for college.'?

1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous

01:00

Are you allowed to look at a screen while you're eating at home?

01:30

Which sentence is correct?

1. They're taking a road trip.
2. They take a road trip. They take a road trip.

02:14

What does the boy never do?

02:33

The dog

1. licks his face.
2. is licking his face.

What's your opinion about this lesson?
Did you complete the learning objective?

1. No, because I don't understand the lesson.
2. Not yet, but if I practice some more, I will get there.
3. Yes, I think the lesson was fun and educational.
4. I already knew the learning objective, but I liked the lesson anyway.