Present Continuous vs Simple Present

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4,5

Present Continuous vs. Simple Present

Bram Eekman

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 

What do you know about
the Simple Present?

What do you know about
the Present Continuous?

Choose the correct tense:

Listen! The birds ___ a song!

1. sing
2. singing
3. are sing
4. are singing

Form of the 

Present Continuous

How do you make 

the Present Continuous tense?

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.

When do you use the Present Continuous?

How would you translate these two sentences in Dutch?

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

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

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!

When to use the Present Continuous?   (2)

You must know 2 other uses of the Present Continuous:

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

Let's check whether you got this ...

Try to get the next 4 questions correct

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

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

She is playing the piano right now

1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous

She plays the piano every day

1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous

How would you rate your understanding of the Simple Present and Present Continuous?

1-2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9-10

Now you practise ...

• Open your CB
• Open your online Of Course
• Go to Unit 1, Lesson 4
• Make exercise 11

In Classroom you will find a grammar note about the use of the Present Continuous vs Simple Present