Unit 1 Present simple vs present continuous (revision)

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• Secundair onderwijs

Present simple 

vs 

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

Listen, she is singing her favourite song.
This sentence describes an action going on.

1. True
2. False

Present continuous is used for

1. routines
2. actions going on now

Present continuous is NOT used for

1. permanent situations
2. temporary situations
3. future arrangements
4. actions going on now

Present continuous

• used for actions going on right NOW
  

e.g. Look, it's raining

• to talk about temporary situations

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

• future arrangements

e.g. Next Thursday I'm seeing the dentist

Other key words in the present continuous are...

KEYWORDS in the present continuous

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

--> KEYWORDS help you to know you have to use the present continuous.

You never listen to the teacher!

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous

What tense is it?
Amy and John are walking to school.

1. Present Simple
2. Present continuous

The keyword in the sentence shows the tense is present simple.
Every Sunday we go to grandma.

1. True
2. False

Other key words for the present simple

KEYWORDS in the present simple

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

My brother is always singing this annoying song!

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous

Annoyance

Adverbs of frequence can also be used when you are annoyed.
It is repeatedly done.

e.g. They are always talking in class.

e.g. They are never listening to a word I say.

Daily routines

Permanent situations

Timetables

General truths

Every morning I eat a kiwi.

I live in Ghent with my parents.

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

London is a large city.

Present simple USE (GS p. 40)

• routines                                                   e.g. I have a shower every morning

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

• permanent situations                        e.g. I live with my parents

• general truths                                        e.g. The sun rises in the east. I live in                                                                                  Paris.

• timetables                                                e.g. school starts at 8:30. The bus                                                                                      leaves at 9.

Which one is correct?

1. She is thinking it is important
2. She thinks it is important.

Which one is correct?

1. She is thinking about the problem.
2. She thinks about the problem.

What is the translation of think in the first sentence?
She thinks it is important.

Which one is correct?

1. The boy is looking cold.
2. The boy looks cold.

Which one is correct?

1. I'm looking for my keys.
2. I look for my keys.

What does look mean in the first sentence?
The boy looks cold.

I'm looking forward to Christmas.
Translate!

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

See grammar summary

p 40