Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to correctly identify and use Present Simple and Present Continuous in a sentence.

Explain to the students what the objective of the lesson is and what they should be able to do by the end of it.

What do you already know about the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous?

What is Present Simple?

Present Simple is used to describe general facts, habits and routines.

Explain to the students what Present Simple is and give examples.

Examples of Present Simple

I play football every Saturday. She reads books in the evening. They live in Amsterdam.

Give examples of Present Simple and ask the students to identify the verb tense.

What is Present Continuous?

Present Continuous is used to describe actions happening now or around now.

Explain to the students what Present Continuous is and give examples.

Examples of Present Continuous

I am playing football right now. She is reading a book at the moment. They are living in Amsterdam for the summer.

Give examples of Present Continuous and ask the students to identify the verb tense.

Signal Words for Present Simple

always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

Explain to the students what signal words are and give examples for Present Simple.

Signal Words for Present Continuous

now, at the moment, currently, today, this week/month/year

Explain to the students what signal words are and give examples for Present Continuous.

Forming Present Simple

Subject + base form of the verb + -s/-es (for third person singular)

Explain to the students how to form Present Simple and give examples.

Forming Present Continuous

Subject + to be (am/is/are) + present participle (-ing)

Explain to the students how to form Present Continuous and give examples.

When to use Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Use Present Simple for general facts, habits and routines. Use Present Continuous for actions happening now or around now.

Explain to the students when to use Present Simple and when to use Present Continuous.

Exercise 1

Choose the correct verb tense: I ____ (play/playing) basketball every Monday.

Give the students an exercise to test their understanding of Present Simple vs Present Continuous.

Exercise 2

Choose the correct verb tense: We ____ (watch/watching) a movie right now.

Give the students an exercise to test their understanding of Present Simple vs Present Continuous.

Conclusion

You have learned the difference between Present Simple and Present Continuous. Keep practicing to become more comfortable with using them in sentences.

Summarize what the students have learned and encourage them to practice more.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.