PRESENT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

GRAMMAR 1-2

PRESENT SIMPLE

• Use the Present Simple to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens.

•I play tennis.•She does not play soccer.•Does he play tennis?•The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.•Does the sun circle the Earth?•The train does not leave at 9 AM.•When does the train usually leave?•She always forgets her purse.•He never forgets his wallet.•Every twelve months, the Earth circles the sun

FACTS OR GENERALIZATIONS

• The Present Simple can also show that the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future.

•Cats like milk.•Birds do not like milk.•Do pigs like milk?•California is in America.•California is not in the United Kingdom.•Windows are made of glass.•Windows are not made of wood.

SCHEDULED EVENTS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

• We also use the Present Simple to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well. •The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

•The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.•When do we board the plane?•When does class begin tomorrow?•The party starts at 8 o'clock.

ADVERB PLACEMENT• The examples below

show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.. The adverb usually comes before the main verb of the sentence. If the main verb of the sentence is be, the adverb comes after.

•You only speak English.•Do you only speak English?•She doesn't always come late.•I usually go to bed early.•He is always late.•She is never happy.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

• Use the Present Continuous to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment:

•You are not swimming now.•Are you sleeping?•I am sitting.•You are learning English now.•I am not standing.

IN THE MIDDLE OF DOING SOMETHING• Sometimes the action is not

happening at the moment of speaking, but the Present Continuous is still used to mean that the speaker is in the middle of doing it and not yet finished:

I am studying to become a doctor.I am reading a really interesting book these days.Samantha is studying at university.

LONGER ACTIONS AROUND NOW

The Present Continuous can be used with today, this week, this month, this year, etc.:

• I'm having a good month this month. I'm making lots of sales.• He's coughing a lot today. He must be sick.

CHANGES HAPPENING AROUND NOW

The Present Continuous can describe things that are changing around now. This is especially true when describing changes with the following verbs:

• increase

• rise

• fall

• improve

• begin

• start

• change

• become / get

• grow

•Have you seen gas prices recently? Prices are really rising.•I love this time of the year. Flowers are growing and birds are singing.•Your English is really getting better!

SURE PLANS ABOUT THE FUTURE

Speakers often use the Present Continuous to describe future plans. The use of the Present Continuous means they are sure their future plans will happen:

• I am meeting some friends after work.

• I am not going to the party tonight.

• Is he visiting his parents next weekend?

• Isn't he coming with us tonight?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

• The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: only, currently, still, just, etc.. Again, the adverb usually goes before the main verb:

•You are still watching TV.•Are you still watching TV?•He is only playing games.