SIMPLE PRESENT VS. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

What’s the difference?

Simple Present

Use the present simple for things that are always true or happen regularly.

EXAMPLES I walk to school every day. Jane likes eating chocolate cookies. He doesn’t wear glasses.

Simple Present

REMEMBER:

• The spelling rules:

Live - lives, study - studies, watch - watches

• Use Q A S I (Question, Auxiliary, Subject, Infinitive) to help you with word order in questions. Where does she work?

• Put adverbs of frequency (usually, often, etc.) before the main verb and after the verb to be

I usually get up early. She’s never late.

Present Continuous Use the present continuous:

For actions in progress at the time of speaking:

A: Who are you waiting for? B: I’m waiting for a friend.

For future arrangements:

A: What are you doing after class?B: I’m going to the café.

• Remember the spelling rules:Remember the spelling rules:

live - living , study - studying , get - getting

Action and non-action verbs Verbs which describe actions can be used in the present simple or continuous :

I’m making pasta.

• Common non-action verbs are:Common non-action verbs are:

I make pasta every Sunday. • Verbs which describe states or feelings are Verbs which describe states or feelings are

not normally used in the present not normally used in the present continuous.continuous.

agree be believe belongforget hate hear

know like love needprefer seem suppose

What tense is it and why?

She is running home. They play football every Sunday. Rob and Ellen enjoy playing tennis. She needs to buy a new car. The office staff is eating lunch. I don’t agree with you. The printer is broken. They are playing badminton at 4.

What is happening in the picture? Use both simple present and present

continuous!

This woman is wearing a black dress, a red jacket and black high-heeled shoes. She is sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarrete. The bench is dark green and, next to her, there are two suit cases. One of them is brown and the other one is black. There are some bushes and a white fence behind her.

What is happening

in the picture? Use both simple

present and present

continuous!

This girl is doing sport, she is lifting weights. She is wearing black leggings and a black top. She is fit and tanned.

What is happening in the picture? Use both simple present and present

continuous!

These children are playing football. They are having a good time. They are in a park and they are playing on the grass. There are very big and green trees.

What is happening

in the picture? Use both simple present and

present continuous!

This man is skiing. He is wearing warm clothes. The snow is very white, the sky is blue and it is sunny.