Unit Three: Simple & Progressive Verbs; Gerunds &

Infinitives

English Center Tutor TrainingESOL

Table of Contents Unit 1: Parts of Speech Unit 2: Phrases, Clauses, and Sentence

Structure Unit 3: Simple & Progressive Verbs Unit 4: Perfect & Passive Verbs Unit 5: Complex Sentences Unit 6: Overview of City ESOL Program

Simple Present Habitual Actions

My dog Punch goes to bed at 8pm every night.I drink coffee when I eat breakfast.

General TruthsThe sky is blue.Stress causes high blood pressure.

With Non-Action/Stative Verbs (describing states or situations)

I hope to move abroad again soon.This class knows how to write an introduction.

Four Types of Non-Action/Stative Verbs:1. Express Emotions

(hate, like, love, want, feel)

2. Describe Mental States(know, remember, believe, understand)

3. Show Possession(have, own, possess, belong)

4. Describe Perception and Senses(hear, see, smell, taste, feel, notice,

appear)

Simple Present: Let’s Review…

SIMPLE PRESENT

Habitual Action

General Truths

Non Action/Stativ

e Verbs

Express Emotions

Describe Mental States

Show Possession

Describe Perceptions and Senses

Present Progressive Actions Happening Right Now

I am talking to the class.

The students are wearing shoes. Extended Present Actions (which may not be happening at the moment of speaking)

We are studying essay structure.Mark is training for a 100-mile bike ride

this month. Temporary Actions

I am staying with friends, but I plan to leave soon.

be + V-ing

Present Progressive

We are not sleeping right now because we are learning about grammar.Happening nowOccurring over a period of timeDo not use non action verb

Now

Past Future

Some verbs can have an active or stative (non-action) meaning, depending on the context. You need to be able to help students identify the difference.

Common verbs that may be used with either meaning include have, think, taste and look.

For example…The soup tastes good. Try some.

(non-action/stative)She’s tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.

(active)

For each pair, use the present (non-action/stative) or present progressive (active)

have We _______ two textbooks in this class. They ___________ a hard time with grammar.think She _____________about her boyfriend, not about

grammar. He ___________ we should go to the library

after class.look I _____________for a new book to read. You ____________ great today.

have

are having

is thinking

thinks

am looking

look

At the beginning levels, students tend to easily distinguish the simple present from the present progressive (habitual vs. happening now). As their learning advances and they realize that the present and present progressive tenses are used in more varied situations, they can become confused. Therefore, it’s important to be able to explain the different uses of these two tenses.

Additionally, with the progressive tenses, students tend to omit the “be” verb. If you notice that a student as omitted a “be” verb, ask the student to self correct.

What’s missing here?

Is this verb complete?

Simple Past To talk about actions, states, or situations

that are now finished.

I wanted to eat chocolate ice cream before class.

I went to Paris in 1998.

I hiked Half Dome two years ago.

Past

Now

Future

Past Progressive To describe an action that was in progress

over a period of time in the past.

We were hiking for many hours before we reached the summit.

*I was hating the hike down. Happened in the past Occurred over a period of time REMINDER: Do not use non action/stative verb in

progressive

Now

Past

Future

Past Progressive Two actions in progress at the same time in

the past

While I was talking on the phone, he was watching TV.

He was watching TV while I was talking on the phone.

Past Future

Now

was talking

was watching

Past Progressive & Simple Past An action interrupted by another action

When = simple past While = past-progressiveI was taking a shower when the phone rang.While I was taking a shower, the phone rang.

Past Future

Now

was taking a shower

phone rang

Simple Past & Simple Past One action occurs in the past, then

another action occurs in the past.

I walked into class, and I sat in a chair.

Past

Now

Future

Future Forms

FUTURE

Simple

present

Present progress

ive

Will + verb

Be going

to + verb

Will +

be + V -ing

scheduled events

The plane leaves at 5:00pm tonight.

The plane is leaving at 5:00pm tonight.

Future Forms

FUTURE

Simple

present

Present progress

ive

Will + verb

Be going

to + verb

Will +

be + V -ing Will you go to Argentina with me?

I am going to have a wonderful experience.

My flight departs on a Monday morning.

I am changing planes in Mexico City.

I will be hiking in Patagonia for one week next January.

In most cases will and be going to can be used interchangeably. In the few situations where one or the other is correct, just correct it for the student because those differences are very subtle.