SIMPLE PRESENT

Theory and Practice

 FORM
[VERB] + s/es in third person
Examples:
• You speak English.
• Do you speak English?
• You do not speak English.
• She speaks English.
• Does she speak English?
• She does not speak English.
 USE 1 Repeated Actions

• Use the Simple Present • Examples:

to express the idea that • I play tennis.
an action is repeated or • She does not play tennis.
usual. The action can be • Does he play tennis?
• The train leaves every morning at
a habit, a hobby, a daily 8 AM.
event, a scheduled event • The train does not leave at 9 AM.
or something that often • When does the train usually
happens. It can also be leave?
something a person often • She always forgets her purse.
forgets or usually does • He never forgets his wallet.
not do. • Every twelve months, the Earth
circles the Sun.
• Does the Sun circle the Earth?
 USE 2 Facts or Generalizations
• The Simple Present can
also indicate the speaker
believes that a fact was
true before, is true now,
and will be true in the
future. It is not important
if the speaker is correct
about the fact. It is also
used to make
generalizations about
people or things.
• 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.
• New York is a small city.
It is not important that this
fact is untrue.
 USE 3 Scheduled Events
• Speakers occasionally • The train leaves tonight
use Simple Present to at 6 PM.
talk about scheduled • The bus does not arrive
events in the near future. at 11 AM, it arrives at 11
This is most commonly PM.
done when talking about • When does Cora open
public transportation, but on Sunday?
it can be used with other
scheduled events as well. • The party starts at 8
o'clock.
• When does class begin
tomorrow?
 ADVERB PLACEMENT

• Adverbs such as: Examples:

always, only, never, – She always takes
ever, still, just, etc. sugar in coffee.
are used with Simple – Do you only speak
Present. English?
– I never drink red wine.
– They still work in
Paris.
 ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• Once a week, I send a report. Active
• Once a week, a report is sent by Tom.
Passive (to be sent= a fi trimis)
Present Continuous

Theory and Practice

 FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
• You are watching TV.
• Are you watching TV?
• You are not watching TV.
 USE 1 Now
(acum)
• The Present Continuous • Examples:
is used to express the • You are learning English
idea that something is now.
happening (or is not) now, • You are not swimming
at this very moment. now.
• Are you sleeping?
• Is he sitting or
standing?
• What are you doing?
• Why aren't you doing
your homework?
 USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

• In English, "now" can mean: • I am studying to become a

today, this week/month/ year/
century, and so on.
doctor.
• I am not studying to become a
dentist.
• Are you working on any
special projects at work?
• Aren't you teaching at the
university now?
 USE 3 Near Future

• Sometimes, speakers use the • Examples:

Present Continuous to indicate
that something will or will not
happen in the near future.
• 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?
 Repetition and Irritation with
"Always"
• The Present Continuous • Examples:
with words such as • She is always coming to
"always" or "constantly" class late.
expresses the idea that • He is constantly talking.
something irritating or I wish he would shut up.
shocking often happens.
Notice that the meaning • I don't like them because
is like Simple Present, but they are always
with negative emotion. complaining.
Remember to put the
words "always" or
"constantly" between "be"
and "verb+ing."
 Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be
used in any continuous tenses.
• To love, to hate
• To see, to feel, to taste
• To perceive, to notice
• To possess, to own, to cost
 Verb Tense Exercise 1
Simple Present / Present Continuous

• Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the
appropriate tenses:

• 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.

• 2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)

French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

• 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

• 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .

• 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) because everybody (talk) so
loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently) a book about his adventures in Tibet. I

hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go) to a movie tonight with some
friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally ) printed by a company in New

York. Their prices (be) inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is
quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be) made by a small chocolatier in Zurich,

Switzerland