Present simple-versus-present-continuous
- 1. The PresentThe Present tensestenses Simple Present and PresentSimple Present and Present ContinuousContinuous
- 2. We form affirmative statements with a subject and a verb or a verb + -s or – es I like tennis Mary likes tennis Simple PresentSimple Present We use the auxiliary verbs do/does to form negative statements, questions and short answers We don’t like football John doesn’t like baseball Why do you like tennis? Do you like squash? Does John like baseball? What does the referee do? Yes, we do No, he doesn’t
- 3. Uses of the presentUses of the present simplesimple To describe repeated actions or habitsTo describe repeated actions or habits I get up at seven every morningI get up at seven every morning To talk about things that are always or generally trueTo talk about things that are always or generally true The sun sets in the westThe sun sets in the west To describe a permanent situation or a condition with no definite start orTo describe a permanent situation or a condition with no definite start or finish but which is true nowfinish but which is true now We live in LondonWe live in London With adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, …With adverbs of frequency such as always, usually, … She often studies in the libraryShe often studies in the library With time expressions such as every day/ week/ year, in the morning/With time expressions such as every day/ week/ year, in the morning/ afternoon/ evening and at nightafternoon/ evening and at night I go to the gym once a weekI go to the gym once a week To express future meaning with actions and events that are part of a fixedTo express future meaning with actions and events that are part of a fixed timetabletimetable The train leaves at 8’30The train leaves at 8’30
- 4. Verb endingsVerb endings Present Simple •We add –s to most verbs: walks, gets, … •We add –es to verbs that end in sh, ch, ss or o: finishes, goes, catches, … •If a verb ends in a consonant +y, we change the y to i and add –es: tries, studies, … •If a verb ends in a vowel +y, we add –s: pays, plays, …
- 5. Present ContinuousPresent Continuous We form the Present Continuous tense with theWe form the Present Continuous tense with the present tense of be + a verb + -ingpresent tense of be + a verb + -ing They are playing baseballThey are playing baseball They aren’t succeedingThey aren’t succeeding Who is winning?Who is winning? Why is that player running now?Why is that player running now?
- 6. Uses of the PresentUses of the Present ContinuousContinuous To talk about something which is in progress at the moment of speakingTo talk about something which is in progress at the moment of speaking It is raining nowIt is raining now To talk about something which is in progress around the present, but notTo talk about something which is in progress around the present, but not exactly at the time of speakingexactly at the time of speaking Peter is looking for a job these daysPeter is looking for a job these days To talk about situations which are developing or temporaryTo talk about situations which are developing or temporary Computers are becoming more and more important in our livesComputers are becoming more and more important in our lives With adverbs such as always or constantly to express complaints andWith adverbs such as always or constantly to express complaints and annoyanceannoyance He is always calling me late at nightHe is always calling me late at night With time expressions such as now, at the moment, at present, these days,With time expressions such as now, at the moment, at present, these days, nowadays and todaynowadays and today I’m writing an e-mail right nowI’m writing an e-mail right now To talk about future arrangements or plansTo talk about future arrangements or plans I’m meeting Peter tomorrowI’m meeting Peter tomorrow
- 7. Verb endingsVerb endings Present Continuous •For most verbs, we add –ing: starting, playing, studying, … •If the verb ends in a consonant +e, we drop –e and add –ing: living, deciding, … •If the verb has one syllable and ends in a single vowel + a consonant, we double the consonant and add –ing: stopping, planning, … Exceptions: •If the verb ends in w or x, we don’t double the final consonant: fixing, showing, … •If the verb has 2 syllables, ends in a vowel + a consonant and the stress on the last syllable, it doubles the final consonant: preferring, beginning •If the verb has 2 syllables and ends in –l, it doubles the l: travelling •If the verb ends in –ie, it changes –ie to –y and adds –ing: tying, dying
- 8. Stative and actionStative and action verbsverbsStative verbsStative verbs They describe a state. Something that is and stays the sameThey describe a state. Something that is and stays the same He seems very tiredHe seems very tired There are different types:There are different types: Verbs of senses: feel, see, sound, hear, smell, tasteVerbs of senses: feel, see, sound, hear, smell, taste Verbs of mental states: believe, realise, remember, know, …Verbs of mental states: believe, realise, remember, know, … Verbs of possession: belong, have, own, possessVerbs of possession: belong, have, own, possess Verbs of feeling or emotion: like, hate, adore, love, wish, …Verbs of feeling or emotion: like, hate, adore, love, wish, … Verbs of measurement: weigh, contain, cost, measureVerbs of measurement: weigh, contain, cost, measure Other verbs that express states: be, exist, seem, owe, requireOther verbs that express states: be, exist, seem, owe, require
- 9. Stative and actionStative and action verbsverbs Action verbs An action verb describes an action, something that happens I’m reading Action verbs can be in the continuous form I read a book every week This week, I’m reading Moby Dick
- 10. Stative and actionStative and action verbsverbsChange of meaning Some verbs change their meaning depending if we use them in the progressive or non-progressive form Think He thinks it is a good idea He is thinking about eating a biscuit Have She has (got) a mobile phone She’s having a great time She’s having breakfast Verbs of seeing and hearing Action verbs: watch, look at, listen to Non-action verbs: see, hear