THE PRESENT SIMPLE & THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

THE PRESENT SIMPLE vs THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We use the present simple tense when we want to talk about fixed habits or routines – things that don’t change.

We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening at the present time, at the moment.

Compare these two statements:

(present simple) I play tennis.
(present continuous) I am playing tennis.

I play tennis tells us that playing tennis is something the speaker always does. It is part of a routine or habit. We can call this a permanent situation.

I am playing tennis tells us that the speaker is playing tennis right now. Soon the game will be over. We call this a temporary situation.

Frequency Adverbs we use with the Present Simple

With the present simple we use these frequency adverbs:

(Notice that the adverb comes before the main verb in the sentence.)

Always: ‘I always read before I go to bed.’

Usually: " We usually have dinner out on saturday"

Often:‘Her sister often comes shopping with us.’

Frequently:‘Michael frequently visits his family.’

Sometimes:‘You sometimes go to the gym, don’t you?’

Occasionally:‘It occasionally rains in summer.’

Seldom:‘They seldom ask for help.’

Rarely: ‘He rarely goes out without his backpack.’

Hardly ever:‘I hardly ever eat pizza.’

Never: ‘Japanese people never wear shoes inside.’

Time Expressions we use with the Present Continuous

With the present continuous we use these time expressions:

(Notice that the time expression can come at the start or at the end of the sentence.)

At the moment: ‘I’m watching TV at the moment.’

These days: ‘Paul’s living in Cardiff these days.’

Now: ‘What are you doing now?’

Nowadays: ‘I think you are smoking too much nowadays.’

Remember that in the present simple tense we add S to the end of the verb in the 3rd person (He, She, It).

She walks to school every day. He speaks three foreign languages. He says /sez/ it’s cold out there. She never eats meat, she is a vegetarian

For verbs that end in -s, -z,-ch, or -sh, affix the suffix -ES to the end of the verb. For example:

to catch – catch – catches
to kiss – kiss – kisses
to watch – watch – watches
to wish – wish – wishes

For verbs ending with a final < y > preceded by a consonant, change the

< y > to an < i > and then affix the -es suffix. For example:

to apply – apply – applies
to identify – identify – identifies
to reply – reply – replies
to try – try – tries

The present continuous is formed with the verb BE in the form that corresponds to the different persons, and the ING form of the verb. There are some rules when we add the ING form to the verb. Go to the following link to know about those rules and then do the exercises provided.

ING spelling rules

 We can also use the present continuous to talk about arrangements (plans which you have organised) in the future:

My brother is playing football with his friends tonight.I’m going to the cinema at the weekend.Are you having a party for your birthday?

I’m visiting my friend Kevin tomorrow.They are coming to our house on Saturday.
What are you doing tonight?

In this video you can listen to the comparison of these two tenses:

Click here    Present simple vs Present continuous

Now you can have some practice if you do the exercises in the following links:

Present simple(very easy)
Present simple(easy)
Present simple
Present simple
Present simple (negatives)
Present simple (also with BE, CAN )
Present simple (frequency adverbs)
Present simple (frequency adverbs)

Present simple and continuous
Present simple and continuous
Present simple and continuous
Present simple and continuous
Present simple and continuous