Present Continuous

The Present Continuous

Simple Present	Present Progressive
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak	form of 'be' and verb + ing   I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' : For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Example: he can, she may, it must After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays	Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English). Example: travel - travelling (British English) but: traveling (American English) Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday. present actions happening one after another First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.	right now Look! Colin is playing football now. also for several actions happening at the same time Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
always every ... often normally usually sometimes seldom never first then	at the moment at this moment today now right now Listen! Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule The film starts at 8 pm.	arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
daily routine Bob works in a restaurant.	only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

·         ·  Example: We are on holiday.

·         ·  possession: belong, have

·         Example: Sam has a cat.

·         ·  senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

·         Example: He feels the cold.

·         ·  feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

·         Example: Jane loves pizza.

·         ·  brain work: believe, know, think, understand

·         Example: I believe you.

·         ·  Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

·         Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

Practice

Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak - I
2. jump - you
3. bake - she
4. play - they
5. run - we

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be - it
2. have - he
3. eat - she
4. can - he
5. wash - she

Use

When to use which tense?

1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use

2.  For actions happening now, we use

3. The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in

4. The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use

5.        The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They (leave) the house.
2. Brian (cycle) 30 km every day.
3. Samantha (do) her homework at the moment.
4. My parents (shop) right now.
5. He usually (get up) early in the morning.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. You (see / not) her every day.
2. The baby (sleep / not) at the moment.
3. I (read / not) a book now.
4. We (go / not) to school on Sundays.
5. He (watch / not) the news every day.

Question

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. (you / go) on holiday by plane sometimes?
2. (they / play) computer games every day?
3. (she / eat) dinner at the moment?
4. What (they / do) right now?
5. (she / visit) her grandma very often?

Text

Use the (Simple Present o the Present Progressive) to complete.

1. Look! Jenny (go) to school.
2. On her back, Jenny (carry) her school bag.
3. The school bag (be) very heavy
4. Normally, Jenny (wear) black shoes, but today she (wear) red wellies.
5. And look, she (wear) a raincoat because it (rain) outside.
6. Jenny (not / want) to get wet.

 Homework

Go to this link to practice the present continuous.

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-present-continuous-1.html

 Use these links  to practice the present continuous:

http://www.montsemorales.com/gramatica/PresCont0.htm

http://www.agendaweb.org/exercises/verbs/present-progressive.htm

http://www.agendaweb.org/exercises/verbs/present-continuous-2.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/present_progressive_auxiliaries.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/present_progressive_statements_long.htm

Rules for spelling the present continuous forms:

http://cerquella.com/bilingual/deploy/Unit4/grammar_1.html