2. Within the way of speaking there is a
big difference towards those tenses
that allow us to identify the ways in
which the action occurs. They only
affect the verbs of each sentence,
however, their correct use is essential
for the consistency and clarity of
written texts or oral speeches. Before
mentioning the difference or comparison
of previous topics in the title, a
brief reminder of them should be made
for greater objectivity.
Introduction
3. Present Simple
Function and Use
This is used to express:
➢ Situations that occur on a regular or habitual basis, which are usually accompanied by
temporary markers (always, never, rarely, often);
Example:
He plays football every Tuesday.
➢ Actions that happen;
Example:
After school Colin goes home, packs his bag, puts on his football shirt and then he goes to
football training.
➢ General validity situations;
Example:
A forward tries to score goals for his team.
➢ Future activities that are part of a program or schedule;
Example:
The bus leaves at half past four.
His training starts at five o'clock.
➢ Sentences that express stable or permanently valid situations or that contain verbs related
to thought or memory.
Example:
Colin likes football.
He is a forward.
What is?
The present simple is the simplest
verb tense in English. It is usually
used to talk about facts that
constitute habits or customs. Also
called simple present or present
tense, it is the present tense in
English. It resembles the present
indicative in Spanish.
4. Assistant
The verb to do or to does translates
to do in Spanish. Just like the
verb to be, to do varies in form
in the present tense depending on
which pronoun it is conjugated
with.
Structure
Afirmativa I/You/We/They + verb + Complement
He/She/It + Verb + s/es/ies +
Complement
Negativa I/You/We/They + do not / don't + Verb
+ Complement
He/She/It + does not / doesn't + Verb +
complement
Interrogativa Do + I/You/We/They+ Verb +
Complement + ?
Does + He/She/It + Verb +
Complement + ?
Respuesta No + Subject + do/does not+ verb
(base form)+ additional information
(complemet)
Yes + Subject + verb (base form) +
additional information (complemet)
5. Rule 1:To form the affirmative with these pronouns we need to change or
modify the final part of the verb.
Here are the present rules for making that change:
❑ If the base form of the verb ends in O, we add ES (go-goes, do-
does).
❑ If the base form of the verb ends in X, SH, CH, S, we add ES (fix-
fixes, wash-washes, watch-watches, kiss-kisses).
❑ If the verb ends in Y, and before the letter -Y there is a consonant,
we change the Y and use IES (study-studies, cry-cries).
❑ For all other cases we simply add the S (play-plays, read-reads,
sing-sings)
Gramatical rules
We will see 4 rules for its correct use: in the first two we will be able to
observe how the present simple influences only the third person, while in
the third and fourth rules the subjects and conjugations are directly affected.
Rule 2: In the third person, does is the auxiliary to use;
however, do is used for the first and second
person singular and plural.
Affirmative Sentences
He
DOES
She
It
Negative Sentences
He
DOES NOT
She
It
Interrogative sentences
DOES
he
she
it
6. Rule 4: To use the present simple with the modal verbs (can, must, may),
you must take into account that there are two exceptions.
You should never add -s or -es to them.
:
Rule 3: To be is the most used irregular verb in English, so we recommend
you study and learn all its conjugation forms:
Affirmative Sentences
Pronoun Verb To be
I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
We are
They are
Negative Sentences
Pronoun Verb To be
I am not
You are not
He is not
She is not
It is not
We are not
They are not
Interrogative Sentences
Of The Verb To Be
Auxiliary Subject
Am I?
Are you?
Is he?
Is she?
Is it?
Are we?
Are they?
Incorrect Correct
Your
dog
cans
play in
this
place
Your dog can
play in this
place
He
musts
be back
by
Tuesday
He must be
back by
Tuesday
She
mays
past the
IELTS
test
She may past
the IELTS test
Negative Interrogative
Your dog
cannot
play in this
place
Can your dog
play in this
place?
He must
not be
back by
Tuesday
Must he be
back by
Tuesday?
She may
not pass
the IELTS
test
May she pass
the IELTS
test?
>When using the present simple in
negation and interrogation
sentences, modal verbs should
never have the auxiliary
do/does, for example
8. Present continuous
❑ Generally refers to describe situations or actions that
are taking place at the exact moment in which one speaks
or writes, but they are still used to
❑ Set contexts. Talk about general, personal or social
situations that occur today. In these cases, it can be
accompanied by adverbs such as currently, lately or these
days, among others.
❑ Advance facts, appointments, events or actions that will
occur in the future.
❑ Whoever speaks must be sure that they will occur.
❑ Mention temporary events.
❑ Describe actions that occur constantly. In these cases,
the sentence is reinforced with adverbs such as always,
forever, constantly, among others.
Function and Uses
9. Assistant
To form the present continuous, use the
auxiliary verb "to be" and the gerund
(infinitive + "-ing") of the verb.
AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + verb to be + verb in
gerund + complement
NEGATIVE: Subject + verb to be + not + verb in
gerund + complement
INTERROGATIVE: Verb to be + subject + verb in
gerund + object
ANSWER: Yes, Subject + Auxiliary Verb / No,
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + not
Structure
Structure
1.In general, we add –ing to the infinitive
form. listen-listening meet-meeting
2. Verbs ending in a consonant + -e omit the
final –e before –ing. survive- surviving write-
writing
3. Verbs ending in -ie change the -ie to y
before -ing die- dying lie- lying
4. Monosyllabic verbs ending in a short vowel +
consonant double the final consonant before –
ing. stop-stopping put-putting
5. In verbs ending in -y, the y does not change
before -ing. try-trying lay-laying
6. Verbs ending in a vowel + l double the final
l before –ing. travel-traveling
7. Verbs of two or three syllables that end in
consonant + vowel + consonant double the final
consonant if the stress falls on the last
syllable. refer- occur referring- occurring
Rules
11. Difference between the Present
Simple and Present Continuous
● The main difference between the present simple and present continuous is in its use,
the present continuous indicates actions that happen while we speak, while the
present simple is used to express habitual actions or permanent situations.
