This document provides examples and explanations of the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. The present simple is used to describe habitual or routine actions, permanent states, likes/dislikes, and timetables. It follows a consistent subject+verb structure. The present continuous is used for actions happening now and includes expressions like "now" or "at the moment". It follows the structure of subject+be+verb+ing. The document provides examples of how to distinguish between using the present simple versus present continuous depending on whether an action is habitual or occurring presently.

1. PRESENT SIMPLE (PrS)
1. EXAMPLES
AFFIRMATIVE I speak Spanish. Paul speaks Spanish.
NEGATIVE You don´t speak German. He doesn´t speak German.
INTERROGATIVE Do you speak English? Does Susan speak English?
SHORT ANSWER Yes, she does No, she doesn´t
2. STRUCTURE
AFFIRMATIVE subject + verb (he/she/it +s ) + complements
NEGATIVE subject + don´t / doesn´t + verb + compl.
INTERROGATIVE (Question Word)+ do/ does + subject + verb + compl.?
SHORT ANSWER Yes, subject (pronoun) + do /does
No, subject (pronoun) + don´t /doesn´t
3. USES
1. HÁBITOS Y RUTINAS→ Normalmente con ADVERBIOS y EXPRESIONES DE FRECUENCIA.
- I drink orange juice every morning. - He goes to the language school on Mondays.
- She plays with her siter every day. – We often watch films at home.
2. GUSTOS Y PREFERENCIAS (LIKES AND PREFERENCES)
- I like comedy films. – He hates the high school.
- She likes swimming. – They love football.
3. HECHOS Y ESTADOS PERMANENTES (PERMANENT FACTS AND STATES)
- The sun sets in the west. – The earth goes round the sun.
- He is very thin.
4. HORARIOS (TIMETABLES)
- Our train arrives at six o´clock.
- The shop opens at half past nine.
4. TIME EXPRESSIONS
a) FREQUENCY ADVERBS (Adverbios de frecuencia):
always = siempre sometimes = a veces, algunas veces
usually = normalmente rarely = rara vez
often = a menudo, con frecuencia hardly ever = casi nunca
never = nunca
1→DELANTE DEL VERBO = BEFORE THE VERB:
- They usually study in the library.
- She always goes to bed late.
2→DESPUÉS DEL VERBO “TO BE”= AFTER THE VERB “TO BE”:
- You are never at home.
- She is always happy.
b) OTHER TIME EXPRESSIONS: (siempre suelen colocarse al final de la oración)
- every day / week / month / year - AT + hora del reloj
- once a day / week / month / year - ON+ días de la semana
- twice a day / week / month / year - IN + mes /año
- three / four times a day ... (IN the morning, afternoon, evening/ AT night)
- I brush my teeth three times a day.
- My father goes to the swimming pool once a week.
- We meet at the disco on Fridays.
HOW OFTEN? = ¿CON QUÉ FREQUENCIA?
How often do you go to the cinema? I go to the cinema once a month. /I never go to the cinema.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS (PrC)
1. EXAMPLES
AFFIRMATIVE I´m listening to music. She is listening to music.
NEGATIVE You aren´t listening to music. She isn´t listening to music.
INTERROGATIVE What are you doing? Are you listening to music?
SHORT ANSWER Yes, I am No, I am not.
2. STRUCTURE
AFFIRMATIVE Subject + am /is /are + verb-ing + compl.
NEGATIVE Subject + am not/ isn´t /aren´t + verb-ing + compl.
INTERROGATIVE (Question Word)+ am /is /are + subject + verb-ing + compl.?
SHORT ANSWER Yes, subject (pr.) + am /is /are
No, subject (pr.) + ´m not/ isn´t /aren´t
3. USES
1. ACCIONES QUE ESTÁN OCURRIENDO EN EL MOMENTO (ACTIONS HAPPENING NOW)
- You´re studying English now.
- Are you watching tv now?
4. TIME EXPRESSIONS
- now = ahora - these days = Hoy en día
- at the moment = en este momento - this week/month = Esta semana, este mes
- right now = ahora mismo, justo ahora
Para diferenciar bien el PRESENT SIMPLE del PRESENT CONTINUOUS es necesario:
1. Fijarse en las expresiones de tiempo.
2. Si no hay expresiones de tiempo, distinguir entre una rutina o hábito (I always clean
my teeth before I go to bed) y algo que se supone que está sucediendo en el
momento (I´m cleaning my teeth now. I can´t talk)
I usually study at home, but today I’m studying at the library.