This document provides information about the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. The present simple is used for habitual actions, general facts, timetables and permanent situations. The present continuous expresses actions happening now or for a limited time, or events in the near future. Examples are given for affirmative and negative forms of both tenses. Special grammar rules are outlined for verbs like "be" and third person singular verbs. Certain stative verbs like "want" and "know" are usually not used in the present continuous.

1. Present Simple vs.
Present Continuous

2. Use the
present simple
for:
1) Actions that happen
repeatedly (habitual
actions)
2) General or permanent
situations
3) Facts
4) Timetables
Use the
present
continuous for:
1) Something that is
happening now
2) Something that is
happening for a limited
period of time
3) The near future

3. Present Simple (Examples)
1) Habitual Actions:
Tom goes fishing every week.
I usually study English at school.
My family comes to visit me every year.
*Frequency adverbs commonly used with
present simple:
Always, never, usually, seldom=rarely,
sometimes, often, every, hardly ever
…

4. Present Simple (More Examples)
2) General or Permanent Situations:
My family lives far away.
Jack doesn’t read on Saturdays.
Beth and Tom work at weekends.
3) Facts:
The Earth is round.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.

5. Present Simple (One more Example)
4) Timetables:
The train leaves at half past five.
You go to the gym at twenty past six.
My father finishes working at seven.

6. Present Continuous (Examples)
1)Actions happening now:
Where’s Tom? He’s playing soccer.
Where are the kids? They are doing
their homework.

7. Present Continuous (More Examples)
2) Something that is happening for a
limited period of time:
Martha and her husband are travelling
around Europe for two weeks.
This year, I’m trying
to cut back on junk food.

8. Present Continuous (One more Example)
3)The near future:
We are visiting my grandma tomorrow.
I am leaving Spain next week.

9. Grammar
Structure:
Here are some reminders
about how to make the
present simple and present
continuous:

10. Present Simple(Affirmative):
The most important thing to remember
about this tense is . . .
3rd person singular (he, she, it)
We say:
I
You
We
They

11. Present Simple (Affirmative):
But for 3rd person singular, we say . . .
He
She
It

12. Present Simple (Affirmative):
BUT verbs ending in . . ., we say . . .
-O:
-S:
-SH:
-CH:
-X:

13. The verb BE (Affirmative)
Remember the forms of verb BE for
the present simple tense:
I AM
He, She, It IS
They, We, You ARE

14. VERB BE (Negative)
For this verb ADD the word NOT after
the verb.
I am tired. I am NOT tired.
She is rich. She is NOT rich.
They are here. They are NOT here.

15. Present Simple (Negative)
For all verbs (EXCEPT be), use:

16. 1) Sara works on Sunday.
Sara doesn’t work on Sunday.
2) They have a big house.
They don’t have a big house.
3) Sam takes classes at night.
Sam doesn’t take classes at night.
4) I have a lot of free time.
I don’t have a lot of free time.

17. Present Continuous
(Affirmative):
Don’t forget that VERB BE is part of
this structure.
I AM
You, We, They ARE
He, She, It IS

18. Examples:
Everyone is studying hard.
They are celebrating their 40th
anniversary today.
I am cleaning my house this week.

19. Present Continuous (Negative):
For this tense, simply ADD the word
NOT after the verb BE.
They are working today.
They are NOT working today.
She is taking a Math class.
She is NOT taking a Math class.

20. Important Note about
Present Continuous!
Some verbs are NOT typically used in
the present continuous tense. Instead,
we prefer to use these verbs in the
simple present.
These verbs are called STATIVE (or
non-action) verbs. Here are some
examples:
want like love hate
know need see hear
believe understand have (possession)
forget remember belong

21. Examples:
I like Rome.
NOT: I am liking Rome.
She has a big house.
NOT: She is having a big house.
I prefer to have coffee.
NOT: I am preferring to have coffee.