This document provides information about the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It explains that the present simple is used for repeated or habitual actions, facts, and things that are always true. It discusses verb conjugation and spelling rules for the present simple. The present continuous is used to talk about actions happening now or planned for the future. It also discusses verb conjugation and spelling rules for the present continuous, as well as the differences between using the two tenses. Examples are provided to illustrate proper usage of each tense.

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
 We use the present tense:
 1. For repeated or regular actions in the present
time period.
 John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.
 2. For facts.
 The President of The USA lives in The White House.
 3. For habits.
 Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
 4. For things that are always / generally true.
 It rains a lot in winter.

3. VERB CONJUGATION & SPELLING
 We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the
TO). In general, in the third person of singular we add “S”.
 The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of
that verb:
 1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third
person.
 go – goes
 catch – catches
 wash – washes
 kiss – kisses
 2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.
 marry – marries
 study – studies
 NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.
 play – plays
 enjoy – enjoys

4.  In negative and question sentences, we add the auxiliary “do” or “does”
 We don’t go to Norway every year.
 Julia doesn’t swim in her swimming-pool at the weekends.
 Question and short answer:
 Do you go? Yes, I do
 Does she go? No, she doesn’t
 Adverbs of frequency or expressions which go with present simple:
 Always, usually, often, sometimes, hardly ever, never, every day, once a week…
 They go before the main verb and after the verb To Be.
 She always dances.
 She doesn’t always dance.
 Does she always dance?
 We are often happy.

5. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 We use it to refer at the time of speaking. The action
isn’t complete. Also, it’s used for temporary situations
and to talk about future plans.
 It is raining now. (Está lloviendo ahora)
 This month Jane is living with her cousins. (Este mes
Jane está viviendo con sus primos)
 Tomorrow I am going to the movies. (Mañana voy al
cine)

6. VERB CONJUGATION & SPELLING
 It is formed with the present of the verb “to be” and the gerund form of
the main verb.
 Spelling to add “ing”:
 Y doesn’t change before –ing. Play - playing
 If a verb ends in –ie, ie changes to y before the ending –ing:
die – dying; lie – lying
 If a verb ends in –e, we leave out e before the ending –ing:
hope – hoping; smile – smiling
 If the verb ends in vowel + consonant, it doubles the consonant when it
has just one syllable, if the final syllable is stressed or it ends in –l:
Stop – stopping; prefer – preferring; travel – travelling

7.  In negative and question sentences, we add “not” to the verb to be.
 We aren’t going to the gym today.
 Julia isn’t swimming in her swimming-pool this weekend.
 Question and short answer:
 Are you going? Yes, I am
 Is she going? No, she isn’t
 Adverbs or expressions which go with present continuous:
 Today, this week, this year, now, right now, tomorrow, next month…
 You are working hard today.
 Steve is reading a really good book at the moment.
 Verbs which aren’t normally used in the present continuous:
 Like, love, hate, want, need, prefer, know, realise, suppose, mean, understand, believe,
remember, belong, consist, seem.

8. PRESENT SIMPLE
VS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 Jane reads a book before going to bed every night.
 Jane is reading a book tonight.
 Where do your parents come from? They come from
Denmark.
 Where are they coming from? They are coming from
Denmark this week after some vacation.
 What do you do? I am a doctor.
 What are you doing? I am writing a letter to my cousin.

9. VIDEOS
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzL6Ww7xUWc&
hd=1
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjqdToylBDg&hd=
1
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcyyKtmFMiQ&h
d=1 (Present Simple, cartoon)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RYdMEDfRdU&h
d=1 (Present Continuous, “The Simpsons”)