The usage and the differences between present simple and present continuous for tourism students

1. PRESENT SIMPLE VS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
English for Tourism 3
Pancasila University - Jakarta
Wasi Widayadi, ST., MBA

2. PRESENT SIMPLE vs
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Present Continuous:
at/around the time of speaking.
I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.
Kate wants to work in Japan, so she’s
learning Japanese.
Present Simple:
habits / routines, facts
I always get hungry in the afternoon.
Most people learn to swim when they are
children

3. PRESENT SIMPLE vs
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Present Continuous:
temporary
I’m living with some friends until next month.
She’s working hard today because she has a
lot to do.
Present Simple:
permanent
My parents live in Semarang.
John isn’t lazy. He works hard most of the
time.

4. PRESENT SIMPLE vs
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
TIME MARKERS
Present Continuous:
now, at present, at the moment, look!,
listen!
Simple Present:
every -, adverbs of frequency (always,
usually, … , seldom, never)

5. SIMPLE PRESENT vs
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Non-action Verbs  not in continuous
like love hate want need
prefer know realize suppose
mean understand believe remember
belong fit contain consist
I’m hungry. I want something to eat.
Do you understand what I mean?
Do you see the man over there?

6. PRACTICE 1
Present Simple or Present Continuous?
1. “(you/listen) to the radio?” “No, you can
turn it off.”
2. “(you/listen) to the radio everyday?”
“No, just occasionally.”
3. The River Nile (flow) into the
Mediterranean.
4. The river (flow) very fast today – much
faster than usual.
5. We usually (grow) vegetables in our
garden, but this year we (not/grow) any.

7. PRACTICE 1
6. Rachel is in London at the moment. She
(stay) at the Park Hotel. She always (stay)
there when she’s in London.
7. Normally I (finish) work at four, but this
week I (work) until six to earn a little more
money.
8. Sonia (look) for a place to live. She (stay)
with her sister until she finds somewhere.
9. “What (your brother/do)?” “He’s an
architect, but he (not work) at the
moment.”
10. I must go now. It (get) late.

8. PRESENT SIMPLE vs
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Think:
What do you think of my plan? (=What is your
opinion)
Nicky is thinking about buying a new laptop
(=She’s considering it)
Adjective / being + Adj.
Why is he being selfish? He isn’t usually like
that.  He’s selfish at the moment
He never thinks about other people. He’s very
selfish.  He’s usually selfish.

9. PRACTICE 3
Present Simple or Present Continuous?
1. (you/believe) in God?
2. The cake (smell) good. Can I have it?
3. Don’t put the dictionary away. I (use) it.
4. Don’t put the dictionary away. I (need)
it.
5. Who’s that man? What (he/want)?
6. Who’s that man? Why (he/look) at us?

10. PRACTICE 3
7. “Excuse, (anybody/sit) here?” “No, it’s
free.”
8. I (think) of selling my car. Are you
interested in buying it?
9. I (think) you should sell your car. You
(not/use) it often.
10.Sarah (be) very nice to me. I wonder
why.
11.You’ll like Debbie when you meet her.
She (be) very nice.
12.You (not/seem) to be happy today.