This document summarizes the present tenses in English - the present simple and present continuous. It outlines their main uses and structures. The present simple is used for habits, permanent states, and with stative verbs. It forms the positive with the base verb form and the third person singular takes -s. The present continuous is used for temporary actions happening now and planned future events. It forms the positive with to be + verb + -ing. Examples of each tense are provided to illustrate their structures and uses.

1. PRESENT TENSES

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
Uses
•ROUTINES & HABITS: I play football every Saturday
•PERMANENT ACTIONS: The sun rises in the east.
•WITH STATIVE VERBS: He thinks that his proposal is a good one.
STATIVE VERBS:

3. Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:
Be
be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or 'acting'
you are stupid = it's part of your personality
you are being stupid = only now, not usually
Feel
feel (stative) = have an opinion: I feel that Mr. Peters is a good teacher.
I’m feeling a little tired today.
Have
have (stative) = own : I have a car
have (dynamic) = part of an expression : I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break
Look
It looks cold outside
She’s looking out the window
See
see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand : I see what you mean / I see her now, she's just coming along the
road
see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with: I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years
Smell
Something smells bad. What is it?
Anne is smelling the perfume to see if she wants to buy it.
Taste
taste (stative) = has a certain taste : This soup tastes great
taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting : The chef is tasting the soup
('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')
Think
think (stative) = have an opinion: I think that coffee is great
think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head: “what are you thinking about?” “I'm thinking about my next holiday”

4. Time expressions
EXPRESSIONS OF FREQUENCY:
I play tennis_____________
Once / twice / three times... a day / week / month / year…
On Mondays...
Everyday / Every… Monday / August / year / class…
ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY:
I __________ play tennis.
I don’t ____________ play tennis.
I am _____________ tired.
ALWAYS / USUALLY / OFTEN / SOMETIMES / HARDLY EVER / ALMOST NEVER/
NEVER

5. Structure
(+) VERB / VERB –S / -ES* (3rd person singular = he / she / it)
I play tennis / She dances a lot
* verb finishes in.... –O : go / goES -S: kiss / kissES
-CH: watch / watchES -X: fix / fixES
-SH: wash / washES - Z: buzz / buzzES
* Verb finishes in consonant + y: cry / crIES
BUT ... if a verb finishes in vowel + y: play / playS
(-) DON’T / DOESN’T + VERB
I don’t play tennis / She doesn’t dance a lot
(?) DO / DOES + SUBJECT + VERB...?
Do you play tennis ? Yes , I do / No, I don’t.
Does she dance a lot? Yes, she does / No, she doesn’t.

6. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Uses
•THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW ( I’m explaining Present Continuous)
•TEMPORARY THINGS (I’m living in Lleida, only this summer)
•FUTURE PLANS (I’m having dinner with Joe next Friday)
Time expressions
NOW / RIGHT NOW / AT THE MOMENT / THIS MOMENT
TONIGHT
TODAY
THIS YEAR
AT PRESENT / PRESENTLY
TOMORROW / NEXT WEEK
You aren’t listening to me now.

7. Structure
VERB TO BE + VERB-ING Yo estoy cantando = I am singing
He is singing They are listening.
He isn’t singing They aren’t listening
Is he singing? Yes , he is / No he isn’t
Are they listening? Yes, they are / No, they aren’t.
SPELLING – ING:
1)Verbs which end in –e : the –e disappears
Write : writeing / writING
2)Verbs which end in –y
Play: playING
Cry: cryING
3)Verbs which end in CONS + VOW + CONS (tonic syllable)
Stop: stoPPING Cut: cuTTING