The document summarizes the differences between the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. It provides examples of their sentence structures and usage. The simple present is used for habitual or repeated actions, facts, and schedules. It uses signal words like "always" and days/times. The present continuous emphasizes a temporary action happening at the time of speaking and uses words like "now" and "these days." Examples are given of affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences in both tenses. Readers are directed to a website for more information on tenses.

1. English Tenses
Simple Present vs Present Continuous

3. English Tenses
tense
Affirmative/Negative/
Question
Use Signal Words
Simple
Present
A: He speaks.
N: He does not
speak.
Q: Does he
speak?
•action in the present
taking place once, never
or several times.
Repeatedly actions
•Facts, habits, routine,
General or permanent
situations
•action set by a timetable
or schedule
always, every day,
never, often,
sometimes, usually,
in the morning, in the
afternoon, at noon, at
midnight.
Normally with state
verbs: love, like,
hate, have, need.
Present
Progressive/
Continuous
A: He is
speaking.
N: He is not
speaking.
Q: Is he
speaking?
•action taking place in
the moment of
speaking
•action taking place only
for a limited period of
time. A temporary
situation
•Plan or action arranged
for the future.
at the moment, right
now, Listen!, Look!,
now,
These days, this
week, this month,
this morning,
tomorrow, next week

4. Affirmative sentences – Subject in third person singular

6. SUBJECT MAIN VERB REST OF SENTENCE
SUBJECT AUXILIARY
VERB (DO-
DOES) / NOT
MAIN VERB REST OF
SENTENCE
QUESTION
WORD
AUXILIARY
VERB (DO-
DOES)
SUBJECT MAIN VERB REST OF
SENTENCE
Interrogative sentences
Simple Present - Sentence structure
For facts, Habitual activities, habits, hobbies
Affirmative sentences
Negative sentences
I live in Panama.
I do not (don’t) live in Costa Rica.
Do you live Colombia?
Where do you live?

7. SUBJECT VERB BE / NOT MAIN VERB REST OF
SENTENCE
QUESTION
WORD
VERB BE SUBJECT MAIN
VERB
REST OF
SENTENCE
Interrogative sentences
Present Continuous - Sentence structure
For actions happening now / Future planes when there are arrangements for events at a specific time or place
Affirmative sentences
Negative sentences
I am watching TV right now.
I am not doing my homework.
Are you doing your homework?

8. I swim in the river.
My sister swims in the river. I am swimming in the river.
My sister is swimming in the river.
I do not swim in the river.
My sister does not swim in the river.
I am not swimming in the river
My sister is not swimming in the river
Do you swim in the river?
Does My sister swim in the river?
Are you swimming in the rive
is My sister swimming in the river

9. Formative assignment

10. You can find more information on:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses