This document compares and contrasts the simple present tense and present progressive tense in English. It provides definitions, examples of usage, and rules for forming sentences in each tense. The simple present is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, while the present progressive emphasizes ongoing or temporary actions happening at the time of speaking. The document outlines when each tense is used and provides examples and conjugation rules for forming positive, negative, and interrogative sentences in the simple present and present progressive tenses.

1. SIMPLE PRESENT
VS
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
(Continuos)
COME WITH ME AND LET’S TAKE A WALK TOGETHER THROUGH THEIR USES AND
DIFFERENCES!!

2. DEFINITION
SIMPLE PROGRESSIVE
The simple present expresses an action in the present
taking place regularly, never or several times. It is also
used for actions that take place one after another and
for actions that are set by a timetable or schedule. The
simple present also expresses facts in the present.
The present progressive puts emphasis on the course
or duration of an action.
The present progressive is used for actions going on in
the moment of speaking and for actions taking place
only for a short period of time. It is also used to
express development and actions that are arranged for
the near future.

3. USES
SIMPLE PROGRESSIVE
 DAILY ROUTINES
 DESCRIPTIONS (DEFINITIONS, PLACES, PEOPLE)
 INSTRUCTIONS
 ACTIONS HAPPENING ONE AFTER ANOTHER
 ACTIONS SET BY TIME
 FACTS
 ACTIONS OCCURRING AT THE MOMENT OF
SPEAKING (RIGHT NOW)
 ACTIONS HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME
 ARRANGEMENT FOR THE NEAR FUTURE

4. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 To Form Positive simple present sentences in singular form we need to
have:
Subject + Verb + Complement.
For singular form we need to add –s, -es or –ies at the end of the main verb
of the sentence.
We add –es when the verb ends on: x, ch, sh, ss, z,
We add –ies when the verb ends on: (Consonant)+y
Irregular verbs in third person: have – has, go – goes, do – does.
We add –s when the verb finishes on any other consonant not mentioned
yet and when it ends on (vowel)+y
-S
-ES
-IES

5. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 To Form Negative simple present sentences in singular form we need to have:
Subject + Doesn’t (Does not) + Verb + Complement.
Notice that the auxiliary takes away the conjugation of the verb.
 To Form Questions in simple present in singular form we need to have:
Does+ Subject + Verb + Complement + ?
Notice that the auxiliary takes away the conjugation of the verb.
DOES
DOES
DOESN´T

6. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 The singular Subjects on a sentences can be:
 ·1 The third Person Pronouns:
 He can be used to represent any masculine subject (humans or animals).
 She can be used to represent any femenine subject (humans or animals).
 It can be used to represent places (countries, cities, premises), ideas (thoughts,
matters), and also abstractions (dummy holder). For more details about pronoun “it” visit:
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/pronouns/it

7. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 ·2 PROPPER NAMES: Are all of those that identify an individual entity whether
people, places, or animals.
Shawn earns more than 10 millions
a year.
Titikaka Lake keeps 7 million
species under its waters.
Pepito eats a lot!

8. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 Common Names: Common nouns are words used to name general items rather
than specific ones, whether people, places, animals, objects, or ideas.
That towel belongs to me.
The zebra runs fast.
This beach has a lot of Palm Trees.
That girl thinks she is
beautiful.

9. SIMPLE PRESENT: SINGULAR RULE!!!!
 Collective Nouns: are words for single things that are made up of more than one person, animal, place,
thing, or idea. You can’t have a team without individual members; even so, we discuss a team as a single
entity.
Examples: Staff, Crew, Choir, Orchestra, Series, Class, Team, Group, Family, etc.
 Indefinite Pronouns: Indefinite pronouns do not refer to a specific person, place, or thing. In English,
there is a particular group of indefinite pronouns formed with a quantifier or distributive preceeded
by any, some, every and no.

10. SIMPLE PRESENT: PLURAL RULE!!!!
 In present Simple we are going to consider plural all of those nouns that represent two or
more individuals directly. Take into account that the verbs will be conjugated as plural with
the Pronouns I and You.
 To Form Positive simple present sentences in plural form we need to have:
Subject + Verb + Complement.
 To Form Negative simple present sentences in plural form we need to have:
Subject + Don’t (Do not) + Verb + Complement.
 To Form Negative simple present sentences in plural form we need to have:
Do + Subject + Verb + Complement + ?
DO
DO
DON’T

11. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE!!!!
 The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking
and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to
express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.
 To Form Positive Sentences in Present Progressive we will use the verb To Be and
a Present Participle Verb (ing).
S + to be + V(ing) + Comp.
eating
eating
eating
eating
eating
eating

12. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE!!!!
 To Form Negative sentences in present Progressive, we need to have:
S + to be + not + V(ing) + Comp.
Possible Contractions: Isn’t & aren’t
 To Form Questions in present Progressive, we need to have:
to be + S + V(ing) + Comp + ?
Don’t forget to use “is” for singular subjects and “are” for plural
subjects!

13. PRESENT PROGRESSIVE!!!!
How to Add the –ING to verbs
 Usually we simply add the –ing at the end of the verbs but there are some exceptions you have to be
aware of:
 Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
 Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
 After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting
 Final ie becomes y. Example: lie - lying

14. In general or right now?
Do you want to express that something happens in general or that
something is happening right now?
Simple Present Present Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
•always
•every ...
•often
•normally
•usually
•sometimes
•seldom
•never
•first
•then
•at the moment
•at this moment
•today
•now
•right now
•Listen!
•Look!

15. Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?
Do you want to express that something is arranged for the
future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or
schedule?
Simple Present Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or
schedule:
*The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near
future:
*I am going to the cinema
tonight.