This document compares and contrasts the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It explains that the present simple is used to express habits, routines, and truths, often using adverbs like always or never, while the present continuous is used to describe actions happening now at the moment of speaking, using words like now or look. It provides examples of sentences in both tenses and explains how to form the present continuous using the verb to be plus the verb with -ing. It also discusses when to use state verbs like think versus action verbs like play in each tense.

1. Present Simple &Present Simple &
Present ContinuousPresent Continuous
DifferencesDifferences

2. Present SimplePresent Simple
 We use Present Simple to express HABITS, ROUTINESWe use Present Simple to express HABITS, ROUTINES
AND TRUTHSAND TRUTHS
 I always brush my teeth . (Habit)I always brush my teeth . (Habit)
 Joaquin plays soccer every day. (Routine)Joaquin plays soccer every day. (Routine)
 Dogs bark (Truth)Dogs bark (Truth)
 Present simple can be used with adverbs like:Present simple can be used with adverbs like: always,always,
often, usually, sometimes, never, every day, every week,often, usually, sometimes, never, every day, every week,
every year, etcevery year, etc
 Ex. I always go to school.Ex. I always go to school.
 Ex. Robert playEx. Robert playss football every day.football every day.
 Ex. She usually studiEx. She usually studieses at home.at home.
Do not forget the “S” “ES” with the third person -Do not forget the “S” “ES” with the third person -
SHE-HE- ITSHE-HE- IT

3. Present ContinuousPresent Continuous
 We use it to show that an action isWe use it to show that an action is
happening now, at the moment of speakinghappening now, at the moment of speaking
 Present continuousPresent continuous can be used withcan be used with
words like:words like: now; at the moment; Look!;now; at the moment; Look!;
Listen!Listen!
 E.g. I am walking to school.E.g. I am walking to school.
 E.g. Listen! She is singing.E.g. Listen! She is singing.

E.g. He’s working at his computer now.E.g. He’s working at his computer now...
Form: Subject + verb TO BE +verb-INGForm: Subject + verb TO BE +verb-ING
(am/is/are)(am/is/are)

4. What tense is it and why?What tense is it and why?
 She rarely goes to the gym.She rarely goes to the gym.
 Look! My mom is driving a car.Look! My mom is driving a car.
 tefan and Drago always go to school byȘtefan and Drago always go to school byȘ
bus.bus.
 I am drinking orange juice.I am drinking orange juice.
 Sometimes I do my homework afterSometimes I do my homework after
lunch.lunch.
 Listen! The children are singing.Listen! The children are singing.
 They are playing badminton now.They are playing badminton now.

5. Now you try!Now you try!
 Use each verbUse each verb
to make ato make a
sentence in thesentence in the
present simplepresent simple
and a sentenceand a sentence
in the presentin the present
continuous!continuous!
playplay drinkdrink runrun
swimswim makemake gogo
 Example:Example:
- We usually- We usually playplay tennis in the afternoon.tennis in the afternoon.
- We- We are playingare playing tennis now.tennis now.

6. Present Simple or Continuous?Present Simple or Continuous?

7. He………… playingHe………… playing
football.football.
lovesloves
is lovingis loving
lovesloves

8. Peter………………. now.Peter………………. now.is readingis reading
readsreads
is readingis reading

9. James ………… his dogJames ………… his dog
every morning.every morning.
walkswalks
isis
walkingwalking
walkswalks

10. At this moment JamesAt this moment James
…………… for the bus.…………… for the bus.is waitingis waiting
waitswaits
is waitingis waiting

11. She always…………… anShe always…………… an
umbrella.umbrella.
carriescarries
isis
carryingcarrying
carriescarries

12. He ………… with his fireHe ………… with his fire
truck before going totruck before going to
playsplays
is playingis playing
playsplays

14.  Action verbsAction verbs
describe actions ordescribe actions or
things that happen.things that happen.
For example play,For example play,
go, talk, move,go, talk, move,
study, etc.study, etc.

15.  State verbs describeState verbs describe
states rather thanstates rather than
actions. They are rarelyactions. They are rarely
found in continuousfound in continuous
forms. For exampleforms. For example
want, hate, know,want, hate, know,
believe, etc.believe, etc.
 These include:These include:

16.  EmotionEmotion
 like, dislike, adore, hate, love,like, dislike, adore, hate, love,
needneed
 PossessionPossession
 belong, own, havebelong, own, have
 SenseSense
 see, hear, smell, feel, tastesee, hear, smell, feel, taste
 Thought and opinionsThought and opinions
 agree, disagree, believe, forget,agree, disagree, believe, forget,
remember, suppose, doubt,remember, suppose, doubt,
know, think, wishknow, think, wish

17. Both state and actionBoth state and action
 havehave
 have (stative) = ownhave (stative) = own
 I have a carI have a car
 have (dynamic) = part of anhave (dynamic) = part of an
expressionexpression
 I’m having a party / a picnic / aI’m having a party / a picnic / a
bath / a good time / a breakbath / a good time / a break

18.  seesee
 see (stative) = see with yoursee (stative) = see with your
eyes / understandeyes / understand
 I see what you meanI see what you mean
 I see her now, she’s just comingI see her now, she’s just coming
along the roadalong the road
 see (dynamic) = meet / have asee (dynamic) = meet / have a
relationship withrelationship with
 I’m seeing Robert tomorrowI’m seeing Robert tomorrow

19.  TasteTaste
 (also:smell, feel,look)(also:smell, feel,look)
 taste (stative) = has a certaintaste (stative) = has a certain
tastetaste
 This soup tastes greatThis soup tastes great
 taste (dynamic) = the actiontaste (dynamic) = the action
of tastingof tasting
 The chef is tasting the soupThe chef is tasting the soup

20.  ThinkThink
 think (stative) = have an opinionthink (stative) = have an opinion
 I think that coffee is greatI think that coffee is great
 think (dynamic) = consider, havethink (dynamic) = consider, have
in my headin my head
 what are you thinking about? I’mwhat are you thinking about? I’m
thinking about my next holidaythinking about my next holiday

21. My children ____________ (like) school.like

22. Pauline _______________ (have) lunch
at the office today.
‘s having

23. I ____________ (see) your problem.see

24. David ______________ (see) the
dentist today.
‘s seeing

25. ________________ (you/believe)
in fairies?
Do you believe

26. I _____________ (think) you’re right. I
would have done the same thing.
think