Present Tense and Present Continuous
Form
Simple Present
|
Present Progressive
|
infinitive (3rd
person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you
speak
he / she
/ it speaks
we speak
they speak
|
form of
'be' and verb + ing
I am
speaking
you are
speaking
he / she
/ it is speaking
we are
speaking
they are speaking
|
Exceptions
|
|
Exceptions when adding 's' :
For can,
may, might, must, do not add s.
Example:
he can, she may, it must
After o,
ch, sh or s, add es.
Example:
do - he does, wash - she washes
After a
consonant, the final consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not
after a vowel)
Example:
worry - he worries
but:
play - he plays
|
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
After a
vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English
(but not in American English).
Example:
travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)
Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
|
See
also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive
Use
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
|
|
|
|
Note:
The
following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be,
have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
|
|
Timetable
/ Schedule or arrangement?
Do
you want to express that something is arranged for the near 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.
|
Daily
routine or just for a limited period of time?
Do
you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that
something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?
Simple Present
|
Present Progressive
|
daily
routine
Bob
works in a restaurant.
|
only for
a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of
speaking)
Jenny is
working in a restaurant this week.
|
Certain
Verbs
The
following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive
form).
state: be,
cost, fit, mean, suit
Example: We are on holiday.
possession: belong, have
Example: Sam has a cat.
senses: feel,
hear, see, smell, taste, touch
Example: He feels the cold.
feelings: hate,
hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
Example:
Jane loves pizza.
brain
work: believe, know, think, understand
Example: I believe you.
Introductory
clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.
This time, the information
was taken from https://www.ego4u.com A great site where you will find lots
of information and exercises that will help you develop your grammar knowledge.
