PRESENT SIMPLE/ PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS: STRUCTURE
“BE” + Ving
AFFIRMATIVE : NEGATIVE:
SUB + AM/IS/ARE + V-ing SUB + AM/IS/ARE + NOT + V-ing
I am watching TV I’m not watching TV
You are studying You aren’t studying
He/she/it is playing He/she/it isn’t playing
We/you/they are reading We/you/they aren’t reading
PRESENT CONTINUOUS: STRUCTURE
INTERROGATIVE: AM/IS/ARE + Sub + Ving…?
Am I watching TV? Yes, I am / No, I’m not.
Are you studying? Yes, I am / No, I’m not.
Is he/she/it playing? Yes, he/she/it is. /No, he/she/it isn’t.
Are we/you/they reading? Yes, we/you/they are.// No, we/you/they aren’t.
Spelling rules adding -ing
1. In general, we add -ing to write the gerund of a verb: read → reading; rain → raining
We don’t eliminate -y at the end of a verb: study → studying; play → playing
2. If the verb ends in silent -e, we eliminate the “e” and add -ing: write → writing; smile
→ smiling
3. For one-syllable words that end in consonant-vowel-consonant and some
two-syllable words, we double the last consonant: cut → cutting; stop → stopping;
begin → beginning; prefer → preferring
PRESENT CONTINUOUS: USES
To talk about…. Examples:
1. an action that is happening now. 1. I’m writing at this moment.
Expressions: now, at the moment, at
this moment, right now... 2. We are studying hard this year.
2. a temporary action in the present. She is wearing a blue jacket
Expressions: this year, today, this today.
week, these days, at present... 3. She is celebrating her birthday
3. a definite plan for the future. next Saturday.
Expressions: tomorrow, next
Saturday/week/year, tonight....
PRESENT CONTINUOUS: EXERCISE
Complete the sentences in present continuous. Indicate the type of use.
1. Jane __________(do) the washing-up at the moment.
2. She thinks that her kids ___________(run) around in the garden.
3. But they __________(play/not) in the garden.
4. We _________(learn) a lot of things this year.
5. _________(they/watch) a film tomorrow? Yes, they ______
6. Emma ___________ (read) now.
7. She ___________(listen/not) to the teacher at this moment.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS: EXERCISE
Complete the sentences in present continuous. Indicate the type of use.
1. Jane is doing (do) the washing-up at the moment. Action happening now
2. She thinks that her kids are running (run) around in the garden.Action
happening now
3. But they aren’t playing (play/not) in the garden.Action happening now
4. We are learning (learn) a lot of things this year. Temporary action
5. Are they watching (they/watch) a film tomorrow? Yes, the are. Definite plan
6. Emma is reading (read) now. Action happening now
7. She isn’t listening_(listen/not) to the teacher at this moment. Action
happening now
PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Present Simple Present Continuous
Form Aff: S + V / V-s Aff: S + am/is/are + V-ing
Neg: S + don’t / doesn’t + V Neg: S + am/is/are + not + V-ing
Int: Do / Does + S + V…? Int: Am/is/are + S + V-ing…..?
Uses 1. Universal Truths 1. Actions happening now
2. Routines 2. Temporary actions in the present
3. Timetables 3. Future plans
Time - Frequency adverbs (always, - Now, at the moment
expressions often, sometimes…) - This week/month, today, these
/ adverbs… - Every day, twice a week, on days…
Fridays, in the afternoon… - Future expressions: tomorrow, next
- Times (at 7:00, at 10:30) week, in June…
PRESENT SIMPLE/CONTINUOUS: EXERCISE
Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets. Indicate the type of use:
1. She _______________ (run) because she's late for her lesson.
2. Our teacher always _________________(give) us lots of homework.
3. We________________(not want) to go to the concert.
4. What time __________________(you / meet) Pete tomorrow?
5. I________________(not work) today. I'm on holiday.
6. People _______________(speak) English in Jamaica.
7. Archie _________________(not use) his computer at the moment.
8. How much _______________ (this hat/cost)?
9. Listen! Sandy ______________ (sing) in the bathroom.
10. The train ___________ (leave) at 9:00.
PRESENT SIMPLE/CONTINUOUS: EXERCISE
Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets. Indicate the type of use:
1. She is running (run) because she's late for her lesson. Action happening now/temporary
2. Our teacher always gives (give) us lots of homework. Routine
3. We don’t want (not want) to go to the concert. Stative verb (feeling)
4. What time are you meeting (you / meet) Pete tomorrow? Definite plan
5. I am not working (not work) today. I'm on holiday. Temporary action
6. People speak (speak) English in Jamaica. General truth
7. Archie isn’t using (not use) his computer at the moment. Action happening now
8. How much does this hat cost (this hat/ cost)? Stative verb
9. Listen! Sandy is singing (sing) in the bathroom. Action happening now
10. The train leaves (leave) at 9:00. Timetable
