Present
Time
By teacher Michelle Ferreira Sanches
Present
Simple
Facts which are always true
• The present simple is used to describe
permanent facts, for example in science
and geographical descriptions.
The light from the Sun takes 8 mins 20 secs to
reach the Earth.
The River Po flows into the Adriatic Sea.
Facts which are always true
• The present simple is also used for
situations that are generally true.
I work in an office and live in a flat in the
suburbs.
Habitual Actions
• The present simple is used to describe
habits and routines. A frequency adverb is
often used.
I usually take the bus to work.
Summary of events
• The present simple can be used to make a
summary of the events in a narrative, for
example in a film or book. It can also be
used for a table of historical events.
In chapter one, Susan meets David, and agrees
to go to the school dance with him.
In 1789 the French Revolution begins.
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS
Actions which are in progress
now
• The present continuous is used to describe
actions which are temporary and not yet
finished.
I am doing the washing-up.
The action may be happening right now, or
around now.
I’m reading one of the Harry Potter books at the
moment.
Habits during a temporary
situation
• The present continuous can describe a
habit that happens over a short period of
time. A time expression is necessary.
At the moment, we’re sending all the mail by
courier, because the post office is on strike.
A repeated temporary action
• The present continuous can describe a
single action that is repeated. A time
expression is necessary.
Whenever I see Tom he is smoking.
You’re making the same mistake again!
Problems
with simple
and
continuous
• Some verbs are not normally used in the
continuous form, because they describe
activities which already extend in time.
These are called ‘state’ verbs.
Be, believe, cost, depend, have, hear, know,
matter, smell, suppose, taste, think,
understand
• Some of these verbs can be used in
continuous forms with a change of
meaning.
• Tim is being rather difficult at the moment.
(behave)
• I’m having breakfast. (eat)
• I’m tasting the soup, to check if it needs more
salt. (sample)
• I’m thinking of buying a new car. (consider)
• In many situations we can use either a
simple or continuous form. The simple
form is for a permanent situation or
general habit, the continuous form is for a
temporary situation.
• I live in London. (it’s my permanent home)
• I’m living in London. (just for a year – my
home is in Athens)
• Do you sleep a lot? (Is it your habit?)
• Are you sleeping enough? (What is
happening at the moment?)
Practice
Underline the most suitable verb form in each sentence.
a) What sort of work do you do/are you doing?
b) I can't talk now. I cook/I'm cooking the dinner.
c) What shall we have? Do you like/Are you liking fish?
d) Can I borrow this typewriter? Or do you use/are you using it?
e) What do the people here do/are the people here doing in the evenings?
f) Follow that bus. Then you turn/are turning left.
g) A lot of people think that the Sun goes/is going around the Earth.
h) Excuse me, do you read/are you reading your newspaper? Could I
borrow it?
i) Do you wait/Are you waiting for the bus to Newcastle?
j) Andy builds/is building his own house in the country.
2 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the
present continuous,
a) There's nobody here, and the door's locked. What (we do) ..do
we do now?
b) What (you look) …at? (I wear)... the wrong clothes?
c) I (look after) …Jack's dog this weekend. (you want)... to
take it for a walk?
d) Who (drive)... the Mercedes that's parked outside?
e) I (still have)... a pain in my leg but it (get)... better.
f) Who (Sue dance)... with? That's not her brother, is it?
g) Harry always (look)... untidy! He (wear)... dirty jeans.
h) I (write) … in reply to your advertisement in the Daily News.
i) That plant I bought (not grow)... very much. And I (water) …it
every day.
j) Which hotel (you stay)... in when you (come) …here?
3 Decide whether the verb form in italics
refers to present or future time.
a) Where are you staying on Saturday night?
...future.....
b) George retires at the end of next year
c) What are we doing when the guests
arrive?
d) I'm trying really hard to understand this
book
e) Wait for me here until I get back
f) Sue is leaving in the morning
g) I'm waiting for the bus
h) I'm off now and I'm taking the car
i) They're showing a Woody Allen film on
Channel 4 tonight
4 Write each verb in the -ing form, then
complete the spelling rules below.
a) If a word ends in vowel + consonant + -e
(write) __________
b) If a word ends in vowel + consonant (swim)
__________
c) Words which end in -y (try, annoy)
__________
5 Rewrite each sentence. Use a verb from the box to replace the words in italics.
be cost feel have see smell taste have think of
have
a) This flower has a wonderful perfume.
the flower smells wonderful.
b) I think you are behaving in a very silly way.
c) She is expecting a baby in the summer.
d) Nancy is considering moving to Scotland.
e) Don't go in. They are holding a meeting.
f) I am meeting Janet this evening actually.
g) Good clothes are becoming more and more expensive.
h) I am trying the soup to see if it needs more salt.
i) Helen is taking a bath at the moment.
j) I think that you would be happier in another job.
6 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the
present continuous.
Dear Aunt Jean,
I (1) ...am just writing. (just write) how to tell you how much I (2)
_____________ (appreciate) the money you sent me, and to tell you
how I (3)_____________(get on) in my first term at university Actually I
(4)_____________ (really enjoy) myself! I (5)_____________ (study)
quite hard as well, but at the moment I (6) _____________ (spend) a lot
of time just making friends. I (7) _____________ (still stay) with my
friend Sue, and I (8) _____________ (look for) somewhere of my own to
live. Only a few of the first-year students (9) _____________ (live) in
college here, and I (10) _____________ (seem) to be spending a lot of
time travelling backwards and forwards. I (11) _____________ (go) to
lectures every morning, and most afternoons I (12)
_____________(study) in the library. In fact I (13) _____________(write)
this letter instead of an essay on Hamletl I (14)_____________ (think)
I'll buy some new clothes with the money you sent. Everything (15)
_____________ (cost) a lot here, and I (16) _____________(save) to buy a
winter coat. It (17) _____________(get) really cold here in the evenings. I
now (18) _____________(know) some other students and generally
speaking we (19) _____________(have) quite a good time socially! I
(20)_____________ (also learn) to drive. See you soon. Katherine.
