Simple Present Present Progressive

Form
Simple Present infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak Exceptions Present Progressive form of 'be' and verb + ing I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing

Exceptions when adding 's' :

For can, may, might, must, do not add s. Example: he can, she may, it must

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. Example: sit - sitting

After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays

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 in general (regularly, often, never) Colin plays football every Tuesday. Present Progressive right now Look! Colin is playing football now.

present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same time First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. Colin is playing football and Anne is watching. Signal words always every ... at the moment often at this moment normally today usually now sometimes right now seldom Listen! never first Look! then 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 action set by a timetable or schedule The film starts at 8 pm. Present Progressive 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 daily routine Bob works in a restaurant. Present Progressive 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.

PRESENT SIMPLE - PRESENT CONTINUOUS

REVISION EXERCISES
INTERMEDIATE LEVEL 1. Where's John? He IS LISTENING (listen) to a new CD in his room. 2. Don't forget to take your umbrella with you to London. You know it always rains (rain) in England. 3. Jean works (work) hard all day but she isnt working (not work) at the moment. 4. Look! That boy is running (run) after the bus. He wants (want) to catch it. 5. He speaks (speak) German so well because he comes (come) from Germany. 6. Shh! The boss is comming (come). We are metting (meet) him in an hour and nothing is ready! 7. do you usually go (go) away for Christmas or do you stay (stay) at home? 8. She is holding (hold) some roses. They smell (smell) lovely. 9. Oh no! Look! It is snoing (snow) again. It always snows (snow) in this country. 10. Mary swims (swim) very well, but she doesnt run (not run) very fast. 11. are you enjoing (enjoy) this party? Yes, Im having (have) a great time! 12. Sorry I can't help you. I dont know (not know) where she keeps her files.

13. What are you doing(do) next Saturday? Nothing special. Istaing at (stay) at home. 14. I think (think) your new hat looks (look) nice on you. 15. I live (live) with my parents but right now Im staing (stay) with some friends for a few days. 16. I can't talk on the phone now. I m driveing (drive) home. 17. Where are the children? They are laying (lie) on the beach over there. 18. You never listen (listen) to a word I say! You are always listening (listen) to that mp3 player! 19. He doesnt understand (not understand) what you are talking (talk) about. He's foreign. 20. How much does your suitcase weigh (weigh)? It looks (look) really heavy.

Choose the best tense for each space, present simple or present continuous.

Only use contractions for negatives - e.g. isn't/doesn't 1. John lives and works in Florida but he is having (have) a holiday in England at the moment. 2. I wonder why the neighbor's dog is barking (bark) again. Maybe there is a burglar! 3. Alan gets up (get up) at seven o'clock every morning. 4. Then he goes (go) to have a shower before breakfast. 5. Then he drives (drive) to the beach and stays all day. 6. He doesnt working (not/work) because he won the lottery last year. 7. Why are you learning (you/learn) English this year? 8. Im living (live) with my sister for a month because she is pregnant and I can help her. 9. Tell me - what are you wearing (you/wear). That way, I will recognise you at the station. 10. Jane is in the kitchen and very stressed! She is cooking (cook) dinner for 20 people.

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. 1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) drives her kids to football practice. 2. Usually, I (work) work as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study) im studing French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris. 3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) is sleeping. 4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) is raining. 5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) rains. 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say) saying because everybody (talk) is talking so loudly. 7. Justin (write, currently) is currently writing a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished. 8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight? Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go)m going to a movie tonight with some friends. 9. The business cards (be, normally ) are normally printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be) are inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good. 10. This delicious chocolate (be) is made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.