u98Simple Present Present Progressive

Form
Simple Present

Present Progressive

infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

form of 'be' and verb + ing

I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak

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 y

becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for

-ee)
Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing

Example: worry - he worries

but: play - he plays

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

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)

right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday.

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

at this moment

today

now

right now

Listen!

Look!

often
normally
usually

sometimes

seldom

never

first

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

Present Progressive
arrangement for the near future

The film starts at 8 pm.

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.

Exercises:

Exercise 1
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).
1. Look! He (leave)

the house.
is leaving

2. Quiet please! I (write)

a test.
am w riting

3. She usually (walk)

to school.
w alks

4. But look! Today she (go)

by bike.
is going

5. Every Sunday we (go)

to see my grandparents.
go

6. He often (go)

to the cinema.
goes

7. We (play)

Monopoly at the moment.

are playing

8. The child seldom (cry)

.
cries

9. I (not / do)

anything at the moment.

am not doing

10. (watch / he)

the news regularly?

Does he w atc

Exercise 2

Marc
Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present
Progressive).
1. This (be)

Marc.
is

2. He (wear)

a t-shirt and shorts today.

is w earing

3. He (eat)

an apple at the moment.

is eating

4. Marc (like)

fruits and vegetables.

likes

5. He (eat)

some every day.

eats

6. Marc (know)

that apples (be)

know s

good for his health.

are

Exercise 3
Complete the story. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1. It (be)

early in the morning.

2. Sally (get)

out of bed, (open)

the window and (go)

into the bathroom.

3. Then she (have)

breakfast.

4. After breakfast, Sally usually (cycle)

5. After school, she (go)

6. Sally usually (eat)

to school.

back home.

her lunch at home.

7. In the afternoons, she first (do)

her friends in the park.

her homework and then she (meet)

8. What (do / she)

9. She (play)

now?

the guitar.

10. Her friends (listen)

and some of them (sing)

11. When Sally (come)

home in the evening, she (have)

and then she (watch)

12. She (go)

along.

dinner

TV.

to bed at about 8 o'clock every day.

Reading
Quotes about friendship:
Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you.
A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
Some friends come into our lives for just a short time. Others come and stay forever. Think
about your closest friends. How long have you known each other? Some people say that their
spouse or family member is their best friend. Others say they have known their closest friends
for many years. And some great friends haven't known each other all that long, but knew right
away that there was a connection, or bond, between them. Could it be that there is a twin spirit
out there for each of us?
What turns a stranger or acquaintance into a friend? Do you know right away if you are going
to like someone? Some people think that any stranger can become a friend if they spend
enough time together. That may be true for some people. But one thing most of us agree on is
that true friendships seem to happen when people have something in common. Perhaps we see

a part of ourselves in our friends. Maybe seeing the good in them helps us to see the good in
us as well.