Present simple versus Present progressive
The present simple or simple present tense is a verb tense used when the
action is happening at present or when the situation happens regularly.
1. Affirmative Form
The formula for creating a sentence in this verb tense is:
Subject + root verb (-s or -es form of the verb for third person singular)
I practice piano every day
She practices piano every day.
Verb Conjugated
Talk I – You – They – We talk
He – She – It talks
Love I – You – They – We love
He – She – It eats
Eat I – You – They – We eat
He – She – It eats
Jump I – You – They – We jump
He – She – It jumps
2. Question Form
Present simple questions require you to change the order of the subject and
auxiliary verb for the formula. Here is the correct question form:
Do/does + subject + root verb
Examples:
Do you love me?
Does she love me?
Do we have classes?
Does he work today?
Do they like candy?
3. Negative Form
Subject + does not/do not + root verb Does not = doesn’t
Do not = don’t
Examples.
John does not care about his parents.
I do not have classes today.
She doesn’t love Jim.
We don’t live in London.
Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous or progressive tense is used to talk about an ongoing
action.
1. Affirmative sentences
Subject + is/are/am + present participle form of the verb (-ing)
Examples:
Lisa is cooking dinner now.
I am going to the concert with John.
The kids are enjoying the pool.
2. Negative sentences
Subject + is/are/am + not + present participle form of the verb (-ing)
Examples:
We are not going to the party.
I am not cooking dinner.
He is not sleeping right now.
3. Questions
Is/are/am + subject + present participle form of the verb (-ing)
Examples:
Are you attending to the meeting?
Is mike cooking dinner?
Am I eating here?
Differences and similarities in the Simple Present and the Present Progressive
1. Use
Simple Present Present Progressive/Continuous
repeated actions/habits/routines
actions happening at the moment
fixed arrangements, scheduled of speaking or around the moment
events (e.g. timetable) of speaking
sequence of actions in the present fixed plan in the near future
(first - then, after that)
temporary actions/trends
things in general/facts
2. Signal words
Simple Present Present Progressive/Continuous
always
often
usually
sometimes now
seldom at the moment
never Look!
every day Listen!
every week
every year
on Mondays
3. Form
Simple Present Present Progressive/Continuous
infinitive
→ 3rd person singular (he, she, to be (am, are, is) + infinitive + -ing
it): infinitive + -s
4. Examples
4.1. Affirmative sentences
Simple Present Present Progressive
I play football. I am playing football.
You play football. You are playing football.
He plays football. He is playing football.
4.2. Negative sentences
Simple Present Present Progressive
I do not play football. I am not playing football.
You do not play football. You are not playing football.
He does not play football. He is not playing football.
4.3. Questions
Simple Present Present Progressive
Do I play football? Am I playing football?
Do you play football? Are you playing football?
Does he play football? Is he playing football?
5. Spelling
Simple Present Present Progressive/Continuous
watches (-es after sibilant) sitting (Double the consonant after
a short vowel.)
goes (-es after -o)
writing (Drop the -e.)
hurries (Change -y to -ie after
consonant) lying (Change -ie to -y.)
[Link]
Exercises
A. Choose the correct verb form from the drop-down menu and
form sentences in the Simple Present or the Present
Progressive
1. John is playing
football at the moment.
2. We often write
tests at our school.
3. I am talking
to my teacher now.
4. Look! Mandy and Susan are watching
a film on TV.
5. Olivia visits
her uncle every weekend.
6. Now the sun is shining
.
7. They sometimes read
poems in the lessons.
8. Listen! The band is testing
the new guitar.
9. First, I wash
, then I dress.
10. Every morning my mother gets
up at 6 o'clock.
B. Put in the verbs in brackets in Simple Present or Present
Progressive.
EXAMPLE:
Steve always _______ his bike in the afternoon. (to ride)
ANSWER:
Steve always rides his bike in the afternoon.
1. Andy sometimes __reads__comics. (to read)
2. We never __watch__ TV in the morning. (to watch)
3. Listen! Sandy __is_singing___ in the bathroom. (to sing)
4. My sister usually ___helps___ in the kitchen. (to help)
5. My mother ___is making____ breakfast now. (to make)
6. They often __clean_____ the bathroom. (to clean)
7. Look! The boys __are coming__ home. (to come)
8. Every day his grandfather __goes___ for a walk. (to go)
9. I _am_chating___ with my friend at the moment. (to chat)
10. Cats ___eat____ mice. (to eat)
C. Complete the following paragraph with the correct form of the verb in
parenthesis. You have to identify whether to use simple present or present
progressive.
Every morning, I _____wake___ (wake) up at 7 a.m. and ____eat_____ (eat)
breakfast. Right now, my sister ___is___watching______ (watch) TV while my
parents __are___ cooking _______ (cook) dinner in the kitchen. Normally, I
_____go_______ (go) to school by bus, but today I ___am__walking______ (walk)
because the weather is nice. My brother usually _____plays_____ (play) video
games after school, but this week he _is__studying____ (study) for his exams.
On weekends, we often ____visit_____ (visit) our grandparents, but they
__are_traveling____ (travel) to another city today. My mom _____works____
(work) as a nurse, and she _____enjoys_______ (enjoy) helping people. My dad
____reads____ (read) the newspaper every evening before bed, but tonight he
___is__watching_______ (watch) a movie with us. In the summer, we
____swim____ (swim) in the pool every day, but now it __is____raining______
(rain) a lot, so we can't. Overall, we ____love_____ (love) spending time together
as a family.
Written production Task
a. Describe your best friend. 5-line paragraph.
b. Write the process of cooking your favorite dish (for example pizza, pancakes,
salad, or something else).