Simple Present vs. Present Progressive

 Guys at end of the lessen you’re going to find some exercises and a video, the video it is not optional, you have got to watch it, have fun!

Simple Present	Present Progressive
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak	form of 'be' and verb + ing 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 ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - he worries but: play - he plays	Exceptions when adding 'ing' : §                           Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee) Example: come - coming but: agree - agreeing §                           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

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

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  Exercises and video

  Simple Present / Present Continuous

  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)  her kids to football practice.
  
  2. Usually, I (work)  as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)  French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.
  
  3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .
  
  4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .
  
  5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) .
  
  6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)  because everybody (talk)  so loudly.
  
  7. Justin (write, currently)  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)  to a movie tonight with some friends.
  
  9. The business cards (be, normally )  printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be)  inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.
  
  10. This delicious chocolate (be)  made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

  Put the verb in present continuous or present simple

  Simple Present / Present Continuous

  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)  her kids to football practice.
  2. Usually, I (work)  as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)  French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.
  3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .
  4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain) .
  5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always) . 6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)  because everybody (talk)  so loudly.
  7. Justin (write, currently)  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)  to a movie tonight with some friends.
  
  9. The business cards (be, normally )  printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be)  inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.
  10. This delicious chocolate (be)  made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

  
  

  
  

  1. Excuse me, ______________ (you/speak) English?
  2. Tom _________________ (have/shower) at the moment.
  3. They _____________ (not/watch) television very often.
  4. Listen! Somebody _______________ (sing)
  5. She’s tired. She ____________ (want) to go home.
  6. How often ____________________ (you/read) a newspaper?
  7. Excuse me, but you __________________ (sit) in my place. Oh I’m sorry.
  8. I’m sorry. I ___________________ (not/understand). Please speak more slowly.
  9.Where are you Roy? I am in the office. I ___________________ (read)
  10. What time __________________ (she/finish) work every day?
  11. You can turn off the radio. I _____________________ (not listen) to it.
  12. He ____________________ (not/usually/drive) to work. He usually ________ (walk)