Simple Present – Present Progressive
Form
Simple Present
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Present Progressive
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infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
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form of 'be' and verb + ing
I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
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Exceptions
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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)
Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays
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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: travelling (American English)
§ Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying
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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
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Present Progressive
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in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
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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.
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Signal words
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§ always
§ every ...
§ often
§ normally
§ usually
§ sometimes
§ seldom
§ never
§ first
§ then
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§ at the moment
§ at this moment
§ today
§ now
§ right now
§ Listen!
§ Look!
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Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
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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
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Present Progressive
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action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
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arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.
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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
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Present Progressive
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daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
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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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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.