Present Continuous v/s Present Simple

Present Continuous Present Simple

Use The action happens at the same time the speaker speaks. NOW

Habitual actions and true statements.

Affirmative Sentences

Person + to be + Verbing + Complement

I am drinking my soda.

To be means SER or ESTAR in Spanish. To be = AM – IS – ARE. -ING means -ando, -endo.

(Sí el verbo infinitivo termina con -e agrega una ing al verbo)

(Drive – e) + ING = Driv + ING = Driving

(Sí el verbo infinitivo es muy corto duplica la última consonante y agrega ING al verbo)

(Cut +t) +ING = Cutt +ING = Cutting

El resto de los verbos infinitivos usa -ING

Eat +ING = Eating. Study + ING = Studying.

I We + Inf. Verb + Complement

You They

I go to the shop over there.We study Math every day.

(Con estas personas o pronombres personales el verbo siempre es infinitivo, no se conjuga o no cambia)

She He + Verb + (-s , -es, -ies) + Complement

It

He goes to the garden.It plays with a ball.

She always studies for the test.

(Sí el verbo infinitivo termina con -o, -x, -ss, -sh, o -ch; hay que agregar una -es final al verbo)

Do = Does Mix = Mixes Miss = Misses Wash = Washes Watch = Watches

(Sí el verbo infinitivo termina con -Y , pero antes hay una consonante; cambie la Y por -ies.)

Study = Studies Fly = Flies

(Sí el verbo no cumple con las reglas anteriormente nombradas sólo hay que agregar -s)

Play = Plays(En este caso el verbo termina con Y , pero antes tiene la vocal a.)

NegativeSentences

Person + (to be + not) + verbing + Complement.

I am not working here.They aren’t eating hamburgers.

She isn't studying with you.

Person + Don't + Inf. Verb + Complement. Doesn't

I don't do my homework.My dog doesn't bark every night.

They do not pay attention to the instructions.

(El verbo siempre es infinitivo al estar presente los auxiliares.)

InterrogativeSentences

(Existen dos tipos de preguntas)

1. La pregunta que comienza con el verbo to be se responde sólo con una afirmación o una negación. No pide más información de la que ya esta presente en la pregunta.

(Existen dos tipos de preguntas)

1. La pregunta que comienza con el auxiliar del presente simple (Do o Does) se responde sólo con una afirmación o una negación. No pide más información de la que ya esta presente en la pregunta.

Teacher Danitza Lazcano Flores English Language Department 2013

To be + person + verbing + complement?

Are you sleeping on my bed ?

Yes, I am / No, I am not.

2. La pregunta que comienza con una Wh-question requiere de más información o de información que no se encuentra dentro de la pregunta.

Wh + to be + person+verbing +Complement+?

Where is she playing now ?

She is playing in Chinchorro beach.

(En este caso la respuesta es una oración afirmativa)

Do + person + inf. Verb + Complement + ? Does

Do you swim in the pool ?Does the cat drink milk after 8:00?

Yes, I do. / No I don't.Yes, it does. / No, it doesn't.

2. La pregunta que comienza con una Wh-question requiere de más información o de información que no se encuentra dentro de la pregunta.

Wh + do + person + inf. Verb +Complement+? does

When do we make our tables ?

We do our tables at Juan's shop.

(En este caso la respuesta es una oración afirmativa)

Names Present Progressive or Now present None

Adverbs(Examples)

Time : Today, now, right now, at the moment, this night, at night, etc.

Manner : slowly, beautifully, etc.

Place : on, in, Santiago, in the park, etc.

Frequency : Always, never, seldom, etc.

Manner : hard, quickly, etc.

Time : every day, every year, etc.

Place: over there, here, Paris, etc.

EXERCISE 1: Write in singular the following paragraphs (Present Simple)

1. They tell me that when they get home every afternoon they have some food and then change their clothes; they never eat or drink anything while they are at the office, unless the hot weather makes them very thirsty.

2. These boys say that they always listen carefully, but do not always understand their teachers because they speak too quickly and choose very difficult words.

3. Careful students want to learn quickly always put back the books they have read before they take out others. These girls come to our library every Thursday and read a book every week; they like English and want to learn quickly.

4. Their children walk to school every morning and look for their friends on the way; when they see them they run to them and laugh and play and enjoy themselves until they hear the school bell.

EXERCISE 2: Write the meaning and -ing forms for the following verbs. (Present Continuous)

Infinitive verb Gerund (verbing) Translation Infinitive verb Gerund (verbing) Translation

1. hit 11. get

2. come 12. join

3. clap 13. study

4. hurt 14. win

5. look 15. pay

6. dream 16. shine

7. take 17. sign

8. keep 18. wait

9. bite 19. fly

10. camp 20. write

EXERCISE 3: Look at the picture and write 5 sentences about it.

1. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 4: Make questions. Give short answers to yes / no questions. ..I. A: What _____________________________ (you / write) ? B: __________________________________ (A letter)

2. A: ______________________ (Ali / read) a book? B: ______________________ (No / he)

3. A: ______________________ (Anna / eat) her lunch? B: ______________________ (Yes / she)

4. A: Where _________________________ (Anna / eat) her lunch? B: _____________________________________________________ (At the Red Bird Cafe)

5. A: __________________________ (Mike / drink) a cup of coffee? B: __________________________ (No /he)

6. A: What _______________________________ (he / drink)? B: ____________________________________ (A cup of tea)

7. A: __________________________________ (the girls / play) in the street? B: __________________________________ (No / they)

8. A: Why ______________________________ (they / play) in the street? B: Because, ___________________________ (they / have) a break.