Present Simple vs Present Continuous

COMPARE Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple (настоящее простое)

How to form (как строить предложения)?

Affirmative (утвердительное)

• + Subject + Verb in the first form (S + V1) You work in an office.

• + He, she, it + Verb +(e)s (He/She/It + V(e)s) My dad often drives his car.

  Negative (отрицательное)

• - Subject + don't + Verb in the first form (S + don't + V1) We don't eat meat.

• - He, She, It + doesn't + Verb in the first form (He/She/It + doesn't + V1) His dog doesn't jump high.

  Questions (вопросительное)

• ? Do + Subject + Verb in the first form? (Do + S + V1?) Do they play the piano every day?

  Yes, I/you/we/they + do / No, I/you/we/they don't Yes, they do.

• ? Does + He/She/It + Verb in the first form? (Does + He/She/It +V1?) Does you mum cook?

  Yes, He/She/It + does / No, He/She/It + doesn't No, she doesn't.

• ? Wh-? + do / does + Subject + Verb in the first form? (Wh-? + do/does + S +V?) When do you come home?

Uses (использование)

1. Permanent states (постоянное состояние) e.g. I live in that house.

2. Repeated actions or daily routines (повторяющееся действие и ежедневные дела) e.g. We usually walk in the park.

3. General truth or laws of nature (то, что всегда правда или законы природы) e.g. The Earth orbits around the Sun.

4. Programmes or timetables. (расписание или фиксированное время) e. g. The film starts at 18.30.

Time expressions (выражения, которые нужно использовать с Present Simple)

1. never, hardly ever, rarely, seldom, sometimes, often, usually, always

2. every (day, week, month, year, summer, Monday, weekend etc.

3. once a week, twice a month, three times a year etc.

4. from time to time, at times, monthly, daily etc.

Present Continuous (настоящее длительное)

How to form (как строить предложения)?

Affirmative (утвердительное)

• +  Subject + am /is /are + Verb + ing.  e.g.  I am working in my office now.

  Negative (отрицательное)

• - Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + Verb + ing. e.g. We aren't having dinner at the moment.

  Questions (вопросительное)

• ? Am /Is /Are + Subject + Verb + ing? e.g. Are they playing the piano right now?

  Yes, I am. / No, I am not.  

  Yes, He/She/It + is. / No, He/She/It + isn't. 

• ? Wh-? + am /is /are + Subject + Verb + ing? e.g.  What are you doing today?

Uses (использование)

• Actions happening now at the moment of speaking (действие, которое происходит сейчас, в данный момент)

  e.g.  I am writing a letter at the moment.

• Temporary actions happening around now, but not at the moment of speaking (временное действие, которое происходит в определенный момент в ностоящем, не всегда и не в момент речи)

  e.g.  We are skiing in the mounting this week.

  Time expressions (выражения, которые нужно использовать с Present Continuous)

  1. now, right now, at the moment, at present

  2. these days, nowadays, today, this (week, month, year, summer etc.)

  ---

Do the exercises to practice Present Simple and Present Perfect. Level 1.

LEVEL 1.

Ex. 1. Present Simple vs Present Continuous

1. Beth usually __________ her homework on Monday afternoons. (do)

Today she __________ to the dentist. (go)

1. Harry usually __________ for Teenlink on Monday afternoons. (write)

Today he __________ for a test. (study)

1. Peter and Lucy usually _______ their rooms on Monday afternoons. (tidy) Today they _______ an art gallery. (visit)

2. Sophie usually __________ the piano on Monday afternoons. (play)

Today she __________ TV. (watch)

Ex. 2. Complete with the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. Peter and Lucy __________ TV at the moment. (watch)

2. We _________ to the cinema every week. (not go)

3. The baby __________ right now. (not sleep)

4. We usually _________ our grandparents on Sunday. (visit)

5. What’s that noise? _________ the violin again? (Lucy / play)

6. Ben __________ his new shoes today. (wear)

7. _________ her room every day? (Emma / tidy)

8. _________ today? (your father / work)

9. I __________ my teeth three times a day. (brush)

10.  __________ the house on Saturday? (your mother / clean)

Ex. 3. Complete the questions with one word. Write true short answers.

1. ________ you live near your school? - ________

2. ________ your teacher speaking right now? - ________

3. ________ your friends visit you on Sundays? - ________

4. ________ it raining at the moment? - ________

5. ________ your best friend speak French? - ________

6. ________ your teacher drive a car? - ________

7. ________ you listening to music? - _______

8. ________ you like pop music? - ________

Ex. 4. Read and complete.

Hi Peter,

Today is Sunday and I’m at home. My family and I usually 1) _______ (go) out for a meal on Sunday but not today. The weather is very good so we 2) _____ (have) a barbecue in the garden! Our friends Harry and Beth are here, too. They usually 3) _____ (spend) Sunday with their family but today they 4) _______ (have) lunch with us.

At the moment, they’re in the garden with Peter. They 5) _______ (help) Dad with the barbeque. Mum 6) _____ (wash) the salad and I 7) _____ (make) the lemonade – well, I 8) _____ (not make) it right now because I 9) ________ (write) to you!

What 10) _________ (you / do) today?

Love

Lucy