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 |
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
Text.
Simple Present or Present Progressive.
Look! Jenny ____________________ (go)
to school. On her back, Jenny _________________________ (carry) her school
bag. The school bag _______________ (be) very heavy. Normally, Jenny
__________________ (wear) black shoes, but today she ___________________
(wear) red wellies. And look, she __________________ (wear) a raincoat
because it __________________ (rain) outside. Jenny ____________________(not
/ want) to get wet.
|
Maria __________________ (want) to
improve her English. Therefore, she _______________________ (do) a language course
in London at the moment. She ________________________ (stay) with a host
family and __________________ (must) take the tube to get to her language
school. It __________________ (be) only a five-minute walk to the nearest
tube station. The tube ______________________ (leave) at half past eight.
The first lesson
_________________ (begin) at 9 o'clock. In the afternoons, the school ________________(offer)
sightseeing tours in
and around London. Tomorrow, the students of the language school
________________ (go) to Windsor.
|
Complete
the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
I __________________ (live) in London.
This weekend, I ____________________ (visit) my friends in Brighton.
The train to
Brighton _____________________ (leave) London at 6.45 in the morning.
In the early
afternoon, we ____________ (want) to go on a sightseeing tour. In the evening,
we __________ (go) to a concert. The concert __________________ (start) at 8
o'clock. I _______________________ (come) back to London on Sunday. My train
_________________ (arrive) in London at 7.50 in the evening.
|
A. Decide whether to use the simple
present or the present progressive.
WATCH
1.
Don’t
switch off the TV! I ____________________________________it.
2.
I
love that programme! I _______________________________________ it every week.
DO
3. Can you call me back later? I
___________________________________________ my homework in this moment.
4.
I
try to keep fit. I _____________________________yoga and aerobics every day.
PLAY
5. I love tennis but I
____________________________badly.
6. Sorry, I can’t hear you because
Matthew _________________________________ the piano right now.
WRITE
7. I ____________________________ about
twenty text messages a day, usually to friends.
8. She _______________________________
a book at the moment. It will be published next year.
WORK
9. Daddy can’t come home now. He
_________________________________________late at the office.
10. Usually he ______________________
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Friday.
MAKE
11. I like to spend time with my
friends. That’s what _________________________ me happy.
12. I
_____________________________________ some coffee. Do you want some?
HAVE
13. She loves school. She
______________________________ a lot of friends.
14. Jill
_____________________________________some problems with her phone. Can you
check it?
GET
15. He only met his real father last
month. They ______________________ to know each other now.
16.
In
the UK about 50% of married couples ___________________________________
divorced.
READ
17. She always
__________________________ a book to her son before he goes to sleep.
18. I
____________________________________________ a new book at the moment. It is
really good.
VISIT
19. Hi Tim! I’m in town for a week. I ____________________________________an old
friend.
20.
When
we go to London we usually ___________________________________the National
Gallery.
