Grammar: Simple Present and Present Continuous Tense

By: Ori Istihari on 12:07 PM

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Simple Present Tense

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.
• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.
• A dog has four legs.
• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.
• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.
• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
• They speak English at work.

Verb Conjugation & Spelling

We form the present tense using the base form of the infinitive (without the TO).  In general, in the third person we add 'S' in the third person.

Subject	Verb	The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they	speak / learn	English at home
he / she / it	speaks / learns	English at home

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses
• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

• Affirmative: You speak French.
  Negative: You don't speak French.

You will see that we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks German.
  Negative: He doesn't speak German.

When the subject is he, she or it, we add doesn't between the subject and the verb to make a negative sentence. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the negative sentence. We will see the reason why below.

Negative Contractions

Don't = Do not
Doesn't = Does not

I don't like meat = I do not like meat. There is no difference in meaning though we normally use contractions in spoken English.

Word Order of Negative Sentences

The following is the word order to construct a basic negative sentence in English in the Present Tense using Don't or Doesn't.

Subject	don't/doesn't	Verb*	The Rest of the sentence
I / you / we / they	don't	have / buy eat / like etc.	cereal for breakfast
he / she / it	doesn't

* Verb: The verb that goes here is the base form of the infinitive = The infinitive without TO before the verb. Instead of the infinitive To have it is just the have part.

Remember that the infinitive is the verb before it is conjugated (changed) and it begins with TO. For example: to have, to eat, to go, to live, to speak etc.

Examples of Negative Sentences with Don't and Doesn't:

• You don't speak Arabic.
• John doesn't speak Italian.
• We don't have time for a rest.
• It doesn't move.
• They don't want to go to the party.
• She doesn't like fish.

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of the question.

• Affirmative: You speak English.
  Question: Do you speak English?

You will see that we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a question. We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

• Affirmative: He speaks French.
  Question: Does he speak French?

When the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the question. We will see the reason why below.

We DON'T use Do or Does in questions that have the verb To Be or Modal Verbs (can, must, might, should etc.)

However, ifa question word such as who, when, where, why, which or how is used in the question, you can not use the short answers above to respond to the question.

Present Continuous

Basic form

Subject + IS/ARE + Verb (continuous form)

Form

To form a sentence in the Present Continuous, you have to:

• know the proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb

•  

Person	Singular	Plural
First	I am	We are
Second	You are	You are
Third	He/she/it is	They are

• add the "ing" suffix to the verb (to form the present participle of the verb). Examples:
• try + ing = trying
• go + ing = going

Use 1: Present Actions

Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.

• He is eating a dinner.
• Mary is talking with her friends.
• They are swimming in the pool.

Use 2: Temporary Actions

This tense is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.

• I'm riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken. Temporary Action (His car will soon be repaired)
• They are not talking with each other after the last argument. Temporary Action (They will soon make up)
• Mary is working at McDonald's. Temporary Action (She is working there only during the summer holidays)

Use 3: Longer Actions in Progress

We also use the Present Continuous when we are in the middle of doing something time-consuming (i.e. something that takes time to complete). An example of such an activity is writing a book, saving money or studying for an exam.

• They are working hard to earn money.
• I am training to become a professional footballer.
• Mike is studying hard to become a doctor.
• Elizabeth is currently writing a children's book titled I am the World.

Use 4: Future (Personal) Arrangements and Plans

Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future.

• I'm meeting Katie in the evening.
• He's flying to Rome in September.
• We're not going anywhere tomorrow.

Use 5: Tendencies and Trends

This tense is also used for expressing tendencies or trends.

• Our country is getting richer.
• The Internet is becoming less of a novelty.
• The Universe is expanding.

Use 6: Irritation or Anger

And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or contantly.

• She is continually complaining about everything!
• Johny is always asking stupid questions!
• My boss is contantly critising me!

Verbs that are not usually used in the continuous form

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states, rather than actions or processes.

Senses / Perception to feel* to hear to see* to smell to taste Opinion to assume to believe to consider to doubt to feel (= to think) to find (= to consider) to suppose to think*

Mental states to forget to imagine to know to mean to notice to recognise to remember to understand Emotions / desires to envy to fear to dislike to hate to hope to like to love to mind to prefer to regret to want to wish

Measurement to contain to cost to hold to measure to weigh Others to look (=resemble) to seem to be (in most cases) to have(when it means "to possess")*

 

 

Exceptions

Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: : I can see... These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning

• This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities)
• John's feeling much better now (his health is improving)
• She has three dogs and a cat. (possession)
• She's having supper. (She's eating)
• I can see Anthony in the garden (perception)
• I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)