| Simple Present | Present Progressive |
|---|---|
| infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak | form of 'be' and verb + ing
I am speaking
you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking |
| Exceptions | |
Exceptions when adding 's' :
| Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
|
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.
| ||
| |||
|
| ||
| Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present: be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want | |||
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.
|
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.
|
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.
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test1
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test2
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/tests?test3
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex02
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex03
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex04
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex05
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex06
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex07
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex08
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex09
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex10
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex11
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simpre-prepro/exercises?ex12
2. Vocabulary: Transportation
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2883
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3794
http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=5725
3. Present Progressive
The present progressive puts emphasis on the course or duration of an action.
The present progressive is used for actions going on in the moment of speaking and for actions taking place only for a short period of time. It is also used to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future.
Present progressive is also known as present continuous.Form:
Use a form of to be and the infinite verb plus -ing.
Use:
- am with the personal pronoun I
- is with the personal pronouns he, she or it (or the singular form of nouns)
- are with the personal pronouns you, we, they (or the plural form of nouns)
| Affirmative | Negative | Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am playing. | I am not playing. | Am I playing? |
| he, she, it | He is playing. | He is not playing. | Is he playing? |
| you, we, they | You are playing. | You are not playing. | Are you playing? |
Tips on how to form negative sentences and questions
- In negative sentences, we put not between the form of be and the verb.
- In questions, we simply swop the places of subject and the form of be.
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/form/exercises
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/form/exercises?form02
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/form/exercises?form03
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/form/exercises?form04
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/present-progressive/form/exercises?form05
Present Progressive - Exceptions in Spelling
A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.
example: come - coming
I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.
But: ee at the end of the word is not changedI am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.
example: agree - agreeing
The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.
I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.
The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.
example: travel - travelling
I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.
Mind: This applies only for British English; in American English there is usually only one l.I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.
An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.
example: lie - lying
I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.
I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.
Exercises:
