Present Simple Vs Present Continuous O08

E.O.I. Algeciras

Departamento de Inglés

THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE FORM AND PRONUNCIATION

USAGE

EXAMPLES

Form Permanent truths. We add -s or -es to the base form in the third We use the simple present for statements that are always true. person singular. I work It works ‘The present period’ You work We work We use the simple present to refer to events, actions or situations He works You work which are true in the present period of time and which for all we She works They work know, may continue indefinitely. What we are saying, in effect, is ‘this is the situation as it stands at present’. Spelling of the third person singular: Most verbs add -s: work/works, drive/drives, Habitual actions The simple present can be used with or without an adverb to run/runs. describe habitual actions, things that happen repeatedly. Verbs normally add -es when they end in -o: do/does; -s: miss/misses; -x: mix/mixes; -ch: We can be more precise about habitual actions by using the simple present with adverbs of indefinite frequency (always, catch/catches; -sh: push/pushes. never...) or with adverbial phrases such as every day. Pronunciation of the 3rd person singular: We commonly used the simple present to ask and answer /s/ after /f/, /p/, /k/, /t/: puffs, drops, kicks, lets. questions beginning with How often? Verbs ending in /z/, /ʤ/, /s/, /ʃ/, /ʧ/ take an extra syllable in the third person which is pronounced Questions related to habits can be asked with ever and answered /iz/: loses, manages, passes, pushes, stitches, with never. mixes. Future reference This use is often related to timetables and programmes or to Other verbs are pronounced with a /z/ in the third events in the calendar. person: after /b/ robs; after /d/ adds; after /g/ digs; after /l/ fills; after /m/ dreams; after /n/ runs; Observation and declarations after /ɱ/ rings; after vowel + /r/ stirs; after /v/ We commonly use the simple present with stative and other loves; after vowels sees, pays. Says is normally verbs to make observations and declarations in the middle of conversation. pronounced /sez/ and does is pronounced /dʌz/.

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* Summer follows spring. * Gases expand when heated. * The day has twenty-four hours. * My father works in a bank. * My wife wears glasses.

* I get up at 6. * We go to the cinema a lot. * I always read an hour before going to bed. * At home everybody has a shower every day. * How often do you go to the dentist? * I go every six months. * Do you ever eat octopus? No, I never eat octopus. * The exhibition opens on Jan 1st and closes on Jan 31st. * The concert begins at 7.30 and ends at 9.30. * We leave tomorrow at 11.15 and arrive at 17.50. * I hope/assume/suppose/promise everything will be all right. * I see/hear there are roadworks in the street again.

-LGM- (11/10/09)

E.O.I. Algeciras

Departamento de Inglés

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE FORM

USAGE

Form Actions in progress at the moment of speaking The present continuous is formed with the present of be + We use the present continuous to describe actions or events the -ing form of the main verb. which are in progress at the moment of speaking. To I am working It is working emphasize this, we often use adverbials like: now, at the You are working We are working moment, just,... He is working You are working Temporary situations She is working They are working The present continuous can be used to describe actions and situations which may not have been happening long, or Spelling: how to add ‘-ing’ to a verb. which are thought of as being in progress for a limited wait/waiting. Most verbs can add -ing without changing period. the spelling of their base form. Such situations may not be happening at the moment of speaking write/writing If the verb ends in -e, omit the -e and add -ing: come/coming, have/having, make/making... This rule Planned actions: future reference does not apply to verbs ending in double ee: agree / agree- We use the present progressive (and the going to form) to refer to activities and events planned for the future. We ing... generally need an adverbial unless the meaning is clear run/running. A verb that is spelt with a single vowel from the context. followed by a single consonant doubles it final consonant: This use of the present progressive is also commonly associated with future arrival and departure and occurs put/putting, hit/hitting, sit/sitting. with verbs like: arrive, come, go, leave... begin/beginning. With two-syllable verbs, the final Repeated actions consonant is normally doubled when the last syllable is The adverb always (in the sense of ‘frequently’), stressed: forget/forgetting, prefer/preferring, constantly, continually, forever, repeatedly,... can be used upset/upsetting... with the progressive present to described continuallyrepeated actions. -ic at the end of a verb changes to -ick when we add -ing: panic/panicking, traffic/trafficking, picnic/picnicking... Especially used with actions that somehow disturb or annoy the speaker. lie/lying. Other examples: die/dying, tie/tying...

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EXAMPLES * Someone is knocking at the door. Can you answer it? * He’s working at the moment. He can’t answer the phone. * What are you doing? I’m just tying up my shoe-laces.

* My daughter is studying English at Sussex University.

* Don’t take that ladder away. Your father is using it.

* We’re spending next winter in Austria.

* He’s arriving tomorrow morning.

* She’s always helping people. * I’m always hearing strange stories about him.

* My little brother is always making noise.

-LGM- (11/10/09)