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Simple Present Tense Vs Continious

This document compares and contrasts the simple present tense and present continuous tense in English. The simple present tense is used to talk about habits, unchanging situations, and planned future events, while the present continuous tense expresses ongoing or temporary actions happening now. Key differences in usage are provided with examples. Helpful adverbs that indicate permanence or temporariness for each tense are also listed.

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Ega Fernando
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134 views4 pages

Simple Present Tense Vs Continious

This document compares and contrasts the simple present tense and present continuous tense in English. The simple present tense is used to talk about habits, unchanging situations, and planned future events, while the present continuous tense expresses ongoing or temporary actions happening now. Key differences in usage are provided with examples. Helpful adverbs that indicate permanence or temporariness for each tense are also listed.

Uploaded by

Ega Fernando
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Present Tense vs.

Present Continuous Tense

Definition
The simple present tense is a verb form used to talk about habits, unchanging situations, facts,
and planned events in the near future.
The simple present tense of most verbs is the infinitive form (e.g., “sing”). However, the third
person singular (e.g., “he,” “she,” and “it”) takes an “s” at the end of the verb (e.g., “write”
becomes “writes”).

Forming the third person singular


Original ending Third person singular ending Example
-o -es do; does
-ch watch; watches
-sh wash; washes
-ss guess; guesses
-x mix; mixes
-z buzz; buzzes
Consonant + y -ies (replacing the “y”) fly; flies

The present continuous or progressive tense is one of the three progressive tenses that show
ongoing action at the current period of time. I’d also use it when referring to a temporary action
or an incomplete action in my writing.
The present progressive form is the auxiliary verb is, are, or am plus the present participle form
or -ing form of the verb.
Here are some differences in how we use the simple present and the present continuous:
Simple present Present continuous
For permanent situations For temporary situations
She lives in Quarry Bay. She is staying in the Kowloon Hotel.
For repeated actions not connected to the For repeated actions connected to the
moment of speaking moment of speaking. moment of speaking moment of speaking
She takes dancing lessons on Monday She is taking dancing lessons now but before
evenings. she took singing lessons.
For future events in an itinerary For planned future events
We arrive in Shanghai at 2.30 p.m. We are going to Shanghai next week.
For illnesses/physical states For physical states only
I have a cold./My head aches My head is aching.
For preferences/opinions For feelings we are experiencing now.
I love pizza. I am enjoying every bite of this delicious
pizza

Helpful Adverbs and Phrases


Both simple tense and continuous tense have commonly used phrases or adverbs which help
further indicate permanence (for simple tense) or temporariness (for continuous tense). A good
way to distinguish if you should use simple or continuous tense is to add either of these
phrases/adverbs and see if the sentence still makes sense!
Common Adverbs for Simple Tense Common Adverbs/Phrases for Continuous
(adverbs come before the main verb in the Tense (phrases can come at the start or end
sentence) of a sentence)
Always, Occasionally, Frequently, Normally, Currently, Presently, At the moment, (Right)
Sometimes, Rarely, Hardly, ever, Never now, Nowadays, For (a set amount of time).
Differences Between Present Simple and Present Continuous (Great Summary)
Exercise
Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in brackets. Use the simple present or the
present continuous tense.
1 My brother __________________________ (like) this CD very much.
2 He __________________________ (travel) in China this summer.
3 We __________________________ (go) to lunch now. Would you like to join us?
4 We always __________________________ (visit) Grandma on Sundays.
5 In this photo, we __________________________ (play) volleyball on the beach.
6 I __________________________ (play) tennis every day.
7 My father can’t come to the phone now. He __________________________ (take) a shower.
8 My father __________________________ (work) as an accountant in a big company.
9 I think this pen __________________________ (cost) HK$8.
10 I can’t play online games now. My brother __________________________ (use) the computer to do
his homework.
11 A: ______________ you ___________________ (do) your homework now? B: Yes, I
__________________________.
12 This photo was taken when I was three. My father __________________________ (carry) me on his
shoulders.
13 People ______________ always ___________________ (buy) new mobile phones.
14 Can you see Anna? She __________________________ (stand) at the bus stop.
15 ______________ you still ___________________ (watch) TV?
16 A: ______________ they _________________ (go) to Ocean Park on Sunday? B: No, they
__________________________.
17 She often __________________________ (miss) class because of illness.
18 A: ______________ you _________________ (like) Kelly Chan’s songs? B: Yes, I ______________, but
my brother _________________.

2. Decide which of the choices below would best complete the article if inserted in the blanks. Circle the
appropriate letters.
Too Much Fast Food?
According to a recent survey, Hong Kong consumers (1)…….. more money on convenience foods since
the economic downturn. Because companies are trying to make do with fewer staff, employees (2)……
harder than ever before. More women (3) …….. the workforce as well. They (4) …….. less time to
prepare nutritious home-cooked meals for their families. Instead, families (5) …….. out or (6) ……..
convenience foods, such as frozen pizzas and instant noodles. These foods (7) …….. more fat, salt and
sugar than home-cooked meals. Experts say that eating too much of them (8) …….. the risk of serious
health problems, including diabetes and heart disease. However, the trend towards convenience foods
(9) …….. some business sectors. Supermarkets (10) …….. to the higher demand for quick, easy-to-serve
meals by increasing their selection of convenience and pre-packaged foods. These products often (11)
…….. for higher prices than fresh food. Restaurants also (12) ……..from the trend: most Hong Kong
people now (13) …….. out at least once a day. Is convenience food just a fad or is home-cooked food (14)
…….. a thing of the past? How is this trend (15) ……..our health?

1 A are spending B will spend C spent D spends


2 A be working B are working C works D worked
3 A is joining B are joining C will join D joining
4 A have had B had C having D have
5 A be eating B eats C eat D eating
6 A bought B buying C buy D be buying
7 A containing B contains C contained D contain
8 A increased B increases C increasing D increase
9 A are benefitting B benefitted C will be D is benefitting
10 A responding B are responding C responds D will respond
11 A sells B sell C selling D sold 12 A be profiting B profit C were profiting D profits
13 A were eating B have eaten C eat D ate
14 A becoming B become C became D is becoming
15 A affect B affecting C affected D affects

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