Reviewing Present Verb TensesReviewing Present Verb Tenses

Estefanía Pérez

The Simple Present TenseThe Simple Present Tense Expresses a habit or often repeated action.

Adverbs of frequency such as, often, seldom, sometimes, never, etc. are used with this tense.

She goes to work everyday.They always eat lunch together.

The Simple Present TenseThe Simple Present Tense This tense also expresses general truths or

facts that are timeless.

Snow falls in the December in Minnesota.Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

The Present ContinuousThe Present Continuous This tense is used to describe an action that is

occurring right now (at this moment, today, this year, etc.). The action has begun and is still in progress.

She is typing a paper for her class.He can’t talk. He is fixing the sink right now.

The Present ContinuousThe Present Continuous The present progressive can also be used to

describe an action that is occurring in the present, but is temporary.

John is living in Modesto, but he might move soon.

SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

MEANING Activities or events that

occurring in the present. Summarizing pieces of writing,

films, plays. Stating ongoing opinions, beliefs,

habits, and facts. Ex: I ride a bike to school

everyday.

USE Use the Present Simple to express

the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE

AFIRMATIVEAFIRMATIVE

SuBJECT+ Infinitive sin “to”SuBJECT+ Infinitive sin “to”

I live in London. Lions eat meat.You like reading comics.

In THIRD person singular we add “S” to the verb

He plays football. Alice comes to school by bus.

My dog sleeps in the garden.

If the verb ends in "s"-"sh"-"ch"-"x" o "z"We add "es".

If the verb ends in "y" after a consonantWe chabge “y” into “i” and we add "es".

My brother watches TV at night. His kite flies very high.

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE

NEGATIVENEGATIVE

Suject+ don't + Infinitive without “to”Suject+ don't + Infinitive without “to”

I don't live in London. Lions don't eat grass.You don't like reading books.

In THIRD person singular we have :In THIRD person singular we have :Suject+ doesn't + Infinitive without “to”Suject+ doesn't + Infinitive without “to”

He doesn't play football.

Alice doesn't come to school by car.

doesn't = does not

My dog doesn't sleep in the kitchen.

don't = do not

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE

INTERROGATIVEINTERROGATIVE

Do + Subject +Infinitive without “to” +?Do + Subject +Infinitive without “to” +?

Do I live in London? Do lions eat grass?Do you like reading books?

Does + Subject+ Infinitive sin “to” +...?Does + Subject+ Infinitive sin “to” +...?

Does he play football?

Does my dog sleep in the kitchen?

Does Alice come to school by car?

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE

ADVERBS ADVERBS OF FREQUENCYOF FREQUENCY

always > siempre often > a menudo, con frecuencia usually > generalmente sometimes > algunas veces never > nunca

THEY GO BEFORE THE MAIN VERB

If we have an auxiliar verb (to be, have got, can..)

THEY GO BEFORE

I always live in London. She never walks alone.

Do you often study at night?

They are usually at home.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

USETo express1. Actions that occur in the moment we speak: “She’s watering the plants now”2. Something that is happening in one moment:

“My brother is working in a pizza restaurant at the moment”3. Future Plans: “He’s having dinner with us tonight”4. We don´t use present continuous with the following verbs:

Know, like, want, hate, love, belong, mean, understand, remember, prefer.

ENGLISHENGLISH

AFIRMATIVEAFIRMATIVE

Subject + Verb TO BE + ING

I am living in London. Lions are eating meat.You are reading comics.

I am writingYou/ we/ they are writingHe/ she/ it is writing

More examples: More examples:

PRESENT CONTINUOUSPRESENT CONTINUOUS

ENGLISHENGLISH

NEGATIVENEGATIVE

Subject + Verb TO BE + NOT + ING

I am not living in London.Lions are not eating meat.

You are not reading comics.

More examples: More examples:

I´m not writingYou/ we/ they aren´t writingHe/ she/ it isn´t writing

PRESENT CONTINUOUSPRESENT CONTINUOUS

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT CONTINUOUSPRESENT CONTINUOUS

INTERROGATIVEINTERROGATIVE

TO BE +Subject + ING ?

Am I living in London? Are Lions eating meat?Are You reading comics?

More examples: More examples:

Am I writing?Are you/ we/ they writing?Is he/ she/ it writing?

ENGLISHENGLISH PRESENT SIMPLEPRESENT SIMPLE

ADVERBS ADVERBS

NOW AT THE MOMENT

AT PRESENTTONIGHT

TODAY

I am living in London now.

Are you studying French at the moment?

They are staying at home tonight.