Present simple and present continuous

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 4

Present simple and present continuous

Some examples:

The world is changing and it's changing rapidly.

The earth revolves around the sun in approximately 365 days.

I'm an engineer, but I'm working as a taxi driver at the moment.

My daughter is always leaving clothes all over the floor.

Present simple

We use the present simple to talk about:

something that is always or generally true

When you heat ice, it melts.

Present simple

habits and routines

I go swimming twice a week.

He never goes to the beach.

Present simple

future tense; timetables, schedules etc. 

The train leaves at 5 p.m.

Present simple

to talk about future situations we believe are real or possible

(first conditional)

If I study hard, I will pass my test.

Present simple

State verbs describe a state rather than an action. They aren't usually used in continuous forms, so we use present simple instead of present continuous.

Present simple

State verbs often relate to:

thoughts and opinions: agree, believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, mean, recognise, remember, suspect, think, understand

feelings and emotions: dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish

senses and perceptions: appear, be, feel, hear, look, see, seem, smell, taste

possession and measurement: belong, have, measure, own, possess, weigh.

Present simple

Some verbs have a stative meaning and a different active meaning.

I have a new computer. (state – possession)

I'm having a quick break. (action – having a break is an activity)

This coffee tastes delicious. (state – our perception of the coffee)

Look! The chef is tasting the soup. (action – tasting the soup is an activity)

Present simple

Signal words that indicate you need to use the present simple, are:

usually   -   sometimes   -   always   -   often   -   every   -   never

USA OEN

Present continuous

We use the present continuous to talk about:

actions which are in progress at the moment 

('aan het'  in Dutch)

He's busy. He's giving a presentation to some clients.  

Present continuous

temporary actions

I'm working from home this month.

Present continuous

something in progress but not actually happening at the moment

More and more people are feeling the effects of climate change.

verbs describing change and development

Life is becoming more expensive.

Present continuous

future plans that have already been organised (tickets have been booked for instance).

I'm going to Ghana next month. I booked my flights yesterday.

Present continuous

complaints and annoying habits

He's always coming in late and making noise. 

Present continuous

Signal words that indicate you need to use the present continuous, are:

now   -   right now   -   at the moment   -   Look!  -   Listen!   -   Watch out!

More and more people (...)
it hard to achieve a satisfactory balance between work and free time.

1. find
2. finds
3. is finding
4. are finding

He (...) a hard time at the moment.

1. has
2. have
3. is having
4. are having

We (...) a party on Saturday. Do you want to come?

1. has
2. have
3. is having
4. are having

Study (...) that people who choose change are happier. A new study suggests that people who make the decision to change are more content than people who don't.

1. finds
2. find
3. is finding
4. are finding

She (...) my laptop. It's never there when I need it.

1. always takes
2. always take
3. is always taking
4. are always taking

We (...) two office buildings in the city centre.

1. has
2. have
3. is having
4. are having

The train journey from London to Edinburgh (to take) about five hours.

We (to be) very happy with our decision to move out of the city.

In many countries, the cost of food and bills (to rise).

We (to meet) at the train station at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

He (to complain, always). If he doesn't like the job, he should find a better one.