Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson you will be able to distinguish between Present Simple and Present Continuous tense and practice using them correctly.

Introduce the learning objective of the lesson and explain the importance of being able to use these tenses correctly.

What do you already know about the Present Simple and Present Continuous?

Present Simple

The Present Simple is used for habitual actions or facts that are always true.

Explain the meaning and usage of the Present Simple tense. Give examples and ask students to think of their own examples.

Present Simple Examples

I walk to school every day. He speaks Spanish fluently. The sun rises in the east.

Display examples of Present Simple sentences and ask students to identify the verb and its tense. Encourage them to create their own examples.

Present Continuous

The Present Continuous is used for actions that are happening now or around now.

Explain the meaning and usage of the Present Continuous tense. Give examples and ask students to think of their own examples.

Present Continuous Examples

I am eating breakfast right now. She is studying for her exam. They are playing football in the park.

Display examples of Present Continuous sentences and ask students to identify the verb and its tense. Encourage them to create their own examples.

Forming Present Continuous

Present Continuous is formed by using the verb 'to be' in the present tense + the present participle (-ing).

Explain how to form Present Continuous tense and give examples. Ask students to create their own sentences using Present Continuous.

Forming Present Simple

Present Simple is formed by using the base form of the verb.

Explain how to form Present Simple tense and give examples. Ask students to create their own sentences using Present Simple.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Present Simple is used for habits and facts. Present Continuous is used for actions happening now or around now.

Highlight the differences between Present Simple and Present Continuous. Ask students to identify the tense used in given sentences.

Signal Words

Signal words for Present Simple include always, never, usually, and sometimes. Signal words for Present Continuous include now, at the moment, and currently.

Explain the use of signal words in identifying the correct tense. Ask students to identify the correct tense for given sentences based on the signal words.

Practice Exercise

Complete the following sentences with the correct verb tense:
1. He ___________ (play) football every Saturday.
2. They ___________ (watch) TV right now.
3. She ___________ (study) for her exam every night.
4. We ___________ (eat) dinner at 7pm every day.

Provide a practice exercise for students to apply what they have learned. Monitor their progress and provide feedback.

Practice Exercise 2

Complete the following sentences with the correct verb tense:
1. I ___________ (read) a book at the moment.
2. He ___________ (not like) coffee.
3. They ___________ (go) to the beach every summer.
4. She ___________ (not study) right now.

Provide a second practice exercise for students to apply what they have learned. Monitor their progress and provide feedback.

Speaking Activity

Pair up with a partner and have a conversation using Present Simple and Present Continuous. Talk about your daily routines, your hobbies and interests, and what you are doing right now.

Encourage students to practice speaking using the tenses they have learned. Monitor their conversations and provide feedback on their use of the tenses.

Writing Activity

Write a short paragraph about what you do every day. Use Present Simple and Present Continuous correctly.

Provide a writing activity for students to apply what they have learned. Monitor their writing and provide feedback on their use of the tenses.

Review

Review the differences between Present Simple and Present Continuous. Ask students to provide examples of each tense.

Review the key points of the lesson and check for understanding. Encourage students to ask any questions they may have.

Quiz

Administer a quiz to assess student understanding of the tenses. The quiz should include multiple choice and fill-in-the-blank questions.

Administer a quiz to assess student understanding of the tenses. The quiz should be designed to test their knowledge of the tenses and their ability to use them correctly.

Conclusion

Summarize the key points of the lesson and congratulate students on their progress.

Summarize the key points of the lesson and encourage students to continue practicing their use of the tenses.

Resources

Provide resources for further practice and study, including online resources and recommended textbooks.

Provide resources for students to continue practicing their use of the tenses outside of the classroom.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.