PRESENT REVIEW A2

Present simple vs Continuous

Complete the review of the present tense with ‘simple’ or ‘continuous’.

We use the present ___________1 to talk about repeated or permanent things:

I wake up every morning at 8 o’clock.

Where do you live?

We use the present ___________ 2 to talk about things that are happening now or around this time:

•I’m learning English at the moment.

•He isn’t working right now. He’s on holiday.

We use the present ___________ 3 to talk about plans and future arrangements:

I’m going to the cinema tonight.

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Present Simple Form

The he/she/it form of most verbs uses the infinitive + -s.

Sometimes we add -es [do —► does; go —► goes).

If the verb ends in consonant -y, we replace -y with [carry-* carries).

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We use present simple verbs to talk about:

things that happen regularly:

We go to school every weekday.

things or facts that are always true:

Summer comes after spring.

things that are generally true and are true now:

We live in Paris.

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We use present simple verbs:

with verbs that describe states (things that don't change), e.g.: be, like, hate, have, want, love, know, understand:

I like apples but I hate oranges.

I have three cousins, and I love them all.

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Present Continuous

We can use the present continuous verbs to talk about :

things that are happening now:

We're watching television at the moment.

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We do not usually use state verbs in the present continuous: e.g.: be, like, hate, have, want, love, know, understand:

understand German and Spanish.

I am understanding German and Spanish.

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Some verbs can be either a state verb or an action verb.

but often they have a different meaning:

I have two brothers.

(have = to own, state verb)

We're having breakfast. (ave = to eat, action verb)

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Practice

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