Use 4 Scheduled events in the near future
Simple Present is used to talk about scheduled events in the near future (e.g. public transportation, TV programs, timetables, etc.)
Examples:
The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.
The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.
When do we board the plane?
The party starts at 8 o'clock.
When does class begin tomorrow?
Use 5 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
We sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea or an action that is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Statal Verbs. Examples:
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He does not need help now.
He has his passport in his hand.
Do you have your passport with you?
USE 6 Reviews, sports commentaries and dramatic narrative.
Simple Present is used in sport commentaries and various reviews.
Examples:
Maryl Streep acts brilliantly in this film.
Ronaldo scores a goal.
Viera passes to Henry… and Henry scores.
Spencers opens the door and sees the murderer.
USE 7 Future meaning after some conjuctions.
Simple Present is used in adverbial clauses of time and condition after the conjunctions: when, if, till, until, as soon as, as long as, before, after, while, unless, in case, on condition that, provided.
Examples:
When she comes, tell her I’m waiting for her.
After we finish doing the homework we’ll go for a walk.
Do it as soon as you are through with the task.
USE 8 Actions characterizing a given person
Simple Present is used to denote actions characterizing a given person.
She sings beautifully.
I like coffee.
Time expressions used with the Present Simple:
usually, often, always, frequently, sometimes, occasionally, rarely, seldom, hardly ever, never, every day/week/month/year, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night, at the weekend, on Mondays, every Thursday, etc. |
Present continuous
FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
You are watching TV.
I am reading a book.
In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.
Are you watching TV?
Is he reading a book?
You are not watching TV.
He is not reading a book.
Spelling notes
when the verb ends in a single -e, this e is dropped before -ing:
argue- arguing
love – loving
live - living
BUT: age – ageing , dye – dyeing, single – singleing
when the verb ends in a double –ee, the final e is not dropped before –ing:
see - seeing
agree - agreeing
free - freeing
when the verb ends in –ie, we change –ie into –y and add –ing:
die - dying
lie - lying
when the verb of one syllable has one vowel and ends in a single consonant, this consonant is doubled before – ing:
hit – hitting
run – running
stop – stopping
the verb of two or more syllables whose last syllable contains only one vowel and ends in a single consonant doubles this consonant if the stress falls on the last syllable:
admit- admitting
begin – beginning
prefer – preferring
BUT : budget – budgeting, enter – entering, offer – offering, open – opening
the verbs ending in –l always double it before adding - ing.
travel – travelling
signal – signalling
control - controlling
the verbs ending in –y keep the y and add –ing.
carry – carrying
enjoy – enjoying
hurry – hurrying
8. several verbs ending in –c change their spelling adding a letter ‘k’ before –ing
panic – panicking
traffic – trafficking
frolic - frolicking
Whereas all verbs can be used in the common aspect, there are some verbs that do not have the forms of the continuous aspect. They are referred to as statal verbs. The most common of them are the following: