2.4. Present Simple versus Present Continuous.

Present Simple

Present Continuous

• Habitual repeated actions or daily routines

E.g. She usually gets up at 7

o’clock.

• Actions in process at the moment of speaking.

E.g. You are reading now.

• General truths or laws of nature.

E.g. The sun goes around the

Earth.

• Actions happening around the moment of speaking.

E.g. She is working for a

company

• Permanent states

E.g. He works in the office.

• Temporary actions.

E.g. This time we are staying

at this hotel.

• Future planned action.

E.g. We are going to the

cinema tonight.

Time expressions

Every day / week/ month/ year, usually, always, never, sometimes, often, rarely.

Now, at the moment, at present

These days, nowadays, still

Today, tonight

like love hate enjoy prefer

believe understand know remember forget

see, hear, feel, taste, look, smell, sound

be, contain, fit, include, need, matter, cost, belong, mean, want

Present Continuous

Be going to

Future Simple

We form the present continuous with the to be and verb with the

–ing suffix.

E.g. They are having a party tonight.

We form with the verb to be (is, am, are)+ going to + verb

E.g. They are going to have a party.

We form Future Simple with will + verb

Negative form is

Will not-won’t

E.g. They will have a party next week.

• Actions we have already arranged to do in the near future.

E.g. I am meeting Ann at two o’clock.

• With verbs of movement come, travel, go, fly, leave, etc.

E.g. I am leaving to Paris tomorrow.

• For plans and intensions for the (near) future.

E.g. I’m going to play football in the afternoon.

• When there is evidence that something is going to happen in the near future.

E.g.It is going to rain. There are clouds in the sky.

• For actions which are not definite.

E.g. We’ll buy a car one day.

• For predictions about the future.

E.g. You’ ll be a professional one day.

• For promises and on-the-spot decisions.

E.g. I’ll buy you this ring.

• With the verbs hope, think, believe, expect, probably, perhaps, I’m sure, I’m afraid.

Time expressions

Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, next week / month, tonight, soon, in a week / year, etc.