Present Simple and Continuous, Action and Non-Action
Present Simple and Continuous, Action and Non-Action
continuous, action
and non-action verbs
• Use the present simple for things that are
always true or happen regularly.
water boils at 100°C.
She usually has cereal for breakfast.
• Remember the spelling rules, e.g. studies,
watches, goes
• Use auxiliary verbs when you make questions or
form negative
Where do you live?
He doesn’t wear glasses.
• Put adverbs of frequency, e.g. usually, always
before the main verb and after be.
He is always late.
Present continuous
be + verb + - ing
• Verbs which describe actions, e.g. make, cook, can be used in the
present simple or continuous.
• Verbs which describe states or feelings (not actions), e.g. like, want
are not normally used in the present continuous.
Common non-action verbs are agree, believe, belong, depend, forget,
hate, hear, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, prefer, realize,
recognize, seem, suppose.
A few verbs have an action and non-action meaning:
Verb think:
I think people who live in flats should not have dogs.
I am thinking about the math’s problem it is very difficult.
•Verb have
I have a big flat.
He has a car.
(Possession)
I can’t talk now. I am having lunch.
An activity (action)
1. Underline the correct form.
• 1. Jake is taking / takes vitamins every day.
• 2. Clare buys a lot of takeaways, but I prefer / I’m
preferring home-made food.
• 3. Do you watch / Are you watching the football
match tomorrow night?
• 4. I don’t usually have / I’m not usually having
dessert, but I’ll have one tonight.
• 5. Helen doesn’t work / isn’t working tomorrow, so
we’re meeting for lunch.
• 6. In the summer, we often cycle / we’re often
cycling to work.
Complete the blanks with the correct form of the present
simple or present continuous
• Worldwide:
• Think:
• Now:
• Becoming:
• Choose:
• A substitute for:
• Getting bigger:
• Look after keep from danger:
Complete the sentences with the underlined words from
the text.