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Basic Rules - Present Simple Vs Present Continuous

The document provides information about using the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It discusses using the present simple for habitual actions, permanent situations, and general truths. It also discusses using the present continuous for temporary situations, actions happening now or around the time of speaking, and changing/developing situations. Examples are given for how and when to use each tense.

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Nicu Lupu
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38 views

Basic Rules - Present Simple Vs Present Continuous

The document provides information about using the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It discusses using the present simple for habitual actions, permanent situations, and general truths. It also discusses using the present continuous for temporary situations, actions happening now or around the time of speaking, and changing/developing situations. Examples are given for how and when to use each tense.

Uploaded by

Nicu Lupu
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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1 Present simple
verb/ verb + -s She 1110,-ks in London.
do I does nat+ verb He doesn't wodi i11 London.
do!does ... + verb? l 1/here cw )'Oli worlt:'
1

We use the present simple:


• to say when things happen if they take • to talk about habits and how often they
place regularly: happen:
They eat lunch at two o'clock. You buy new clothes every Saturday.
• to talk about permanent situations: • to describe the plots of books and films:
I work in London. The story begins ancl ends in Spain. The
• to state general truths: year is 1937.
Popular CDs sell really fast.
The moon goes rnimd the earth.

2 Present continuous
am/is/are + verb +-ing He's 111orld11g in London this weel?.
am/ is I are not + verb + -ing I'm 11ot wor1dng in London this lf!eek.
am/ is I are ... + verb + -ing? Are yoLL working i11 Lonclon this 111eel?'.-I

We use the present continuous:


• to talk about the present moment: • for changing or developing situations:
J'm wearing a pair of old jeans. That grou.p's becoming more well lmown.
I'm looking at that CD right no w. The earth's temperature is rising.
+ to suggest that an action is temporary, • with a word like always or continually, if we
often with words like now, at the moment, want to criticise or complain:
at present or just: You're always buying new clothes! (= you
They're eating lunch at the moment. buy too rnany)
I'm worliing in London this week. (= I don't l'm always forgetting people's nanies. (= it's
usuaUy work în London) very irritating)
• for an action around the time of speaking, • with always when something unexpected
which has begun but is not finished: happens severa! times:
I'm doing m,y homeworle. l'm always meeting my neighbour John
I'm looking rouncl the shops. (Millie isn't near the station. I guess he worlis somewhere
looking round at this moment - she has near there.
stopped to talk to Lisa - but she plans to
continue looking round later)

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