INSTITUTO SUPERIOR MUTASA

CENTRO DE EDUCAÇÃO À DISTÂNCIA - CHIMOIO

EAD

Licenciatura em Administração pública

English Language
1°-Ano
The present simple and present continuous: Usage and difference

Chimoio, March of 2025

 INSTITUTO SUPERIOR MUTASA
CENTRO DE EDUCAÇÃO À DISTÂNCIA - CHIMOIO

EAD

Licenciatura em Administração pública

English Language
1°-Ano
The present simple and present continuous: Usage and difference

Student:
Avelino Zelino Ângelo
Lecturer:
dr: Castelo Caero Matambo

Chimoio, March of 2025

Contents pages
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
General Objectives: .................................................................................................................... 1
Specific Objectives: ................................................................................................................... 1
The present simple and present continuous: Usage and difference ........................................... 2
The present simple tense ............................................................................................................ 2
The Use ...................................................................................................................................... 2
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period. ......................................... 2
2. For facts. ........................................................................................................................ 2
3. For habits........................................................................................................................... 2
4. For things that are always / generally true..................................................................... 2
Verb Conjugation & Spelling .................................................................................................... 3
Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense ...................................................................... 3
Questions in the Simple Present Tense ...................................................................................... 4
The present continuous tense ..................................................................................................... 4
Forming negative sentences in the present continuous tense..................................................... 5
Forming questions in the present continuous tense ................................................................... 5
The difference between the simple present and the present continuous. ................................... 6
Simple tense: .............................................................................................................................. 6
1. For stating facts. ............................................................................................................... 6
2. For repeated, regular actions and habits........................................................................ 6
Continuous tense: ....................................................................................................................... 6
1. For something that is happening around the time of speaking. ................................... 6
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 7
References .................................................................................................................................. 8
 1

Introduction

The English language features a variety of tenses that help convey the timing and nature of
actions. Among the most commonly used are the present simple and present continuous
tenses. Although both tenses refer to actions occurring in the present, they serve distinct
purposes. The present simple tense is typically used to describe habitual actions, general
truths, or permanent situations, while the present continuous tense focuses on actions that are
happening at the moment or temporary activities. Understanding the differences between
these two tenses is crucial for clear and accurate communication in both written and spoken
English. This essay will explore the key differences between the present simple and present
continuous tenses, highlighting their usage and providing examples to illustrate their distinct
functions.

General Objectives:

1. To provide a clear understanding of the present simple and present continuous tenses
in English grammar.

Specific Objectives:

1. To explain the grammatical structure and key features of the present simple tense.
2. To outline the structure and key features of the present continuous tense.
3. To identify and compare the contexts and situations where each tense is used.
4. To provide examples that demonstrates the correct usage of the present simple and
present continuous tenses.
5. To analyse common mistakes learners make when using the present simple and
present continuous tenses and suggest solutions.
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The present simple and present continuous: Usage and difference

The present simple tense
We Use Present Simple to describe an action that is regular, true or normal. (MUNIZ, 2025).

Grammarly (2024), Argues that the simple present tense is one of the most essential verb
tenses in English, used to describe actions happening right now, habitual occurrences, or
general truths. Mastering the simple present is crucial for expressing everyday routines and
facts.

The Use
1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.
 I take the train to the office.
 I brush the teeth every day.
 Sara sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

If we take a look at these sentences, we will notice that the actions occur regularly as in the
example: Sara sleeps eight hours every night during the week. This example shows us clearly
that the action happens every day or with much frequency.

2. For facts.
 The President of Mozambique lives at Ponta Vermelha.
 A dog has four legs.
 The trees dont walk.

When it comes to fact, the present simple tense is used to show facts or truths that are
undenied or nobody will ever argue anywhere about that truth. Focussing on the example that
says ‘the trees don’t walk’ this fact, we human are really aware that the trees normally don’t
walk or move at the place where it is rooted.

3. For habits.
 I get up early every day.
 Mina brushes her teeth twice a day.
 They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

 It rains a lot in winter.
 The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
 Mozambicans speak Portuguese as the official language.
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Verb Conjugation & Spelling

Concerning to the verb conjugation and spelling, Ryan, (2023) points to some rules which are
useful when dealing with the present simple tense.

Subject Verb The rest of the sentence

I/ You/ We/ They Speak/ learn English at home
He/ She/ It Speaks/ Learns English at home
Notice that on the third person of singular( He, She, It) the verbs were added an S.

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.
e.g.
 go – goes
 catch – catches
 wash – washes
 kiss – kisses
 fix – fixes
 buzz – buzzes
2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES

e.g.

 marry – marries
 study – studies
 carry – carries
 worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

 play – plays
 enjoy – enjoys

Negative Sentences in the Simple Present Tense

To make a negative sentence in English we normally use Don't or Doesn't with all verbs
EXCEPT To Be and Modal verbs (can, might, should etc.).

we add don't between the subject and the verb. We use Don't when the subject is I, you, we
or they.

e.g. Affirmative: You speak French.

Negative: You don't speak French.

Affirmative: He speaks German.

Negative: He doesn't speak German

Notice that the sentence He speaks German when turned into negative the S disappears.
 4

Questions in the Simple Present Tense

To make a question in English we normally use Do or Does. It has no translation in Spanish
though it is essential to show we are making a question. It is normally put at the beginning of
the question. we add DO at the beginning of the affirmative sentence to make it a question.
We use Do when the subject is I, you, we or they.

E.g. Affirmative: You speak English.

Question: Do you speak English?

Affirmative: He speaks French.

Question: Does he speak French?

Notice that when the subject is he, she or it, we add DOES at the beginning to make the
affirmative sentence a question. Notice that the letter S at the end of the verb in the
affirmative sentence (because it is in third person) disappears in the question.

The present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is used to express actions that are happening right now or in the
current period. It helps to describe ongoing actions, temporary situations or events that are in
progress. The present continuous tense is also known as the present progressive tense.
(Butterfield, 2015).

Grammarly( S/d) argue saying that The present continuous tense is a verb tense that expresses

an action that is happening in the present and may continue into the future, used in
conversation and informal writing to talk about plans and intentions for the future .

e.g. : I am listening to music. Actions happening at the moment of speaking

We are cleaning our apartment tomorrow. Present continuous used to represent the future

Both Butterfield and Grammarly agree that The present continuous tense, also called the

present progressive, is a verb tense that expresses an action that is in progress or happens

frequently in the present.

Structure

Subject + am/is/are + present participle (verb+ing) + the rest of the sentence

e.g.

 I am driving all day today.

 5

 My sister is always reminding me to call our parents.

 The conditions are looking perfect for a swim this afternoon.

Forming negative sentences in the present continuous tense

A negative statement in the present continuous tense expresses that an action or a condition is

not happening now, doesn’t happen frequently, or isn’t planned for the future. The most

common way to make the present continuous negative is by adding the word not between the

correct form of to be and the present participle of the main verb.

e.g.

 She is not working today.

 We are not going to the beach this summer.
 Their refrigerator is not running properly.

Forming questions in the present continuous tense

To form questions in the present continuous tense, invert the structure of the formula for

statements: correct form of to be + [subject] + [present participle of main verb].

e.g.

Is she working today?

Are we going to the beach again this year?

Is their refrigerator running yet?

 6

The difference between the simple present and the present continuous.

According to Huang (2015) the present simple tense differ from present continuous tense in

many factors such as the following:

Simple tense:

1. For stating facts.

• Whales feed on phytoplankton.

2. For repeated, regular actions and habits

. • I drink coffee every morning.

• The train arrives at the station on the hour.

Continuous tense:
1. For something that is happening around the time of speaking.
• We are waiting for the airplane.
• The economy is adding new jobs every quarter.
• I am reading a great book.
2. For potential/unknown/future plans or schedules.
• What are you doing tonight?
• I am not going out to the bar tonight.
Detailed example
 7

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present simple tense is used to describe regular actions, general truths, or
habits, while the present continuous tense emphasizes actions that are happening right now or
temporary situations. Understanding the distinction between these two tenses helps convey
the timing and nature of events more accurately, with the present simple focusing on routines
and facts, and the present continuous highlighting ongoing or current activities.
 8

References
1. Aarts, B. (2011). Oxford modern English grammar. Oxford University Press.
2. Butterfield, J. (Ed.). (2015). Fowler’s dictionary of modern English usage (4th ed.).
Oxford University Press.
3. Grammarly (2024), the present simple tense. Retrieved from:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/author/grammarly/
4. Huang (2015). Simple vs. Continuous Tense. Graduate Writing Lab ,Yale Center for
Teaching and Learning. Retrieved from
https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Simple_vs_Continuous_1.pdf
5. MUNIZ, Carla (2025). Simple Present. Toda Matéria,. Retrieved from:
https://www.todamateria.com.br/simple-present/.
6. https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/present-simple
7. Ryan, E. (2023). Simple Present Tense | Examples, Use & Worksheet. Scribbr.
Retrieved March 11, 2025, from https://www.scribbr.com/verbs/simple-present/