PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Hello learner! In this post I am going to explain the differences between 'Present Simple and Present Continuous', in addition to teaching you how they are formed, when they are used, how the verb 'To Be' and 'To Do' are formed and some 'Time Phrases' used with 'Present Simple and Present Continuous'. With that said, I'll leave you with the good stuff.
WHEN DO YOU USE THEM?
The grammatical forms of the present tense are used to talk about the present, but BEWARE! because they have several uses. In the case of the 'Present Simple', it is used to talk about routines and events that are always like this. In the case of 'Present Continuous', it is used to talk about events that are happening right now or even to talk about a near and planned future.
It also has some other uses that you can see below. If you have doubts about the present simple and continuous, how to conjugate them and what is the difference between present simple and continuous, here you have the solution.
HOW ARE THEY FORMED?
PRESENT SIMPLE
The ‘Present Simple’ is formed using the verb in the infinitive. It only varies when using the third person, in which the 's' is added to the end of the verb. Depending on the ending of the verb, add 's', 'es' or 'ies'.
Así pues, para hacer la forma negativa y la interrogativa, se utiliza el verbo auxiliar ‘TO DO’, más abajo encontraréis cómo se conjuga.
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + Verb +…
Ex: I study English.
NEGATIVE:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Verb +…
Ex: I don’t study English.
INTERROGATIVE:
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb + …?
Ex: Do you study English?
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
On the other hand, we have the ‘Present Continuous’, which is formed using the verb ‘TO BE’, as an auxiliary verb, plus the corresponding verb adding ‘-ing’ at the end.
To form negative and interrogative sentences, the auxiliary verb 'TO BE' will also be used, scroll down to see how to conjugate it.
AFFIRMATIVE:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Verb -ing + …
Ex: I am studying English.
NEGATIVE:
Subject + Auxiliary Verb + NOT + Verb -ing +…
Ex: I am not studying English.
INTERROGATIVE:
Auxiliary Verb + Subject + Verb -ing + …?
Ex: Are you studying English?
TO DO = HACER
‘TO DO’ Is the verb that is used to make the negative and interrogative sentences of the present simple. So, I leave you the way to conjugate it according to the subject.
As for the 'TO DO', it means to carry out a task, the 'TO MAKE' also means to do, in a more sense of producing or manufacturing something.
I
YOU
HE/SHE/IT
WE
YOU
THEY
DO
DO
DOES
DO
DO
DO
TO BE = SER/ESTAR
The verb 'TO BE' is used with the meaning to be and to be, as well as as an auxiliary verb to form affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences of the present continuous. Next, I leave you the way to conjugate it according to the subject.
NOTE: In parentheses you will find the abbreviations used with the verb ‘TO BE’.
I
YOU
HE/SHE/IT
WE
YOU
THEY
AM (‘M)
ARE (‘RE)
IS (‘S)
ARE (‘RE)
ARE (‘RE)
ARE (‘RE)
THE 'NOT' IN THE PRESENT
When we make the negative form, both for the verb 'TO DO' and for the verb 'TO BE', 'NOT' is added. To make the abbreviation, we add 'N'T'.
In the verb 'TO DO': Do not -> Don't -> Does not -> Doesn't
On the other hand, in the verb 'TO BE': Is not -> Isn't or Ain't (It is used in American slang, very informal)/ Are not -> Aren't
As an exception in the verb 'TO BE', because if there were no exceptions it would not be English, we have the conjugation of the first person singular, the 'AM', in which the 'NOT' cannot be abbreviated, therefore we will see it as 'AM NOT' or, abbreviating the 'AM' ('M NOT).
'TIME PHRASES'
PRESENT SIMPLE
Some of the 'Time phrases' that we are going to find in the 'Present Simple' are:
- Always/Usually/Often/Sometimes/Rarely/Never.
- Every year/month/week/Monday, …
- Once/Twice a year, …
- Three times a year, …
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
In the 'Present Continuous' the 'Time phrases' that we can find are:
- This year/month/week.
- At the moment/ Right now/ Now/ Today.
By clicking on the same title, you will find a file created by me, to work on what was seen previously. This link redirects you to Liveworksheet where you can do the sheet online or download it in pdf.
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