1. PRESENT SIMPLE
Form and Usage

2. Present Simple: Form Positive sentences:
Don‘t forget the „-s“ for he, she, it
add -s: works, likes, drinks, sells
add -es when verb finishes with a Zischlaut:
wash > washes, mix > mixes, pass > passes
Add -ies when verb finishes with a consonant + y:
try > tries, fly > flies, study > studies
(but vowel+y: buy > buys, enjoy > enjoys, stay > stays)

3. Present Simple: Form Negative sentences:
We need the auxiliary verb ‚do‘ to form negative sentences in the present.
I like chocolate. > I don‘t like chocolate.
He walks home. > He doesn‘t walk home.
(he/she/it = doesn‘t!)
The auxiliary verb does the job!! The main
verb can stay in the infinitive!
She doesn‘t walks home.

4. Present Simple: Form Questions
We need the auxiliary verb ‚do‘ to form questions in the present.
You like chocolate. > Do you like chocolate?
He walks home. > Does he walk home?
They stay here. > Why do they stay here? How long do they stay here?
(he/she/it = does!)
The auxiliary verb does the job!! The main
verb can stay in the infinitive!
Does she walks home?

5. Present Simple: Don‘t forget!
Don‘t forget that modal verbs (can, should, might, will, must etc.) and the verb ‚to be‘ don‘t need an auxiliary verb.
I am a student. > I am not a student (I‘m not…)
He‘s very flexible. > He isn‘t very flexible.
They should be here. > They shouldn‘t be here.
You are lazy. > Are you lazy?
She is at home already. > Is she at home already?
You can do this alone. > Can you do this alone?

6. Present Simple: Usage We use the present simple to express…
permanent situations
Coca Cola is one of the most successful companies in the world.
routines and frequency / habits
I play tennis every Tuesday.
facts
The earth circles around the sun.
programmes and timetables
The train leaves at 5pm and the meeting starts at 7am the next day.

7. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Form and Usage

8. Present Continuous: Form
The present continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb ‚to be‘ and the –ing form of the main verb
You do your homework. > You are doing your homework.
He drinks a coffee. > He‘s drinking a coffee.
It can be made negative by adding ‚not‘
You‘re not doing your homework.
He isn‘t drinking a coffee.
It can be turned into a question by inversion
Are you doing your homework?
Is he drinking a coffee?

9. Present Continuous: the –ing form
most verbs:
work > working, do > doing, sell > selling
verbs that end in –e:
make > making, hope > hoping, drive > driving
verbs that end in –ie:
lie > lying, die > dying
verbs that end in one vowel + one consonant:
run > running, stop > stopping, hit > hitting

10. Present Continous: Usage
We use the present continous to talk about…
something happening at or around the moment of speaking
Wait a second! I‘m making a phone call!
current situations/projects and temporary situations
He‘s setting up his new business in Mexico.
She‘s dealing with Jane‘s customers, because Jane‘s sick.
slow changes
Our company is starting to expand to Asian countries.
fixed arrangements in the future
I am meeting Mary next Tuesday.
when describing a picture / a scene
The man in the background is wearing a blue tie.

11. Present Continous: Don‘t forget
So-called stative (or state) verbs are usually not used in the continous form!
Senses: hear, look like, see, taste, smell
Feelings: love, hate, like, prefer, wish
Thinking/Opinion: believe, understand, think, know, forget, agree
Possession: belong to, contain, have, own
Being / Wanting: be, exist, want
Others: cost, depend, mean, need
 They are not used in the continuous form, because they describe a state and not an action.

12. Simple vs. Continuous So... What would you prefer? Discuss!
The earth turns around the sun.
or:
The earth is turning around the sun.
You are such an idiot.
You are being such an idiot.

13. Simple vs. Continuous So... What is correct here? Discuss!
Each morning he’s reading the newspaper.
or:
Each morning he reads the newspaper.
Sarah comes from New Zealand.
Sarah is coming from New Zealand.
I enjoy holidays so much.
Mmmmmm... I’ m enjoying every minute of my holidays.
She’s having a child
She has a child.