1. Present Simple or Continuous

2. present simple is used for:

3. 1. things that are always true

4. Oil floats on water. The Earth goes round the sun.

5. 2. things that are true for a long time

6. I live in Rome. She works for a big company.

7. 3. habits

8. He has coffee for breakfast. They go to the beach in July.

9. adverbs of frequency are common with the present simple for habits

10. He always usually often sometimes rarely never has coffee for breakfast.

11. ‘present’ simple is NOT a good name!

12. it talks about general, repeated or permanent time

13. present continuous is used for:

14. 1. actions in progress

15. She’s crossing the road. The sun is shining.

16. 2. actions happening around now

17. I’m reading a good book. We’re studying pronunciation.

18. verbs in the continuous are: a) temporary b) interruptible

19. contrast between habit and current situation

20. I usually wear a suit to work but today I’m wearing jeans.

21. He usually has tea for breakfast but today he’s having coffee.

22. verbs of action and state

23. verbs of action change things

24. He goes to work. he was at home now he’s at work

25. She buys a drink. she didn’t have a drink now she has a drink

26. verbs of action can be used in simple and continuous tenses

27. She has a shower every morning. She’s having a shower now.

28. verbs of state describe unchanging situations

29. He believes in God. She owns a Porsche. She loves hip-hop.

30. common verbs of state:

31. believe doubt know remember understand

32. like love dislike hate prefer want

33. agree deny mean need own

34. verbs of state aren’t used in the continuous

35. I’m wanting an ice-cream.

37. I’m wanting an ice-cream. I want an ice-cream.

38. some verbs have BOTH state and action meanings !

39. come

40. He comes from Frascati. He’s coming from Frascati.

41. He comes from Frascati. He’s coming from Frascati. come = origin come = travel

42. have

43. She has long hair. She’s having lunch.

44. She has long hair. She’s having lunch. have = own / possess have = consume

45. think

46. What do you think of the film? What are you thinking about?

47. What do you think of the film? What are you thinking about? think = have opinion think = reflect

48. particular verbs

49. verbs of position

50. stand (up) sit (down) kneel (down) lie (down)

51. these verbs use the simple for the action of assuming a position…

52. at the end, everybody stands up

53. they always sit in the corner

54. … and they use the continuous to indicate a position already assumed

55. the men are standing at the bar

56. she’s lying on the sofa

57. wear

58. ‘wear’ in the simple indicates a habit…

59. I usually wear a suit to work...

60. … and in the continuous it indicates what someone already has on their body at the time

61. …but today I’m wearing jeans.