Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 29 views

    The Simple Present and The Present Continuous Tenses

    Uploaded by

    Anas Ouardi
    The document summarizes the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. [1] The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, scientific facts, and headlines. [2] It can also be used with time clauses. [3] The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or definite arrangements in the near future.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    The Simple Present and The Present Continuous Tenses

    Uploaded by

    Anas Ouardi
    29 views3 pages
    The document summarizes the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. [1] The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, scientific facts, and headlines. [2] It can also be used with time clauses. [3] The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or definite arrangements in the near future.

    Original Description:

    dc

    Original Title

    The Simple Present and the Present Continuous Tenses

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document summarizes the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. [1] The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, scientific facts, and headlines. [2] It can also be used with time clauses. [3] The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or definite arrangements in the near future.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    29 views3 pages

    The Simple Present and The Present Continuous Tenses

    Uploaded by

    Anas Ouardi
    The document summarizes the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. [1] The simple present tense is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, scientific facts, and headlines. [2] It can also be used with time clauses. [3] The present continuous tense describes actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or definite arrangements in the near future.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    THE SIMPLE PRESENT AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSES .

    The simple present tense

    I/Form of the simple present tense:


    In the affirmative, the simple present tense has the same form as the infinitive but adds an “s” for
    the third person singular. In the negative and in the interrogative forms, the verb do is normally
    contracted.

    Verbs ending in “O”, “ch”, “ss”, “sh”,”x”, add “es” to the third person singular.

    Verbs ending in “y”, when it is preceded by a consonant we change “y” into “ies” e.g: to study=he/she/it
    studies., but when it is preceded by a vowel e.g: to obey=.he obeys.

    II/The main uses of the simple present:

    a- Habitual actions => Repeated actions.


    b- Scientific and general facts.

    E.g. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.[a general fact]
    The earth revolves around the sun.[a general fact]
    Water boils at 100℃.[a scientific fact]
    I usually have a drink after work.[habits]
    She goes there very often.[ Habits]
    He watches football every Saturday.[something repeated]
    c- The simple present tense is often used with adverbs or adverb phrases such as: always, often,
    never, sometimes, usually, every week, on Mondays, once a month, twice a year etc …

    E.g.1 - How often do you wash your hair?


    - I wash my hair once a week.
    - They go to church every Sunday.

    Or with time clauses expressing routine or habitual actions: whenever and when.

    E.g. whenever it rains, the roof leaks.


    When you open the door, a light appears.
    When it stops raining, we will go out.
    d- Other uses of the simple present tense.
    It is used chiefly with the verb “say” when we are asking or quoting from books, notices or very
    recently letters.

    E.g. What does that notice say? - It says: “No Parking”


    What does the book say? - It says: Look very slowly.
    I see you have got a letter from Ann. What does she say? - She says she is coming to
    London next week.

    e- The simple present is also used in newspapers headlines:


    1
    E.g. : Example.
    E.g. Peace talks in Palestine fail.
    f- It is used in conditional sentences type one.

    E.g. If you work hard, you will succeed. If I see Ann, I will ask her.

    The present continuous tense.


    I/ Uses of the present continuous:
    a- It is used for action happening now i.e. (that is to say) at the moment of
    speaking.

    e.g. - It is raining right now.


    - We are studying the lesson now.

    The tense tells us that the action is being performed at the moment of
    speaking.
    b- It is used for a definite arrangement in the near future. The most usual way
    for expressing one‘s immediate plans.

    e.g. - I am going to Rabat tomorrow.


    - The train is leaving in five minutes. A future action.
    - I am seeing the doctor this evening.
    - I am meeting Peter tonight, he is taking me to the theatre.
    What are you doing this week end?

    N.B. Note that the time of the action must always be mentioned, otherwise,
    there might be confusion between present and future meanings.

    e.g. -What are you doing next Saturday? This is the usual way of
    asking people about their plans.

    You might also like