The rules of Present Simple and Present Continuous are not complicated. The main thing is how to understand them. The Present tenses in English are the most confusing to learn. It's all about the presence of various forms of auxiliary verbs.
General characteristics of Present times
The system of tenses in English and Russian is different. The Russian system of times implies division into:
- present;
- future tense;
- past tense.
English time is not only divided into:
- present (Present);
- future (Future);
- past (Past).
But, also on:
- Simple (simple);
- Perfect (perfect);
- Continuous (long).
This division is more meaningful and detailed in English grammar. The complex nuances of actions depend on him.
Using Present Simple
So, more details. The rules for Present Simple and Present Coninuous are slightly different. How? Present Simple is used to characterize actions that are currently taking place regularly. For example, actionsthat we do daily or on a schedule:
- Adults go to work every day. (Adult people go to work every day)
- My mother cooks dinner every evening. (My mom cooks dinner every night)
- My sister and I take a shower every morning. (My sister and I shower every morning)
Same - for scheduled actions:
- The train leaves at 10.30. (Train leaves at 10.30)
- The plain arrives at 9 am. (The plane arrives at 9 am)
- The film starts in an hour. (Movie starts in one hour)
Descriptions of natural and weather phenomena:
- The sun rises in the East. (The sun rises in the east)
- The snow falls in winter. (It snows in winter)
Using the Present Continuous
Present Continuous also characterizes actions taking place in the present tense, but at the current moment or at the moment of the conversation.
- I am calling my parents, don't interrupt me! (I'm calling my parents, don't disturb me!)
- She is not reading a magazine now, you can switch off the light. (She is not reading a magazine now, you can turn off the light)
- Children are doing their homework, switch on the music later, please. (Children are doing their homework, turn on the music later)
Present tenses in the meaning of the future
This is another nuance that complicates the understanding of English grammar. In fact, to express the future tense, we have Future Simple - the future simple tense. But there are othersoptions. We can use the Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses. For example, yes. Sentences in Present Simple, for example: I fly to Moscow next week (I'm flying to Moscow next week). Or sentences in Present Continuous, for example: I'm seeing my mate tonight (I'm going to my friend tonight). As a rule, such constructions have the meaning of the nearest planned future: today, in a day, in an hour.
Table Present Simple and Present Continuous
Schematic representation of the rules often helps with learning. For example, this.
|
Education schemes of Present Simple and Present Continuous times |
|
| Present | |
| Simple |
1) Affirmative sentence: Subject + main verb ending -s/ without ending; 2) Negative sentence: Subject + auxiliary verb do/does + not+ main verb without ending; 3) Interrogative sentence: Auxiliary verb do/does + subject + main verb without ending. |
| Continuous |
1) Affirmative sentence: Subject + auxiliary verb am/is/are + main verb ending -ing; 2) Negative sentence: Subject + auxiliary verb am/is/are + not + main verb ending -ing; 3) Interrogative sentence: Auxiliary verb am/is/are + subject + main verb ending -ing. |
The ending -s is added to the verb when the subject is in the third person, singular: he (he), she (she), it (it). This is the easiest moment.
Exceptions: Verbs that are not Continuous:
The English language is rich in various exceptions. Sometimes they are more important than the rule itself. There are verbs in Present Simple and Present Continuous used in different meanings. What are they?
Verbs to denote feelings and mental activity cannot be put during Continuous, that is, add the ending -ing to them. We can only use them in Simple tense.
There are some "feeling verbs" that can be used in Continuous, but then their lexical meaning will change. For example, the verb "see" - to see. In Present Simple it will sound like this: I see a lot of wild animals every day, I work at the Zoo. (I see a lot of wild animals every day, I work at the zoo). If we put the same verb in a sentence in Present Continuous, then its meaning will change dramatically: He is seeing his best friend today (He meets his best friend today).
| Verb | Simple | Continuous |
| see | see - see | seeing - meet |
| think | think - think | thinking-meditate |
| love | love - to love | loving - enjoy |
| smell | smell - smell | smelling - sniffing |
| taste | taste - taste good | tasting |
| weigh | weigh - have weight | weighing - weighing |
Examples of usage
These tenses are very common in English. Sometimes a short everyday dialogue can be based only on them.
Kate: Hi! What are you doing?
Evelyn: Hi! I am watching a film!
Kate: What are you watching? I like good comedies!
Evelyn: Me too! I am watching a comedy now!
Kate: My parents prefer horror films. I hate to watch them!
Evelyn: I am going to buy a new DVD now, let's have a "movie evening" today?
Kate: That's great! I like this idea!
Dialogue translation:
Kate: Hello! What are you doing?
Evelyn: Hello! Watching a movie.
Kate: What are you watching? I love good comedies.
Evelyn: Me too! I'm watching a comedy right now!
Kate: My parents prefer horror movies. I hate watching them!
Evelyn: I'm going to buy a new CD, let's have a movie night tonight?
Kate: Great!
Using auxiliary verbs
There are two types of verbs in English: main and auxiliary. Students often get confused about these concepts. According to the rules of Present Simple and Present Continuous, the main verbs have a lexical and grammatical function. That is, they are translated into Russian and denote time, number or person. Auxiliary verbs have only a grammatical function, they are not translated into Russian, they contain the meaning of time, person and number. Auxiliary verb Present Simple - "to do". It has two present tense forms: "do" and "does". "Do" is used if the subject is in the plural: they (they), we (we), you (you, you) or the first person, in the singular: I (I). The auxiliary verb "does" is used if the subject is in the third person, in the singular: he (he), she (she), it (it). Auxiliary verb Present Continuous - "to be". In the present tense, it has three forms: "am", "is", "are". "Am" is used with the subject in the first person, in the singular: I (I); the auxiliary verb "is" is used with the subject in the third person, in the singular: he (he), she (she), it (it); the auxiliary verb "are" is used with the subject in the plural: they (they), we (we), you (you, you). Total:
Table Present Simple and Present Continuous:
| Affirmativeshapes | ||||
| I am | He is | they are | he does | they do |
| She is | we are | she does | we do | |
| It is | you are | it does | you do | |
| I am | He is not/he isn't | they are | he does | they do |
| She is/she isn't | we are | she does | we do | |
| It is/itisn't | you are | it does | you do | |
Practical part
Try to make sentences according to these conditions:
1) Present Simple; negative sentence; subject in the third person, singular; main verb "sleep".
2) Present Continuous; affirmative sentence; subject in the first person, singular; the main verb is "read".
3) Present Simple; interrogative sentence; plural subject; the main verb is "like".
4) Present Continuous; negative sentence; subject tothird person, singular; main verb "play".
5) Present Simple; interrogative sentence; plural subject; main verb "arrive".
Keys:
1) My brother don't sleep in a daytime. (My brother doesn't sleep during the day)
2) I'm reading a magazine now. (I'm reading a magazine now)
3) Do they like to swim in the pool? (Do they enjoy swimming in the pool?)
4) She is not playing football, she is playing chess! (She doesn't play football, she plays chess)
5) When do they arrive? (When are they arriving?)
