Tenses: Present Simple and Present Continuous

aspect

refers to the duration of an event, either within or between tenses.

4 basic categories of aspects

1) simple 2) continuous 3) perfect 4) perfect continuous.

Imagine you want to present the present continuous in context for a class of EFL students. Choose the real-world context below that will best show the use of the present continuous. Select one: a. A conversation where two people are narrating events as they happen b. A list of your daily rituals c. A description of a trip you took last year

a. A conversation where two people are narrating events as they happen Explanation: The present continuous is often used to narrate events as they happen. (e.g. Look! That man is walking in the middle of the street, and the cars aren't stopping.)

Read the sentence and choose which meaning is represented with the underlined verb and the context of the sentence. We are finishing our lunch, and then we'll head straight home. Select one: a. Actions or events happening right now b. Near Future Events c. Repetition or Irritation

a. Actions or events happening right now Explanation: The speaker in this sentence implies that he/she is currently eating and finishing their food and makes this even clearer by stating that he/she will go home immediately afterwards. This is one meaning of the present continuous.

Read the sentence and choose which meaning is represented with the underlined verb and the context of the sentence. We gather together every year to share a meal and express gratitude. Select one: a. Habitual actions or truths b. Actions happening right now c. Scheduled Events

a. Habitual actions or truths Explanation: The key words "every year" indicate that the speaker "gathers" habitually year after year. This is one meaning of the simple present.

Identify which underlined verb tense is an example of the present continuous: Select one: a. My friends are visiting me next week. b. They are going to visit some other friends while they are here as well. c. While they are here, we will visit many different tourist sites. d. Hopefully, we will see some places that I've never visited before.

a. My friends are visiting me next week. Explanation: In this sentence, the verb "are visiting" follows the rule of form for the present continuous: Be Verb + Present Participle (base form of the verb + ing). It is also an example of a near future event, which is one meaning of the present continuous.

present continuous

also called the present progressive, we are looking at an action that is in progress right now at the moment of speaking or generally in progress this week, this month, or this year. One key difference between the present simple and the present continuous is that the present continuous can be used with dynamic (action) verbs and not stative verbs. 1. Actions or Events Happening Right Now 2. Near Future Events 3. Repetition and Irritation 1. Fido is healing from his surgery at the vet. (is + healing) 2. I finished my bar exam, and now I'm waiting for the result. (am + waiting) 3. You're being open-minded. (are + being)

Imagine you want to present the simple present in context for a class of EFL students. Choose the real-world context below that will best show the use of the simple present. Select one: a. A conversation where two people are narrating events as they happen b. A description of a family member's characteristics c. A description of a trip you took last year

b. A description of a family member's characteristics Explanation: A description of a family member's characteristics is a great way to show the use of the simple present in context. (e.g. This is my father. He has brown hair, and he wears glasses. He is kind and supportive.)

One of the following sentences contains a mistake commonly made by people first learning the present continuous tense. Identify which underlined phrase is incorrect. I am waiting for the bus, and my friend sitting next to me. We are talking about the test in our English class. Select one: a. I am waiting b. My friend sitting c. We are talking

b. My friend sitting Explanation: In this sentence, the speaker has forgotten to include the conjugated form of the "be" verb for the present continuous tense. This should say "my friend is sitting".

Identify which underlined verb tense is an example of the simple present: Select one: a. I've been wanting to go to Saigon for years. b. My mother wants me to call her every couple of weeks from Saigon. c. I never wanted to take a 9-5 job in the states. d. After this job, maybe I will want to try and teach in another country.

b. My mother wants me to call her every couple of weeks from Saigon. Explanation: In this sentence, the verb "wants" follows the rule of form for the simple present: Base Verb (+ s/es in third person singular). It is also an example of a habitual action, which is one meaning of the simple present.

Read the sentence and choose which meaning is represented with the underlined verb and the context of the sentence. The tickets are going on sale tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m. Select one: a. Actions or events happening right now b. Near Future Events c. Repetition or Irritation

b. Near Future Events Explanation: The key phrase of "tomorrow morning at 6:00 a.m." highlights the near future time frame that is indicated by underlined verb. This is one meaning of the present continuous.

Read the sentence and choose which meaning is represented with the underlined verb and the context of the sentence. She is constantly forgetting to park in the employee section. Select one: a. Actions or events happening right now b. Near Future Events c. Repetition or Irritation

c. Repetition or Irritation Explanation: The adverb "constantly" emphasizes that the subject of the sentence is repeatedly in the same situation where she is forgetting to park in the correct location. This is one meaning of the present continuous

Read the sentence and choose which meaning is represented with the underlined verb and the context of the sentence. My flight arrives at O'Hare this Saturday! Select one: a. Habitual actions or truths b. Actions happening right now c. Scheduled Events

c. Scheduled Events Explanation: "To arrive" is one of the verbs often used to express a future scheduled event, which is further emphasized by the specific time of Saturday. This is one meaning of the simple present.

Identify which underlined verb tense is an example of the simple present: Select one: a. I've never eaten sushi. b. I'm going to eat sushi at a Japanese restaurant this evening. c. This will be really different for me because I usually eat pasta or pizza for dinner every night d. By the end of the evening, hopefully I will have eaten many different kinds of sushi.

c. This will be really different for me because I usually eat pasta or pizza for dinner every night Explanation: In this sentence, the verb "eat" follows the rule of form for the simple present: Base Verb (+ s/es in third person singular). It is also an example of a habitual action, which is one meaning of the simple present.

Identify which underlined verb tense is an example of the present continuous: Select one: a. Before I became a TEFL teacher, I had never taught grammar. b. Sometimes, I teach verb tenses that I've never really thought much about. c. For example, I taught the future perfect for the first time last year. d. In fact, I'm teaching that verb tense again right now!

d. In fact, I'm teaching that verb tense again right now! Explanation: In this sentence, the verb "am teaching" follows the rule of form for the present continuous: Be Verb + Present Participle (base form of the verb + ing). It is also an example of an action happening right now, which is one meaning of the present continuous.

One of the following sentences contains a mistake commonly made by people first learning the simple present tense. Identify which underlined phrase is incorrect. My name is Pablo, and I live in an apartment near school. Every day, I ride my bike to school. Many of my classmates also rides their bikes to school. Select one: a. My name is b. I live c. I ride d. Many of my classmates also rides

d. Many of my classmates also rides Explanation: In this sentence, the speaker has made a mistake with subject/verb agreement. Instead of "my classmates also rides", the speaker should say "my classmates also ride". The subject is plural, so the verb does not take an "-s".

present simple

is used to express habitual or everyday activities, or in some cases, actions that are happening right now. 1. Habitual Actions or General Truths 2. Actions Happening Right Now 3. Scheduled Events 1. I walk through the village to take a bus to work every day. (walk) 2. Each culture has a reason for doing certain things. (has) 3. It's nice to have my own space now. (is)

tense

refers to the point or segment of time when an action occurs. Usually when we think about tenses, we think of three basic categories: the past, the present, and the future.

Present Continuous Examples

subject + /be/verb + present participle (base form of the verb + -ing) Fido is healing. I am leaving to teach English now. I am trying to keep an open mind. You are being open-minded. Tell me about everything that is happening there.

Present Simple Examples

subject + base verb + -s/-es in third person singular. but be careful not to confuse the base form with the infinitive form, which uses to before the verb, to visit, to wait, to have. I walk through the village. My class starts at 3:00 p.m. It takes over two hours for people to materm-6ke a meal. I am sure you did well. The apartment is on a big hill.