Insert Vocabulary and Grammar Teaching Material

Simple Present – Present Progressive

Form

Simple Present	Present Progressive
infinitive (3rd person singular: infinitive + 's') I speak you speak he / she / it speaks we speak they speak	form of 'be' and verb + ing   I am speaking you are speaking he / she / it is speaking we are speaking they are speaking

Exceptions

      Exceptions when adding’s’:

• For can, may, might, must, do not add s.

Example: he can, she may, it must

• After o, ch, sh or s, add es.

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

• After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays

      Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

• Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing

• After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.

Example: sit - sitting

• After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in American English).

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule The film starts at 8 pm.	arrangement for the near future I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present	Present Progressive
daily routine Bob works in a restaurant.	only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking) Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.

• possession: belong, have

Example: Sam has a cat.

• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He feels the cold.

• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example: Jane loves pizza.

• brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I believe you.