Overview
This lecture explains the structure, usage, and differences between the present simple and present continuous (progressive) tenses in English, including common mistakes, correct forms, and when to use each tense.
Introduction to English Tenses
- English tenses show when actions happen: past, present, or future.
- There are twelve tenses in English, divided into basic and advanced categories.
- Mastering tenses strengthens your English structure and communication.
Present Simple Tense
- Used for actions that are permanent, habitual, routine, factual, or scheduled.
- Structure: Subject + base verb (add "s" for he/she/it in positive sentences).
- Negative form: Subject + do/does not + base verb (e.g., "I don't work", "He doesn't work").
- Questions: Do/Does + subject + base verb? (e.g., "Do you work?", "Does he work?").
- Use adverbs of frequency (always, often, sometimes, never) with present simple.
- Spelling changes: Add "es" after s, sh, ch, x; change "y" to "ies" after consonants; irregular verbs change forms (go→goes).
- Only add “s” to positive sentences with he/she/it, not negatives or questions.
- Short answers use helping verbs: "Yes, I do", "No, she doesn't".
- Common mistakes: confusing with present continuous, incorrect verb forms, missing helping verbs, and spelling errors.
Present Continuous (Progressive) Tense
- Describes actions happening now, around now, temporarily, or trends.
- Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing ("I am working", "They are studying").
- Negative: add "not" after am/is/are ("She is not working", "We aren't going").
- Questions: invert am/is/are with subject ("Are you working?", "Is he sleeping?").
- Use contractions: I'm, you're, he's, we're, they're; negatives: I'm not, isn't, aren't.
- Spelling changes: drop final "e" (make→making), drop "ie" add "y" (lie→lying), double final consonant (sit→sitting) for C-V-C verbs.
- Cannot use continuous form with stative verbs (e.g., know, want, like, have, understand).
- Short answers: "Yes, he is", "No, they aren't"—no contractions in positive short answers.
Differences: Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
- Present simple: permanent or habitual actions, general truths, routines, facts, schedules.
- Present continuous: actions happening now, temporary actions, trends, negative habits with adverbs (e.g., "always complaining").
- Both can refer to future with schedules (simple) or arranged events (continuous) if combined with future time expressions.
- Only present simple can be used with all verbs, including stative verbs; present continuous is used mostly with action verbs.
Common Mistakes & Corrections
- Mixing up tenses: use simple for permanent, continuous for temporary.
- Omitting or misusing "be" in continuous tense.
- Using stative verbs with continuous (incorrect).
- Not adding "s" for he/she/it in present simple.
- Incorrectly forming negatives or questions (missing "do/does" or "am/is/are").
- Spelling errors with verb endings and contractions.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Tense — way of expressing time in a language.
- Present Simple — tense for permanent or habitual actions.
- Present Continuous/Progressive — tense for ongoing or temporary actions.
- Stative Verb — verb describing state, emotion, possession, or senses, not action.
- Contraction — shortened form of words (e.g., "I'm" for "I am").
- Adverbs of Frequency — words like always, never, often that describe how often something happens.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice forming positive, negative, and question sentences in both tenses.
- Review the list of stative verbs and avoid using them in continuous tenses.
- Complete exercises and quizzes on www.engvid.com for further practice.
- Prepare for the next lesson on the next English verb tense.