Simple Present Tense and Present Progressive

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Simple Present TenseandPresent Progressive
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Simple Present

• I
• You
• We work and go to school.
• They
• He
• She works and goes to school.
• (It)

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When to use the Simple Present Tense?
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Habits activities that you do again and
again. Tony always has cereal for
breakfast. Every summer, we go to the
beach. Alan cleans his house once a week.
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2. Schedule Events This ESL class starts at
800 and finishes at 1100.
The club meets every Friday.
My train leaves at noon.
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3. General Truth ESL classes are free at
Mt. SAC. It rains a lot in Seattle.
A hurricane causes destruction when it
reaches land.
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4. Scientific Facts Iceland has more than
100 volcanoes. Some trees lose their
leaves in winter. Bees gather nectar from
flowers.
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5. Definitions What does witty mean?
Witty means humorous.
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6. Non-action Verbs I understand English
grammar. Steven adores his family.
We need to review non-action verbs.
See appendix A-4 in your book for the list
of non-action verbs.
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7. Frequency Adverbs Peter seldom comes
late. It hardly ever rains in southern
California during the summer.
always, almost always, usually, often,
frequently, generally, sometimes, occasionally,
seldom, rarely, hardly ever, almost never,
never
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Time Markers

• always
• almost always
• usually
• often
• frequently
• generally
• sometimes
• occasionally

• seldom
• rarely
• hardly ever
• almost never
• never
• every (hour,day, week, summer, semester, year)
• once a (day, week, month, semester,year)

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Present Progressive

• am
• is Present Participle
• 
  (working, studying, eating, sitting)
• are

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When to use the Present Progressive?
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For activities that are happening at the exact
time the speaker is talking Look! Its
raining. We are reviewing the present
progressive.
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2. For activities that are in progress, but
not happening at the exact moment the
speaker is talking Jane is looking for
a cheap car. They are thinking of
moving.
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3. Some non-action verbs can be used in the
present progressive We are having a great
time. Mark is looking for his car keys.
Tony is seeing Carol. (dating) The
chef is tasting the soup. She is thinking
about her family.
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Time Markers

• now
• right now
• at this moment
• at the moment
• at the present
• these days
• nowadays
• constantly
• this (week, month, winter, semester, year)
• always (for repeated actions)

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Some non-action verbs that refer to physical
condition can be used in the simple present or
present progressive with no difference in meaning.

• I dont feel well.
• My leg hurts.
• My head aches.

• Im not feeling well.
• My leg is hurting.
• My head is aching.

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Present Tenses

• Simple Present Tense
• 1. Habits
• 2. Schedule Events
• 3. General Truth
• 4. Scientific Facts
• 5. Definitions
• 6. Non-action Verbs
• 7. Frequency Adverbs
• 8. Physical Condition

• Present Progressive
• 1. Activities in progress
• at the exact moment
• the speaker is talking
• 2. Activities in progress
• but are not happening
• at the exact time the
• speaker is talking
• 3. Physical Condition