- The simple present is used:to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes: I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)
- to give instructions or directions: You walk for two hundred meters, then you turn left.
- to express fixed arrangements, present or future: Your exam starts at 09.00
Examples:
• For habits
He drinks tea at breakfast.
She only eats fish.
• For repeated actions or events
We catch the bus every morning.
It rains every afternoon in the hot season.
They drive to Monaco every summer.
• For general truths
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• For instructions or directions
Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water.
You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford.
• For fixed arrangements
His mother arrives tomorrow.
Our holiday starts on the 26th March
Adverb of Time : Always, Never, Every, Often, Seldom, Usually, Sometimes
A. VERBAL SENTENCE
Affirmative Form (+) : S +V1(-s/-es) +Object
Negative Form (-) : S+ do/does+ not+ V1+ object
Interrogative Form (?) : Do/does+ S+ V1+ Object?
Example :
(+) I buy some books.
(-) I do not buy some books.
(?) Do I buy some books?
1.) Verbs ending in –y: the third person changes the –y to –ies :
Example: fly → flies, cry → cries
Exception: if there is a vowel before the –y :
Example : play → plays, pray → prays
2.) Add –es to verbs ending in: -ss, -x, -sh, -ch :
Example : he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes
B. NON VERBAL SENTENCE
AFFIRMATIVE FORM (+) : S+ to be(am/is/are)+ noun/adjective/adverb
NEGATIVE FORM (-) : S+ to be+ not+ noun/adjective/adverb
INTERROGATIVE FORM (?) : To be+ S+ noun/adjective/adverb
Example :
(+) We are teachers
(-) We are not teachers
(?) Are we teachers?
The Present Continuous is mainly used to express the idea that something is happening at the moment of speaking. The Present Continuous also describes activities generally in progress (this means that they don't have to take place right now). Another use of the tense is to talk about temporary actions or future plans.
USE 1: Present Actions
Most often, we use the Present Continuous tense to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
Examples:
• He is eating a dinner.
• Mary is talking with her friends.
• They are swimming in the pool.
USE 2: Temporary Actions
This tense is also used for activities continuing only for a limited period of time.
Examples:
• I'm riding a bike to get to work because my car is broken. Temporary Action (His car will soon be repaired)
• They are not talking with each other after the last argument. Temporary Action (They will soon make up)
• Mary is working at McDonald's. Temporary Action (She is working there only during the summer holidays)
USE 3: Longer Actions in Progress
We also use the Present Continuous when we are in the middle of doing something time-consuming (i.e. something that takes time to complete). An example of such an activity is writing a book, saving money or studying for an exam.
Examples:
• They are working hard to earn money.
• I am training to become a professional footballer.
• Mike is studying hard to become a doctor.
• Elizabeth is currently writing a children's book titled I am the World.
USE 4: Future (Personal) Arrangements and Plans
Sometimes we use the Present Continuous to show that something is planned and will be done in the near future.
Examples:
• I'm meeting Katie in the evening.
• He's flying to Rome in September.
• We're not going anywhere tomorrow.
USE 5: Tendencies and Trends
This tense is also used for expressing tendencies or trends.
Examples:
• Our country is getting richer.
• The Internet is becoming less of a novelty.
• The Universe is expanding .
USE 6: Irritation or Anger
And the last use of this tense is to express irritation or anger over somebody or something in the present with adverbs such as: always, continually or contantly.
Examples:
• She is continually complaining about everything!
• Johny is always asking stupid questions!
• My boss is contantly critising me!
