PRESENT SIMPLE
IT IS USED TO EXPRESS SITUATIONS OR EVENTS THAT HAPPEN REGULARLY OR HABITUALLY:
I always go to my local supermarket.
She never watches the news.
They regularly jog.
IT IS USED TO EXPRESS GENERAL FACTS, TIMELESS TRUTHS, AND PERMANENT SITUATIONS:
It rarely rains in Sudan.
The Earth moves around the Sun.
I live in Dublin.
IT IS USED IN SPORTS COMMENTARY, STORIES, AND JOKES TO MAKE THEM SOUND MORE IMMEDIATE:
Johnson passes the ball and scores the goal!
Describing a situation from the past: So she comes to me and asks me for help.
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IF THEIR PLANS, LIKE TIMETABLES, ARE FIXED:
I start my training next week.
IT IS USED IN ZERO CONDITIONAL IN BOTH CLAUSES:
If you don't drink liquids, you die.
IT IS USED IN THE FIRST CONDITIONAL IN THE IF CLAUSE:
If I go to London, I will definitely visit the British Museum.
If I don't take this bus, I will be late to work.
IT IS USED TO EXPRESS THE FUTURE WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TIMETABLE, A SCHEDULE, OR A FIXED PLAN. THE VERBS THAT ARE USUALLY USED IN THIS WAY INCLUDE: OPEN, CLOSE, BEGIN, START, END, FINISH, ARRIVE, DEPART, LEAVE, COME, RETURN
The plane departs at 7.
The meeting starts at noon.
The theater play ends at 9:45.
|
ATTENTION!
BE + ADJECTIVE VS BEING + ADJECTIVE
BE + ADJECTIVE EXPRESSES A GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF A PERSON
SHE IS RUDE = SHE IS ALWAYS RUDE, IT'S HER PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTIC
THEY ARE UNKIND = THEY ARE ALWAYS UNKIND, IT'S THEIR PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTIC
BEING + ADJECTIVE EXPRESSES HOW SOMEBODY IS BEHAVING AT THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING, NOT GENERALLY
HE IS BEING SO FUNNY = GENERALLY HE IS NOT FUNNY BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AT THIS MOMENT IS BEHAVING FUNNILY
THEY ARE BEING VERY QUIET = THEY ARE NEVER QUIET BUT IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AT THE MOMENT THEY ARE BEHAVING QUIETLY |
PRESENT SIMPLE VS PRESENT CONTINUOUS
-
PRESENT SIMPLE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
USE IT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPEN REPEATEDLY, REGULARLY, AND HABITUALLY:
I ALWAYS READ IN THE EVENING.
I WRITE A REPORT EVERY MONTH.
SHE PLAYS THE GUITAR.
USE IT TO TALK ABOUT PERMANENT SITUATIONS:
THEY LIVE IN DUBLIN.
I WORK ALL THE TIME
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IF THEIR PLANS, LIKE TIMETABLES, ARE FIXED:
I START MY TRAINING NEXT WEEK
USE IT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT OR AROUND THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING:
I AM READING NOW.
I AM WRITING A REPORT THIS WEEK.
SHE IS PLAYING THE GUITAR.
USE IT TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY SITUATIONS:
I AM STAYING AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE
SHE IS WORKING IN THE GARDEN
IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT AN ACTION THAT IS CHANGING OR DEVELOPING:
THE BEACH IS GETTING CROWDED
ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE EXPRESSES THINGS YOU DO EVERY SINGLE TIME:
I ALWAYS GO TO MY LOCAL CAFE ON THE WEEKENDS
SHE ALWAYS SMILES
THEY ALWAYS ARGUE
ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS EXPRESSES ANNOYANCE REGARDING SOMEONE'S HABITS:
YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING
SHE IS ALWAYS LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON
THEY ARE ALWAYS ARGUING