Present Simple and Present Continuous

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UNIT I

REVIEW OF TENSES

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Continuous is used to:

1. Talk about something which is in progress at the moment of speaking

“Where are the children?” – “They are playing in the garden”.

“What are you doing at the moment?” – “I am writing a letter”.

“You can switch off the TV. I am not watching it”.

“Look. There’s Sally. Who is she talking to?”

“Where’s Margaret?” “She’s having a bath.”

“Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more.”

(at a party) “Hello, Ann. Are you enjoying the party?”

2. Talk about something which is in progress around the present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking

She’s looking for a job at the moment.

Please, don’t take this book. Ann is reading it.

Andrew is spending a lot of time in the library these days as he is writing an article.

Have you heard about Tom? He is building his own house.

3. Talk about something which is in progress for a limited period around the present (temporary state, current situations)

Robert is on holiday this week. He is staying with his sister in Bournemouth.

“You are working hard today.” “Yes, I have a lot to do.”

They are living in Hong Kong for the time being.

I can’t phone Peter. The phone isn’t working.

Dick is a student, but he’s working as a barman during the holidays.

4. Talk about situations which are changing or developing around the present

Your children are growing up very quickly.

Computers are becoming more and more important in our lives.

The population of the world is rising very fast.

5. Talk about planned future arrangements

She’s arriving at the airport tomorrow at noon.

I am having lunch with Helen tomorrow.

We’re spending next winter in Australia.

We’re leaving at ten o’clock on Friday.

I’m meeting Janet later this evening.

6. Express a habit, to talk about something that happens more often than is normal. (repeated actions with adverbs like always, forever, constantly and continually). It can express a pleasant habit.

I like Peter. He’s always smiling.

He’s always giving people things.

However, there’s usually an element of criticism.

She’s always grumbling. (I find it annoying)

You are forever losing things.

He’s constantly complaining about something.

The secretary is always phoning her friends during office hours. (She phones her friends too often.)

It is also possible to say:

The secretary always phones her friends during office hours. (This is a more neutral comment and not necessarily criticism.)

We put always, forever, constantly and continually before the main verb.

Jenny is constantly (always, forever, continually) arguing with her father.

7. Give a commentary on a performance or activity

She’s taking off her tracksuit and…

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