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Simple Present – Present Progressive

Simple Present

Present Progressive

infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak

form of 'be' and verb + ing

 

I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 's' :

For can, may, might, must, do not add s.
Example: he can, she may, it must
After o, ch, sh or s, add es. consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worries
but: play - he plays

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: come – coming but: agree - agreeing

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is
doubled.

Example: sit - sitting

After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British
English (but not in American English).

Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)

Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying


In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?

Simple Present

Present Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.

right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
first
then

at the moment
today
now
right now
Listen!
Look!

Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want


Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or schedule?

Simple Present

Present Progressive

action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.

arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited (rather short) period of time?

Simple Present

Present Progressive

daily routine

only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at the moment of speaking)

Bob works in a restaurant.

Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.


Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

  • State: be, cost, fit, mean, suit
    Example: We are on holiday.
  • Possession: belong, have
    Example: Sam has a cat.
  • Senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch
    Example: He feels the cold.
  • Feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish
    Example: Jane loves pizza.
  • Brain work: believe, know, think, understand
    Example: I believe you.
  • Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say
    Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.