Simple Present Tense
Positive I / you / we / they work… He / she / it works… Negative I / you / they don’t work… He / she / it doesn’t work… Question Do I / you / they work…? Does he / she / it work…? |
- We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:
Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
I usually go away at weekends.
The earth goes round the sun.
The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.
- We use the present simple to say how often we do things:
I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.
How often do you go to the dentist?
Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.
Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.
FREQUENCY ADVERBS
100 % Always
90 % Usually
80 % Generally
70 % Often / Frequently
50 % Sometimes / Occasionally
10 % Seldom
5 % Rarely
0 % Never
I always go out with friends.
He never smokes.
We seldom sleep late.
She sometimes comes late.
They often work at weekends.
PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE
Positive I am cleaning… We / you / they are cleaning He / she / it is cleaning… Negative I am not cleaning… We / you / they are not cleaning He / she / it is not cleaning… Question Am I cleaning…? Are / you / they cleaning…? Is he /she / it cleaning…? |
Examples:
I am doing something = I started doing it and I haven’t finished; I’m in the middle of doing it.
Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)
‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)
Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)
How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?
We use continuous forms (I’m waiting, it’s raining etc.) for actions and happenings that have started but not finished.
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not normally used in this way.
We don’t say ‘I am knowing’,
‘they are liking’. We say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.
The following verbs are not normally used in the present continuous:
like want need prefer
know realise understand recognise
believe suppose remember mean
belong fit contain consist seem
I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting)
Do you understand what I mean? (not Are you understanding? )
Anna doesn’t seem very happy right now. ( not Anna is seeming )
TIME ADVERBS
now right now |
Please be quiet. I’m watching TV now.
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at the moment at the present for the time being |
People are coming from work at the moment.
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still |
It is still raining.
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nowadays / these days
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Nowadays, many people are going to out-of-town shopping centers.
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Gradually
Day by day
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Gradually, The weather is getting better and better.
House prices are increasing day by day.
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