Form

Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing

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

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

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

 For can, may, might, must, do not add s.  Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: he can, she may, it must Example: come - coming

but: agree - agreeing
 After o, ch, sh or s, add es.

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes  After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is
doubled.
 After a consonant, the final
Example: sit - sitting
consonant ybecomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worries  After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British

but: play - he plays English (but not in American English).

Example: travel - travelling (British English)

but: traveling (American English)

 Final ie becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

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) right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin is playing football now.

present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same time

First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

 always  at the moment

 every ...  at this moment
 often  today
 normally  now
 usually  right now
 sometimes  Listen!
 seldom  Look!
 never
 first
 then

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

arrangement for the near future

action set by a timetable or schedule
I am going to the cinema tonight.
The film starts at 8 pm.

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

only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly
daily routine 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.
 1. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).

1. Look! He (leave) the house.

2. Quiet please! I (write) a test.

3. She usually (walk) to school.

4. But look! Today she (go) by bike.

5. Every Sunday we (go) to see my grandparents.

6. He often (go) to the cinema.

7. We (play) Monopoly at the moment.

8. The child seldom (cry) .

9. I (not / do) anything at the moment.

10. (watch / he) the news regularly?

2. Complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).

1. This (be) Caroline.

2. Caroline (have) long blond hair.

3. She usually (wear) glasses, but now she (wear) contact lenses.

4. Caroline (like) sports.

5. She (play) handball every Monday and Thursday.

3. Form

Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak - I

2. jump - you

3. bake - she

4. play - they

5. run - we

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be - it

2. have - he

3. eat - she

4. can - he

5. wash - she

Use
When to use which tense?

1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use .

2. For actions happening now, we use .

3. The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in .

4. The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use .

5. The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use .

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They (leave) the house.

2. Brian (cycle) 30 km every day.

3. Samantha (do) her homework at the moment.

4. My parents (shop) right now.

5. He usually (get up) early in the morning.

Negative sentences
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. You (see / not) her every day.

2. The baby (sleep / not) at the moment.

3. I (read / not) a book now.

4. We (go / not) to school on Sundays.

5. He (watch / not) the news every day.

questionn
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1. (you / go) on holiday by plane sometimes?

2. (they / play) computer games every day?

3. (she / eat) dinner at the moment?

4. What (they / do) right now?

5. (she / visit) her grandma very often?

Text
1. Look! Jenny (go) to school.

2. On her back, Jenny (carry) her school bag.

3. The school bag (be) very heavy

4. Normally, Jenny (wear) black shoes, but today she (wear) red
wellies.

5. And look, she (wear) a raincoat because it (rain) outside.

6. Jenny (not / want) to get wet.

Check answ ers

Simple Past – Past Progressive

Form

Simple Past Past Progressive

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs past form of 'be' + ing form of verb

I spoke
I was speaking
regular verbs: verb + ed
you were speaking
I worked he / she / it was speaking
we were speaking
they were speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
 when the final letter is e, only add d.  silent e is dropped (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example: love - loved Example: come - coming

 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is but: agree - agreeing
doubled
 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is
Example: admit - admitted
doubled

 final l is always doubled in British English (not in Example: sit - sitting

American English)
 final l is always doubled in British English (not in
Example: travel - travelled
American English)

 after a consonant, final y becomes i. (but: not after a Example: travel - travelling
vowel)
 final ie becomes y.
Example: worry - he worried
Example: lie - lying
but: play - he played

See also explanations on Simple Past and Past Progressive

Use

After another or at the same time?

Do you want to express that the actions in the past happened one after another or at
the same time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

at the same time

after another
Simon was playing on the computer while his brother was
She came home, switched on the computer and checked watching TV.
her e-mails.

New action or already in progress?

If you want to express that a new action happened in the middle of another action,
you need both tenses: Simple Past the new action and Past Progressive for the
action already in progress.

Simple Past Past Progressive

action already in progress

new action
While I was sitting in a meeting, (my mobile suddenly rang.)
My mobile rang (while I was sitting in a meeting.)

Only mentioning or emphasising progress?

 Do you just want to mention that an action took place in the past (also used for short
actions)? Or do you want to put emphasis on the progress, e.g. that an action was
taking place at a certain time?

Simple Past Past Progressive

just mentioning emphasising progress

Colin played football yesterday. Yesterday at six o'clock, Colin was playing football.

Certain Verbs

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

 state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We were on holiday.

 possession: belong, have

Example: Sam had a cat.

 senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He felt the cold.

 feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example: Jane loved pizza.

 brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I did not understand him.

 introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: “I am watching TV,“ he said.

Signal words

Simple Past Past Progressive

 first  while
 then  as long as
 If-Satz Typ II (If I talked, …)
 Ask for the bold part of the sentence.

1. She pushed her bike. →

2. She carried a bag. →

3. We waited in the park. →

4. The policeman arrested the thief. →

5. We ate fish. →

6. She watched the match last night. →

7. She asked her friend because she did not know what to do. →

8. I opened the door. →

9. The teacher checked our homework. →

10. Cindy had a dog. →

Put the verbs into the correct tense (Simple Past or Past Progressive).

1. When I (get) up yesterday, the sun (shine) .

2. It (is) a beautiful morning.

3. So I (decide) to cycle around a little.

4. I (go) to the shed and (take) out my bike.

5. While I (cycle) past some villages, I (see) some people in their

gardens.

6. One man (mow) the grass while his wife (pick) strawberries.
7. After one hour of cycling in sunshine, a big fat raincloud
suddenly (appear) and it (start) to rain.

8. Luckily, a farmer (notice) me and (tell) me to come in.

9. While it (rain) outside, I (sit) in the farmer's house.

10. After a while, the sun (come) out again.

11. I (thank) the farmer for his hospitality and (move) on.