How to form each tense
| Feature | Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|---|
| Form | verb, or verb + -s with he, she and it | am / is / are + verb-ing |
| Positive | I work. She works. | I am working. She is working. |
| Negative | I don't work. She doesn't work. | I'm not working. She isn't working. |
| Question | Do you work? Does she work? | Are you working? Is she working? |
Spelling: most verbs add -s (works, plays). Verbs that end in -ch, -sh, -s, -x or -o add -es (watches, goes). A consonant + y changes to -ies (study, studies).
| Verb | -ing form | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| work, play, read | working, playing, reading | Add -ing. |
| make, write, come | making, writing, coming | Drop the last e, then add -ing. |
| sit, run, swim | sitting, running, swimming | One vowel + one consonant at the end: double the consonant. |
| lie, die | lying, dying | Change ie to y, then add -ing. |
Use the present simple for habits and facts
Use the present simple for things that happen again and again, and for things that are always or usually true.
- I get up at seven every day. A habit.
- She works in a bank. Her job. It does not change from day to day.
- We often eat out on Fridays. A habit.
- The sun rises in the east. A fact.
Time words for the present simple: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays, once a week.
Put always, usually, often, sometimes and never before the main verb, but after am, is and are: I often walk to work. She is never late.
Use the present continuous for actions happening now
Use the present continuous for an action that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It started, and it has not finished.
- Look! It is raining.
- I'm cooking dinner at the moment.
- Can you call back later? We are having lunch.
Time words for the present continuous: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, Look!, Listen!
Temporary situations around now
The present continuous is also for situations that are true for a short time around now. The action does not have to happen at this second.
- I'm reading a good book this week. Not at this second, but these days.
- She usually drives to work, but this week she is taking the bus. Her habit, then a short change.
Compare: I live in Shanghai. It is my home. I'm living in Shanghai this year. It is for a short time.
Verbs that are not usually continuous
Some verbs describe a state, not an action. A state does not start and stop like an action. These verbs usually stay in the present simple, even when you mean "now".
| Meaning | Verbs | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Thinking | know, understand, believe, remember, mean | I know the answer. |
| Feelings | like, love, hate, want, need, prefer | She wants a new phone. |
| Having | have (own), own, belong | This bag belongs to me. |
| Senses and how things seem | seem, smell, taste, sound | You seem tired. |
Some verbs can be a state or an action. The meaning changes.
- I think it's a good idea. An opinion. This is a state.
- I'm thinking about my holiday. It is in my mind now. This is an action.
- He has two sisters. A state. He is having a shower. An action.
Plans and timetables
Both tenses can talk about the future. This is the hardest part of the lesson.
- I'm meeting Anna on Friday. Use the present continuous for a plan you have already made with other people.
- The film starts at eight. Use the present simple for timetables and programmes.
To learn how to talk about finished time, read present perfect or past simple next.
Mistakes Chinese speakers often make
Chinese verbs do not change for he, she or it. Chinese also shows "now" with a word such as 正在, not with a new verb form. These two facts cause the mistakes below.
She work in a hospital.
She works in a hospital.
With he, she and it, add -s to the verb in the present simple.
主语是 he、she、it 时，一般现在时的动词要加 -s。
I am live in Beijing.
I live in Beijing.
Do not put am before the base verb. Say "I live" or "I am living".
一般现在时不要在动词前加 am。可以说 I live，或者 I am living。
Look! It rains.
Look! It is raining.
The action is happening now, so use the present continuous.
动作正在发生，要用 am/is/are + 动词 -ing。
He is play football now.
He is playing football now.
After am, is or are, use the -ing form of the verb.
is 后面要用动词的 -ing 形式，不能直接用动词原形。
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer.
Know is a state verb. It is not usually continuous.
know、like、want 等表示状态的动词，通常不用进行时。
Try the quiz
Write the correct form of the word in brackets.
- My father ___ (drink) coffee every morning.
- She ___ (go) to the gym twice a week.
- The sun ___ (rise) in the east.
- Listen! Someone ___ (knock) at the door.
- Shh! The baby ___ (sleep).
- ___ you usually ___ (walk) to school?
- Sorry, I ___ (not know) the answer.
- Tom ___ (want) a new bike for his birthday.
- I usually take the bus, but this week I ___ (ride) my bike.
- A: What are you doing? B: I ___ (think) about my holiday.
Check one question at a time
Try the same ten questions here. Check each answer and read the explanation.
Your result
Your result appears here when you finish.
Show all answers
- drinks. "Every morning" shows a habit. Add -s with he, she and it.
- goes. A habit. Go becomes goes with he, she and it.
- rises. This is a fact. It is always true.
- is knocking. "Listen!" shows that the action is happening now.
- is sleeping. The action is happening now.
- Do you usually walk to school? Use do in present simple questions. "Usually" shows a habit.
- don't know. Know is a state verb, so it stays in the present simple.
- wants. Want is a state verb. Add -s with he, she and it.
- am riding. "This week" shows a short, temporary change to the habit.
- am thinking. Here think means "have something in my mind now". That is an action, so use the continuous.
Questions learners ask
Can I say "I am loving it"?
People sometimes say it in informal speech to show a strong feeling now. In tests and in careful writing, say I love it. Love is a state verb.
Is "I am living in Beijing" correct?
Yes, when the situation is temporary. I live in Beijing means it is your home. I am living in Beijing means it is for a short time, for example for one year.
Which tense goes with "always"?
Usually the present simple: She always arrives on time. With the present continuous, always can show that a habit annoys you: He is always losing his keys.
How do I know if a verb is a state verb?
Ask one question: does it start and stop like an action? If it is a feeling, an opinion, a fact about owning, or knowing something, it is a state. Know, like, want, need, believe and belong are state verbs. Learn the table in this lesson.