Present simple
Form
Positive statements
– I/You/We/They speak English.
– He/She/It speaks English.
Negative statements
– I/You/We/They don’t speak English.
– He/She/It doesn’t speak English.
Questions
– Do I/You/We/They speak English?
– Does He/She/It speak English?
Short Answers
– Yes, I/You/We/They do.
– No, I/You/We/They don’t.
– Yes, He/She/It does.
– No, He/She/It doesn’t.
Use
We use the present simple:
With habits, routine or regular repeated actions (often with adverbs of frequency, e.g. always, sometimes, every day)
– I visit my grandmother every Saturday morning.
– She doesn’t do any exercise.
– They sometimes go to the cinema on Friday evening.
When we are talking about permanent situations
– I work in the town centre.
– Do you live near here?
With „state” verbs which are not normally used in continuous forms: be, have, depend, know, think, understand, disagree, like, want, hear, love, see, smell, taste
– I want to see that new film.
– I am confused – I don’t understand what you mean.
In spoken instructions, systems and processes
– You take the number 73 bus and get off at the Hight Street.
– First, you put the soap in, then you turn it on.
Present continuous
Form
The present form of be + the -ing form of the verb.
Contracted forms
– I‘m (I am) + -ing form.
– You‘re (You are) + -ing form.
– She/He‘s (She/He is) + -ing form.
– It‘s (It is) + -ing form.
– We‘re (We are) + -ing form.
– They‘re (They are) + -ing form.
Use
We use the present continuous when we are talking about:
Actions happening now
– Nina‘s watching for a bus.
Temporary situations
– I‘m staying with my cousins at the moment.
Changing or developing situations
– The world’s climate is getting warmer.
Plans and arrangements in the future
– We‘re meeting at 7 o’clock this evening.