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2.1: Present Tense Verbs

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    Simple Present and Present Continuous

    Compare these sentences...

    • Every day, I write in my gratitude journal
    • Right now, I am writing in my gratitude journal

    Study the verbs. What is the difference between the two tenses?

    • Answer: The first sentence is simple present. The second sentence is present continuous
      • Notice the time expressions "every day" and "right now"

    Simple Present Formation

    • Something that is always true
    • Daily routines
    • Something that happens regularly

    Positive Statements:

    I Eat
    You Eat
    He Eats
    She Eats
    It Eats
    We Eat
    You Eat
    They Eat

    Negative Statements:

    I Don't Eat
    You Don't Eat
    He Doesn't Eat
    She Doesn't Eat
    It Doesn't Eat
    We Don't Eat
    You Don't Eat
    They Don't Eat

    Questions:

    Do I Eat ?
    Do You Eat ?
    Does He Eat ?
    Does She Eat ?
    Does It Eat ?
    Do We Eat ?
    Do You Eat ?
    Do They Eat ?

    Present Continuous Formation

    • Something that is just happening
    • Something that is true only now or about now
    • Describing pictures

    Positive Statements:

    I Am Eating
    You Are Eating
    He Is Eating
    She Is Eating
    It Is Eating
    We Are Eating
    You Are Eating
    They Are Eating

    Negative Statements:

    I Am Not Eating
    You Are Not Eating
    He Is Not Eating
    She Is Not Eating
    It Is Not Eating
    We Are Not Eating
    You Are Not Eating
    They Are Not Eating

    Questions:

    Am I Eating ?
    Are You Eating ?
    Is He Eating ?
    Is She Eating ?
    Is It Eating ?
    Are We Eating ?
    Are You Eating ?
    Are They Eating ?

    Spelling Rules

    Spelling Rules for Adding -ing to a Verb (Present Participle)

    No Change

    Most verbs:

    Add -ing

    Read--reading

    Talk--talking

    Say--saying

    Want--wanting
    No Change

    Verbs that end in -y:

    Add -ing

    Study--studying

    Carry-carrying

    Play--playing
    No Change

    Verbs that end in -e:

    Drop the -e and add -ing

    Wake--waking

    Make--making

    Tape--taping
    No Change

    Verbs that end in -ie:

    Change the ie to y

    Die--dying

    Lie--lying
    No Change

    Verbs that end in CVC (consonant, vowel, consonant), one-syllable:

    Double the last letter

    Stop-stopping

    Sit--sitting

    Ban-banning
    No Change

    Verbs that end in CVC, two-syllable

    If the stress is on the last syllable, double the last letter

    Begin--beginning

    Refer--referring

    OR

    Listen-listening

    Cancel--canceling

    Spelling Rules for Adding -s/-es to the End of a Word (Plural Noun or Third Person Singular Simple Present)

    Most words:

    Add -s to the end of the word

    Verbs:

    Walk--walks

    Cook-cooks

    Sit--sits

    Run--runs

    Plural nouns:

    Hat--hats

    Table--tables

    Chair--chairs

    Tree--trees

    Words ending in consonant -y:

    Change the -y to -ie, then add -s

    Verbs:

    Carry--carries

    Study--studies

    Fly--flies

    Plural nouns:

    Sky--skies

    Belly--bellies

    Rally--rallies

    Words ending in these consonants:

    S...

    X...

    Ch...

    Sh...

    Add -es

    Verbs:

    Pass--passes

    Fix--fixes

    Watch--watches

    Bash--bashes

    Plural nouns:

    Mess--messes

    Tax--taxes

    Patch--patches

    Dish--dishes

    Simple Present Tense Usage

    • General facts
      • A gratitude journal promotes an optimistic attitude
    • Routines/habits
      • She practices gratitude every day
    • Permanent situations
      • I live in San Diego. I moved here in 1998 and I plan to stay for many years
    • Stative verbs
      • Optimism includes a positive attitude and hope for the future

    Present Continuous Usage

    • Actions that are happening right now
      • I can't go shopping with you right now. I am writing an email to thank my manager
    • Actions that are in progress
      • This semester, we are keeping a gratitude journal. We will decide if it makes us happier at the end of the semester
    • Actions that are new or temporary
      • He is living in San Diego. He moved here a few months ago. He might move soon
    • Actions that are changing over time
      • I am becoming happier every day

    Contrasting Simple Present and Present Continuous

    Simple present is used for permanent situations. Present continuous is used for situations that are temporary or new...

    • She works at Ross Dress for Less
      • She has worked there for a while and plans to stay
    • She is working at Ross Dress for Less
      • She started the job a short time ago, or she plans to change jobs soon

    Stative Verbs

    Some verbs are stative. This means they are usually used for a permanent situation. Some of these verbs cannot be used in continuous form; other stative verbs change meaning when they are used in continuous form...

    • GOOD EX: I own a car
    • BAD EX: I am owning a car
    • GOOD EX: I think happiness is an important topic
    • BAD EX: I am thinking happiness is an important topic
    • GOOD EX: I am thinking about happiness

    Videos and Other Resources

    Watch this video to learn how to form simple present...

    Watch this video to learn how to form present continuous...

    Watch this video to learn about the differences between simple present and present continuous...

    Watch this video for more about stative verbs...

    Click here for lists and exercises for stative verbs...

    Click here for a list of stative verbs...

    Homework

    Choose 5 of the 8 questions below and answer in writing. Use simple present tense. Identify the verbs in each sentence...

    According to this video, research has found that women are happier than men. Which groups would you guess are happier according to studies and why? Keep in mind that there might be differences depending on which country you're from, and of course you are only guessing...

    Who do you think is happier?

    • People who are married or people who are single?
    • Married couples with children or married couples who choose to not have children?
    • Those aged 18-29 or 65 and older?
    • Educated or non-educated people who make the same amount of money?
    • Religious or non-religious people?
    • Introverts or extroverts?
    • Moms who stay home or moms who work part time?
    • Liberals or conservatives?

    EX: I think older people are happier than younger people because they usually have more wisdom

    2.1: Present Tense Verbs is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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