2.1: Present Tense Verbs

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Sep 10, 2020
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- 2: Grammar Slides
- 2.2: Past 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

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

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Text Color

Text Size

Margin Size

Font Type

Simple Present and Present Continuous

Simple Present Formation

Present Continuous Formation

Spelling Rules

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

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

Simple Present Tense Usage

Present Continuous Usage

Contrasting Simple Present and Present Continuous

Stative Verbs

Videos and Other Resources

Homework

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