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Humanities LibreTexts

1.6: Simple Present and Present Progressive

  • Page ID
    355984
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    Present Tense vs Present Continuous Tense Comparison

    Present Tense (General Truth)
    Subject Positive Form Negative Form
    I/You/We/They go don't go
    He/She/It goes doesn't go

    Usage: All of the time, but NOT NOW

    Note: No "s" on the verb in negative form.

    Present Continuous Tense (Right Now)
    Subject Positive Form Negative Form
    I am going am not going
    He/She/It is going is not (isn't) going
    We/You/They are going are not (aren't) going

    Usage: RIGHT NOW

    Comparison Examples

    Comparison Examples
    Present Tense (General) Present Continuous (Right Now)
    I don't speak Chinese. I am not speaking Chinese right now.
    He doesn't go to movies very often. He isn't going to a movie right now.
    We don't play with guns. We aren't playing with guns now.
    She doesn't help her mother in the house. She isn't helping her mother in the house this morning.
    They don't do their homework on Friday nights. They aren't doing their homework right now.

    1.6: Simple Present and Present Progressive is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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