1.2.5: Simple Present and Present Progressive

This lesson is available as slides for classroom presentation.

By Sarah Fergusan-Grossmont College

Holidays & Special Occasions

Read and Learn

Directions: Read this story out loud with a partner. One person reads a paragraph, then the other person reads the next paragraph. When you are finished, read the story again. This time, read the paragraphs you did not read.

Celebrating Together During Winter Break

Right now, it is winter break. It is too expensive for Yuri and Palani to fly home to their countries. Palani doesn’t usually celebrate the Christmas holiday. Ana and Pedro miss their family in Guatemala. Their grandmother usually cooks delicious food for the whole family. Tatiana and Viktor usually celebrate Orthodox Christmas. They exchange presents and gifts on January 7th instead of December 25th.

This year, the six friends want to do something different for the holidays. They are celebrating together at Ana and Pedro’s house. Today is Christmas day. Everyone is making some traditional American dishes to try. Ana and Pedro are preparing a turkey with stuffing. Palani and Yuri are bringing mashed potatoes with gravy and carrots. Tatiana and Viktor are bringing dinner rolls and pumpkin pie for dessert.

Everyone is so happy to be together this holiday season. They are excited to try out new foods and learn about new traditions. It is hard coming to a new country and starting a new life, but friends make it much easier.

Exercise 5.1: Comprehension

Directions: Verb tenses tell us about time. Decide if a sentence is talking about a routine or repeated activity, or if the activity is happening right now. Circle the correct description.

1. For Christmas, Yuri, Palani, Ana, Marco, Tatiana, and Viktor are spending the holiday together.                Routine                  Happening now
2. Palani doesn’t usually celebrate Christmas.                                                                                        Routine                  Happening now
3. Ana and Pedro are thinking about their family back home in Guatemala.                                               Routine                  Happening now
4. Their grandmother usually cooks delicious food for the whole family.                                                    Routine                  Happening now
5. Tatiana and Viktor usually celebrate Orthodox Christmas.                                                                    Routine                  Happening now
6. They usually exchange presents and gifts on January 7th instead of December 25th.                             Routine                  Happening now
7. They are celebrating together at Ana and Pedro’s house.                                                                    Routine                  Happening now
8. Tatiana and Viktor are preparing a turkey with stuffing.                                                                      Routine                  Happening now
9. Palani and Yuri are bringing mashed potatoes with gravy and carrots.                                                  Routine                  Happening now
10. Tatiana and Viktor are bringing dinner rolls and pumpkin pie for dessert.                                              Routine                  Happening now

Exercise 5.2: Complete the Table

Directions: Read the sentence in column one. Decide if the action in the sentence is happening now or routine. Choose the correct word: now or routine.

Then determine if the verb tense in the sentence is present progressive (PP) or simple present (SP). Use signal words to help you.

Remember

The present progressive has two parts: the BE verb + the present participle.

Sentence	Now or Routine	SP or PP
Example: We like to eat out on the weekends.	now	SP
1. We usually eat at restaurants.	now routine
2. We are eating at a restaurant.	now routine
3. I am ordering a sandwich.	now routine
4. I often order a chicken sandwich.	now routine
5. He always drinks lemonade.	now routine
6. Today, he is drinking coffee instead.	now routine
7. She often pays with a credit card.	now routine
8. She is paying with cash today.	now routine

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Explore

Exercise 5.3: Try It Out!

Directions: Write the simple present or present progressive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. Yuri (cook) ________________ Maa Po for dinner tonight.
2. The friends (celebrate) ________________ at Ana and Pedro’s apartment this year.
3. I (like) ________________ to cook Chinese food at home because it’s healthy.
4. Ana and Pedro (decorate) ________________ their apartment for Christmas this year.
5. Tatiana usually (open) ________________ presents on January 7th.
6. This year, Tatiana (open) ________________ presents on December 25th.
7. Yuri (cook) ____________________ ____ Chinese dishes, like Maa Po all the time.
8. Pedro (prepare) ________________ tamales for Christmas dinner every year.
9. Right now, Ana and Pedro (drink) ________________ horchata, a Mexican drink.
10. Everyone (want) ________________ to sing Christmas songs.

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Discover

• Uses of the Simple Present Compared to the Present Progressive

Look at the table below to see when to use the simple present or the present progressive.

Simple Present	Present Progressive
Facts, general truths, & information:     --Birthdays occur every year.     --Everyone gets older.	Happening now, right now, or at this moment:      --You are reading this sentence.      --You are getting older right now.
Usual activities, habits, routines, & repeated actions (sometimes, every day):     --Juan has a big birthday party every year.     --He always eats cake at his birthday party.     --Suzie doesn’t eat cake for her birthday anymore.     --Jim blows up balloons for all the parties.	Extended time: recent past through near future:      --I am studying grammar this semester.      --We are buying gifts for Grandpa this week.
	A temporary arrangement:      --Jose is working the night shift this week only.      --Elena is living in Boston for one year while she goes to college.

Exercise 5.4: Choose the Best Option

Directions: Work with a partner. Identify why the simple present or present progressive is used. Use the words from the table above to help you.

Examples

• It is Christmas break.
  • fact, general truth, information
• John is dancing at the party.
  • happening now
• Suzanne is studying ESL this semester.
  • extended time
• Ahmed’s party is always held at a hotel.
  • repeated action

1. The classmates are spending the holiday together.
2. It is too expensive for Yuri and Palani to fly home.
3. Their grandmother usually cooks delicious food.
4. This year, they are celebrating together at Ana and Pedro’s house.
5. They are preparing an American-style dinner.
6. They are inviting all their classmates.
7. Yuri, Palani, Tatiana, and Viktor are spending the night.
8. They want to sing Christmas carols on Christmas eve.
9. At this time, Tatiana and Viktor are making breakfast.
10. It takes a long time to prepare a Ukrainian breakfast.

Exercise 5.5: Discussion

Part 1 Directions: Sit with a partner or a group. Describe a typical celebration for yourself or a family member. Use the simple present tense. What activities do you usually do for birthday celebrations?

• Do you have a party?
• What activities do you usually do?
• Who is invited to the celebration?
• Where is the celebration?
• Do you go out to lunch or dinner?
• Do you get presents?

     

Part 2 Directions: Look at the pictures of the woman celebrating her birthday and the couple opening Christmas presents. Now IMAGINE that TODAY is your birthday, a family member’s birthday or another holiday. If you have a picture on your phone, use the picture. Answer the questions in complete sentences. Write the answers here or on your own lined paper. Use the present progressive tense because the activities are happening now.

• What are you doing for your celebration? Describe the celebration.
• Are you having a party? What kind of cake are you eating ?
• Are you opening presents ?
• Where are you having your celebration?
• Who are you celebrating with?
• What food are you having?

Part 3 Directions: Ask and answer questions that your partners or group members and you wrote. If you have a photo on your phone, share it with your partner or group. 

Part 4 Directions: Share some interesting details about your conversation with the whole class.

Signal Words

The signal words below help us to understand whether something is happening now or it is routine. 

Simple Present	Present Progressive
Adverbs of frequency are used with the simple present to show how often something happens. always, almost always, often, sometimes, usually, seldom/rarely, almost never, never More Frequent<---------------------------------------------------------------> Less Frequent Adverbs of frequency are generally placed after the subject of the sentence.      Our family always gets together on Christmas Eve.	These expressions signal that the event is happening now and should be in the present progressive. at the moment, now, right now They are generally placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.       At the moment, my mother is working in her garden.       The students are taking a test right now
These expressions tell us how often an event or action is repeated or routine. every day, every week, every year, on Mondays, on weekends/ on the weekend They are generally placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.       My mother decorates our house for Christmas every year.       On weekends, we like to go hiking in nearby parks.	These words show extended time that starts in the recent past and continues into the near future. today, these days, nowadays this week /year /summer/ semester They are generally placed at the beginning or end of a sentence.      These days, most teenagers have their own cell phone.      I am taking three classes this semester

Activity 5.6: Writing

Directions: Now that you know some good signal words for simple present and present progressive, write some sentences using signal words.

Imagine that it’s New Year’s Eve. Describe a typical New Year’s Eve celebration for you in your country. Write 3 sentences in the simple present using the appropriate signal words.

Examples

Alex always has a party at his parent’s house.
Alex’s parties are never boring!

Then describe the celebration as if it were happening right now in the United States. Write 3 sentences in the present progressive using the appropriate signal words.

Examples:

We are planning John’s party right now.
My dad is shopping for balloons, streamers, food, and gifts this week.

Simple present sentences:

1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________

Present progressive sentences:

1. _______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________

Now, share your sentences with a partner or group.

Activity 5.7: Fill-in-the-blanks

Directions: Write the correct form of the verb on the line. Use the simple present or present progressive.

This year, my husband and I (1)_________________  (celebrate) Thanksgiving in England. It (2)_________________  (be) strange to spend the holiday in a country where they do not (3)_________________  (celebrate) it. We usually (4)_________________ (invite) our family to eat dinner at our house. At home, our family (5)___________________ (get up) early on Thanksgiving morning. Everyone (6) _________________ (help) to prepare a big Thanksgiving feast. We (7) _______________________ (prepare, always) a big turkey with a traditional stuffing.  We also 8)_______________ (have) spaghetti squash, bread rolls, green beans and cranberry sauce. For dessert, I usually (9)________________ (eat) apple pie, but my sister (10)__________________ (prefer) pumpkin pie topped with whipped cream.

This year, in England, everyone (11)_____________________ (work). Nobody (12)___________________ (have) the day off. Right now, we (13)_____________________ (eat) fish and chips as we walk along the river Thames. We (14)_______________________ (shop) at the Christmas market along the river. We (15)_______________________ (shop) for souvenirs for our family and friends. We (16)___________________ (like) to look at all the important places decorated and lit up at night.

Stative (Non-Action) Verbs

As you know from studying verbs in Chapter 1, most verbs show an action; for example, walk, talk, study, and go. However, some verbs don’t show action. These verbs are called stative or non-action verbs.

Stative verbs usually show an INTERNAL or MENTAL state. These internal states happen in our minds and are not seen by others. They can also show POSSESSION. Because these verbs do not show external or physical action, they are rarely used in the present progressive.

Here is a list of some common stative verbs divided into general categories:

• Attitudes: want, like, hate, care about
• Beliefs: believe, know, think, understand, doubt
• Senses: see, hear, feel
• Possession: have, own, belong to
• Thinking /Cognitive: understand, remember, forget

Verbs with Both Stative and Active Meanings

Some verbs can be an active or stative verb. It depends on how they are used.

Think:

If you are expressing opinions, think is a stative verb because it is a mental or internal activity. These verbs are only written in simple present tense.

If you are describing the act of keeping someone or something in your mind, then it is an active verb. These verbs are written in either simple present or present progressive tense according to the usual rules of usage.

Examples

Stative: I think that Thai food is too spicy.

Active: I’m thinking about my sister today because it is her birthday.

Active: I think about my sister every year on her birthday.

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Have:

If you are expressing possession, have is a stative verb. In these cases, have is written in simple present tense.

If you are describing an experience or activity, have is an action verb. In these cases have is written in either simple present or present progressive tense according to the usual rules of usage.

Examples

Stative: Mario has two sisters and one brother.

Active: We are having dinner at our favorite restaurant this evening.

Active: We are having a party, and we are inviting all of our friends.

Active: Everybody is having fun at the party tonight.

Active:   We always have a great time when we get together with our friends.

Look: 

If you are describing the appearance of someone or something, look is a stative verb. In these cases look is written in simple present tense.

If you are using your eyes to focus on something, look is an active verb. In these cases look is written in either simple present or present progressive tense according to the usual rules of usage.

Examples

Stative: Minh looks very tired. He didn't sleep well last night.

Active: Kim is looking at the walls. She is trying to decide which color to paint them.

Active: Gina is looking for her daughter. She is picking her up at school.

Exercise 5.8: Active or Stative

Directions: Decide if the following sentences use an action or stative (non-action) verbs. Choose active or stative.

Examples

My name is Yuri.         active stative

1. I am from Ukraine.                                     active     stative

2. Palani doesn’t usually celebrate Christmas     active     stative

3. Tatiana wants to make blini “pancakes.”        active     stative

4. Grandma cooks delicious food.                     active     stative

5. Can you hear the music?                             active     stative

6. Do you know my brother, Palani?                  active     stative

7. They exchange presents every year.              active     stative

8. She likes Caravan tea from Russia.                active     stative

9. Ana and Pedro love their aunt and uncle.       active     stative

10. Ana and Pedro make tamales from scratch.  active     stative

11. Do you understand stative verbs?                active     stative

Exercise 5.9: Fill-in-the-blank

Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb. Use simple past or past progressive verb forms.                            

1. You  ___________________  (look) great in that new dress!

2. My sister  ________________ (look) for a new apartment.  She wants to move closer to her job.                             

3. Today, they _______________ (have) a birthday party for their daughter.      

4. Our company  ________________ (have) a company picnic every summer.      

5. This soup _______________________ (taste) delicious!                            

6. Customers _______________________ (taste) food samples in the grocery store now. 

7. Sheila is worried. She ___________________(think) about the test she has tomorrow.

8. Miguel _____________________ (think) his new neighbors are very nice.

Exercise 5.10: Conversation

Have some short conversations using the simple present and the present progressive. If you notice your partner using the wrong verb form, talk about it.

Part 1 Directions: Use the present progressive to tell your partner about the following:

• a subject you are studying this semester (e.g., grammar, reading and writing, oral communication)
• an activity that you are doing this semester (e.g., working, living with my parents, walking to school, using computers in the classroom)

Part 2 Directions: Use the simple present to tell your partner about the following:

• something that regularly happens in your daily life (e.g., take child to school, work out, cook, send texts )
• something you do every morning, every night, or every weekend. (e.g., eat breakfast, do homework, go to bed early/late)

Part 3 Directions: Use the simple present with stative verbs to tell your partner about:

• something you have (e.g., carry and use) in your backpack, purse, or wallet (e.g., money, books, cell phone)
• something that you currently want or need (e.g., eggs, a computer, a new car)

Present Progressive: Temporary States

Review the uses of the simple present and present progressive. Sometimes the present progressive tense tells us that an activity is temporary, and the simple present tells us that an activity is more permanent. So the verb tense we choose says something more about the sentence than we realize.

Examples

I live in Happy Valley. (I live there all the time.)

I am living in Happy Valley. (I live there now, but I plan to move to another place soon.)

I work as a cashier. (This is my career.)

I am working as a cashier. (Right now, I am a cashier, but I want to have a different job).

Activity 4.11: Choose the Best Option

Directions: Decide if you should use the simple present or the present progressive in the following sentences.

1. (I am going to school for only one semester.)
   1. I attend San Jacinto College.
   2. I am attending San Jacinto College.
2. (I live there all the time.)
   1. I live with my sister.
   2. I am living with my sister.
3. (I am vegetarian.)
   1. I don’t eat meat.
   2. I am not eating meat.
4. (temporary job)
   1. I work at a department store.
   2. I am working at a department store during the holidays.
5. (A temporary way to get to work because my car is broken down.)
   1. I take the bus to work.
   2. I am taking the bus to work this week.
6. (I don’t eat before sundown during Ramadan. It is Ramadan now.)
   1. I don’t eat during the day.
   2. I’m not eating during the day.

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Review

Activity 4.12: Fill-in-the-Blanks

Part 1 Directions: Gloria and Esperanza are in the library (right now). Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

Remember

Look for signal words to help you decide the right tense. Put stative verbs in the simple present (not present progressive).

Esperanza: Hi, Gloria. What are you doing here?

Gloria: I _________________ (look) for a book about U.S. presidents. How about you?

Esperanza: I __________________ (return) a book. __________________ (you/want) to go for a cup of coffee?

Gloria: Sorry, I can’t right now. I _________________ (wait) for my friend. Today, we _______________ (work) on a project for history class     

together. We ___________________ (need) to finish it by next week.

Esperanza: ___________________ (you/like) your history class?

Gloria: Yes. I really ___________________ (like) the teacher. He always ___________________ (tell) interesting stories, and he

___________________ (have) a lot of teaching experience.

Part 2 Directions: Take turns reading the dialogue. One person takes the role of Gloria. The other person takes the role of Esperanza. Help each other pronounce the words. You can even give a performance of your reading to the class.

Activity 4.13 Error Correction

Directions: Read each sentence and think about the verb form. If there is a mistake, correct it.

1. I want to learn English.
2. Every morning, I like to drink coffee.
3. Two days a week, I am going to the gym.
4. I am loving to exercise at the gym.
5. I want to practice English with native speakers.
6. Now, I study English and look for a job.
7. I work Monday through Friday.
8. I am happy because I understand English.
9. I am study English this semester.
10. I often practice English.

Activity 4.14: Fill-in-the-Blank

Directions: Write the correct verb forms on the lines. Use either the simple present or the present progressive.

Remember

Use signal words to help you determine the correct tense. Use stative verbs in the simple present (not in the present progressive). Don’t forget that “think” can be active or stative depending on how it is used.

Right now I (1. write) ___________________ in my journal. It (2. snow) ________________ outside. I (3. think) _________________about my

family. I (4. think) ____________________ about my family every day, but I only (speak) ___________________ to my family on the weekends. My

 (6. send) ___________________ me letters every week, but I still miss them.  Oh! The phone (7. ring) ___________________ . Maybe my father 

 (8. call) _____________ me. He always (9. call) ______________ on Sunday.