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English Verb Tense Guide

This document compares and contrasts the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. It provides rules for forming each tense, including adding "s" or "ing" and exceptions. It also lists time expressions that indicate when each tense would be used - the simple present for general truths and habits, the present continuous for actions happening now or temporarily. Verbs like "be", "have", and "think" are usually only used in the simple present.

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Katerina Petrova
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67 views1 page

English Verb Tense Guide

This document compares and contrasts the simple present and present continuous tenses in English. It provides rules for forming each tense, including adding "s" or "ing" and exceptions. It also lists time expressions that indicate when each tense would be used - the simple present for general truths and habits, the present continuous for actions happening now or temporarily. Verbs like "be", "have", and "think" are usually only used in the simple present.

Uploaded by

Katerina Petrova
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Simple Present Present Continuous

infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing


(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')  
I speak We speak I am speaking We are speaking
You speak You speak You are speaking You are speaking
He / She / It speaks They speak He / She / It is speaking They are speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
After o, ch, sh or s, add es. Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes Example: come - coming
After a consonant, the final consonant y becomes ie. but: agree - agreeing
(but: not after a vowel) After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
Example: worry - he worries Example: sit - sitting
but: play - he plays After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English (but not in
American English).
Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)
Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying

Signal words
always at the moment
every ... at this moment
often today
normally now
usually right now
sometimes Listen!
seldom Look!
never

1.action set by a timetable or schedule, general truth 1. actions that happen at the moment of speaking
Ex:The film starts at 8 pm.
The sun rises at east and sets in west Ex: Look! Colin is playing football now.

2. daily routines, every day actions and habits 3. only for a limited period of time at present (does not have to happen
Ex: Bob works in a restaurant. directly at the moment of speaking)
Colin plays football every Saturday.
Ex:Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.
Teenagers are becoming harder and harder these days.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Present Simple :


be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want

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