BasicESL Lesson with Lukas ©2019, Lukas Bulka

PRESENT SIMPLE
Use present simple to talk about general facts:
French people drink a lot of wine.
Animals eat other animals.
Teens spend too much time playing computer games.
Penguins don't fly.
Use present simple with the following words:
usually, often, sometimes, always, never, frequently, from time to time, etc.
Dominik usually rides his bike to school.
I never have sex without a condom.
My mom usually works long hours.
We often forget to water plants in our house.
Use present simple with timetables / schedules
The train to Lublin departs at 7:00 am.
My guitar lesson starts at 4 pm.
Tram # 18 leaves every 10 minutes.
Use present simple to talk about permanent situations
Do you speak Spanish?
What belongs to you, but other people use it more than you?
Where do you buy your clothes?
I live in Poland.
Wojtek doesn't play piano.
I work at Microsoft.
STATIVE Verbs:
know || understand || have || love || like || hate || want || prefer

TO HAVE >> use present simple for possession

I have two brothers. || He doesn't have enough cash. || Lucy has nice hair.

TO HAVE with present continuous

>> specific situations at the moment

She's having a baby [She is giving birth]

We're having a great time. Kids are having fun.
Who's having a steak? [Who is ordering a steak]
John is having a panic attack.
BasicESL Lesson with Lukas ©2019, Lukas Bulka

PRESENT CONTINUOUS / PROGRESSIF

Use present cont. to talk about things happening NOW
What are you doing? - I'm reading a book.
Who's making all that noise?
She's talking on the phone.
Lisa is making dinner.
We are studying for the final exam.
Use present cont. for temporary situations.
John is currently working in Warsaw.
My parents are living in London now.
Americans are fighting in Afghanistan.
Use present cont. with the following words:
now || at this moment || currently || presently
Use present cont. to describe what's happening in the picture:
The man in the picture is wearing a blue shirt and black trousers. He is reading a book.
The woman is talking on the phone. Two cats are sleeping on the sofa and the dog is
barking,
Use present cont. for definite future plans / arrangements
We're getting married next year.
I'm visiting my cousin on Friday.
- What are you doing tomorrow night? - I'm having dinner with Peter.
My parents are coming to visit me in two weeks.
She's taking her driving test in June.

Using “TO BE” in progressif form

>> to talk about someone's behaviour
at the moment and not to describe
someone's character in general

 Forgive me, I'm just being sarcastic.

 Why is he being so nice to her? He hates

her.

 Linda is only being honest. She doesn't

mean to hurt you.

PRACTICE LINKS:
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs1.htm
BasicESL Lesson with Lukas ©2019, Lukas Bulka

https://www.grammarbank.com/present-simple-vs-progressive.html

https://www.e-grammar.org/present-simple-continuous/test2-exercise1/