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Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect continuous

Present Simple

Present Continuous

Formulation
Usage
Exercise

Formulation
Present Simple

Present Continuous

I play tennis
You play
He/she plays
We play
You play
They play

I am playing tennis
You are playing
He/she is playing
We are playing
You are playing
They are playing

Usage-Present Simple
1.In general: sth. happens all the time/repeatedly
E.g.:
Nurses look after patients in hospitals.
I usually shop at weekends.
The earth goes round the sun.
The caf opens at 8.30 in the morning.

Usage-Present Simple con.

2. Habits: how often we do things
E.g.:

I get up at 6:30 every morning.

How often do you go to the dentist?
Anna doesnt drink tea very often.
Kelvin usually goes way two or three times a year.

Usage-Present Simple con.

3. Factual descriptions: describing regular activities,
summarizing/reporting the main arguments of other
academics; books, films and etc.
E.g.:

49,000 people enter the underground station at

Waterloo every day.
This journal explains that survivors of tragic events
often undergo periods of guilt.

Usage-Present Continuous
1.Action is happening now, at the moment of speaking.
Present continuous can be used with words like : now, at
the moment; Look!, Listen!
E.g.:
Wheres Mark? Hes having a shower.
Lets go out now. It isnt raining any more.
Please dont make so much noise. Im trying to work.
Im doing sth.= Im in the middle of
doing it; Ive started doing it and I
havent finished yet.

Usage-Present Continuous
2. Use the present continuous with today/this
week/this year etc. (periods around now)
E.g.:

Youre working hard today.

Yes, I have a lot to do.

The company I work for isnt doing so well this year.

Usage-Present Continuous
3. When we talk about changes happening
around now: get, change, become, increase, rise, fall,
grow, improve, begin and start

E.g.:
Is your English getting better?
The population of the world is increasing very fast.
At first I didnt like my job, but I am beginning to
enjoy it now.

Compare

For permanent situations:

For temporary situations:

My parents live in Beijing.

They have lived there all their
lives.

I am living with some friends

until I find a place of my own.

Exercise
Put the verbs into the correct tense (present simple OR present continuous):

The train always ________________(1: leave) on time.

"What's the matter? Why ________________(2: cry/you)?
That's strange. They________________(3: not to watch) TV.
He________________(4: not to speak) very good English.
Please be quiet! I________________(5: do) my homework.
Where________________(6: live/they)?
Listen! John ________________ music! (7: play)
I never ________________(8: go) to the swimming pool.

Present Continuous VS
Present Perfect continuous
Present Continuous
I am playing tennis
You are playing
He/she is playing
We are playing
You are playing
They are playing

Present Perfect Continuous

I have been playing tennis
You have been playing
He/she has been playing
We have been playing
You have been playing
They have been playing

Formulation

Usage- Present perfect continuous

Action that started in the past and it still in
progress:
E.g.:
Ive been talking to you for 20 minutes.
Ive been talking to you since 3 oclock.
You have been listening to me for a long time.
It has been raining all morning.
It has been raining since I woke up.
Present Continuous: Action in progress
I m talking to you. (now)
Youre listening to me.
Its raining.

Timeline

Present Continuous

Timeline

Present Perfect Continuous