Present simple vs

Present continuous
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Present simple
Examples:

I play the guitar three times a week.

She sings in the school choir.

The present simple tense is used:

- to express routines (usually with adverbs of
frequency);
- for facts and things accepted as true;
- with timetables or schedules.
Examples:
I often listen to music in my free time.
 with adverbs of frequency (sometimes, often, always, never, usually, rarely,
seldom, every day, once/twice/three times a… week/month…;

Music is good for your well-being.

 with general truths or facts;

Music lessons start at 4 pm.

 with timetables/schedules.
Affirmative form
 with I, you, we and they you must use the infinitive of the verb
Examples:
miss, study
 with he, she or it you must use the infinitive + -s/-es/-ies
Examples:
works, misses, studies

Note:
 add -es with verbs ending in -o, -ch, -sh, -x, -ss and -z
 add -ies with verbs ending in -y after a consonant
Negative form
You need the auxiliary verb to do in the present simple and the
infinitive of the main verb to build negative sentences.

Examples:
I don’t like Metal.
He doesn’t attend music lessons.
Interrogative form
You need the auxiliary verb to do in the present simple before
the subject and the infinitive of the main verb to build
interrogative sentences.

Examples:
Do you like listening to music?
Does Mary take piano lessons?
Fill in the gaps with the present simple:
goes
1. John usually __________________ (go) to concerts by train.
doesn’t like (not / like) jazz.
2. Jane __________________
3. do you practise (you / practise) hip hop?
How often __________________
4. Does he listen (he / like) to pop music?
__________________
5. don’t think
I __________________ (not / think) that rock’n’roll is melodic.
6. prepare
Tom and Sam __________________ (prepare) themselves for the singing
competion every day after school.
7. studies
She __________________ (study) foreign languages three times a week.
Present continuous
Examples:
I am playing the guitar now.
Mary is singing at the school choir at the moment.

The present continuous tense is used:

- to express actions that are happening at the
moment of speaking;
- to express actions in a near future;
- with words/phrases such as: now, at the
moment, today, tonight, tomorrow, this
morning/afternoon…
Affirmative form
The present continuous is built with the auxiliary verb to be in
the present simple and the main verb + -ing.

I am
you / we / they are + main verb + -ing
he/ she / it is

Example:
She is playing the drums.
Negative form
It is built with the auxiliary verb to be in the present simple in
the negative and the main verb + -ing.

I am not
you / we / they aren’t + main verb + -ing
he / she / it isn’t

Example:
They aren’t singing at the moment.
Interrogative form
It is built with the auxiliary verb to be in the present simple
before the subject and the main verb + -ing.

Am I
Are you / we / they + main verb + -ing ?
Is he / she / it

Example:
Are you listening to music?
What are they doing?

She is texting 2. ________________

1._________________ They are doing3.________________
They are
and eating a their homework. swimming.
sandwich.
Present simple or present continuous?
1. study
I always __________________ (study) for the music tests.

2. am having
At the moment I __________________ (have) guitar lessons.

3. live
They __________________ (live) near a music studio.

4. are staying (stay) with their eldest brother.

This week they __________________

5. is starting
Hurry up! The concert __________________ (start).

6. starts
The concert __________________ (start) at 7 pm.

7. is rehearsing (rehearse) with his band.

Tonight Sam __________________

8. practises
He __________________ (practise) four times a week.