Present Progressive (Present Continous)

This tense focuses on the moment of speaking. It is used also when for actions taking place only for a short period of time and to express development and actions that are arranged for the near future. The following image expresses this usages:

FORM: Use a form of to be and the infinitive verb* plus -ing.

(infinitive verbs: walk, talk, read, speak...)

Contracted forms:

I + am = I'm

is + not = isn't

are + not = aren't

he + is = he's

she + is = she's

it + is= it's

Uses:

1. Present Actions:

• My father is watching the game.
• I am working now, can we talk later?

2. Temporary Actions:

• I'm crying because my dog bite me!
• Linda is not playing with Julio until he apologizes.

3. Longer actions in progress

• I'm studying really hard to become an engineer some day.
• Andrea is currently working on a blog.

4. Future and personal arrangement and plans:

• Otto and I are going to the movies this evening.
• I'm meeting with Ms. Martínez this morning.

5. Tendencies and trends:

• The Guatemalan U-20 soccer team is getting better.
• Our incomes are increasing.

6. Irritation and anger:

• The baby is always crying!
• You are constantly yelling at me!

7. Questions: (note the order of the words)

• Are you going to help me with my math homework?
• Is my dad playing Wii?
• Am I strong enough?

8. Negative statements:

To understand negative statements in present progressive, take a look at this animation (thanks to English with cartoons):

Try to do the next exercise and look for the answers in the comments section (thanks to ego4u):

Affirmative / Negative / Question

1. I am working. _________ ___________

2. You are jumping. _________ ___________

3. _________ He is not dreaming. _________

4. _________ _________ Is she sleeping?

5. It is snowing. _________ _________

6. _________ _________ Are we singing?

7. _________ You are not fighting. _________

8. _________ _________ Are they reading?

Simple Present

This is the most basic tense in English Language. It is used when expressing:

1. Facts, generalizations and universal truths:

• Water boils at 100 degrees Celcius.
• We study at Universidad of San Carlos.
• Bogotá is the capital of Colombia.

2. Habits and routines:
To build sentences in present tense that involves habits and routines, we use frequency adverbs: (from 100% to 0% of the time)

always

usually

often

sometimes

seldom

rarely

never

• I usually drink 8 glasses of water every day.
• My mom always cooks hotcakes on Sundays.
• They seldomly deliver the homework on time.

3. Permanent (or relatevely permanent) situations:

• We live in Guatemala City.
• Miss Oliva kids that much.
• I am a chemist.

Events that are certain to happen:

• The sun rises every day, so don't worry.
• The semester ends on November.

State verbs (e.g. be, have, suppose, know):

• I love to play football under the rain.
• My mom hates when I bring a girl home for dinner.

Try this exercise, then look for the answers on the comments section. (Thanks to ego4u)

1. I (like) pizza.
2. He (hate) garlic.
3. My sister (prefer) tea to coffee.
4. I (want) to get away from here.
5. She (not / understand) me.
6. I (not / believe) it.
7. I (not / know) why you are so mean.
8. We (not / think) that this is right.
9. What (mean / it) ?
10. (you / hear) the music?

For more information, please take a look at this GREAT web site that teaches with cartoons.

Speaker 1: Ronaldinho, do you like football? (Use 4)

Ronaldinho: Yes, of course I do!

Verb to be

The verb to be is almost as "ser" and "estar" in Spanish. For a comparison, take a look at this chart:

Yo soy/estoy	I am
Tu eres/estás	You are
El/ella es/está	He/she/it is
Nosotros somos/estamos	We are
Vosotros sois/estáis	You are
Ellos/ellas son/están	They are

(thanks to Aula Fácil)

When we speak, we use contraction forms:

I am	I'm
You/we/they are	You/we/they're
He/she/it is	He/she/it's

Try to do this exercise, then check the answers in the comment section. (Exercise thanks to Eclectic English)

Choose the correct form of the verb to be - am/is/are.

1. It --- am is are cold today.
   
   
2. I --- am is are at home now.
   
   
3. They --- am is are Korean.
   
   
4. There --- am is are a pen on the desk.
   
   
5. My name --- am is are Nikita.
   
   
6. We --- am is are from Ukraine.
   
   
7. That --- am is are right.
   
   
8. I --- am is are OK, thanks.
   
   
9. Clara and Steve --- am is are married.
   
   
10. She --- am is are an English teacher.