Grammar

PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Form

Present Simple

(+)       Bare infinitive (-s / es)                                I go swimming every weekend.

                                                                                  Water boils at 100º.

                                                                                  She watches TV a lot.

(-)        do /does + not + bare infinitive                 I don’t remember his name.

                                                                                  He doesn’t play football on Sundays.

(?)       Do / Does + subject + bare infinitive      

                                                                                  Does she like going to the cinema?

                                                                                  Do you enjoy playing games?

Present Continuous

(+)       am / is / are + verb + ing                            We are playing basket now.

                                                                                  Bill is studying architecture.

                                                                                  We’re leaving early tomorrow morning.

(-)        am / is / are + + not + verb + ing               Listen! Is Sandy singing in the bathroom?

                                                                                  Are you chatting with your friend at the moment?

(?)       Am / Is / Are +  subject + verb + ing         Are they writing a letter?

                                                                                  What are you doing?

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?

Simple Present

in general (regularly, often, never)

Colin plays football every Tuesday.

present actions happening one after another

First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.

Signal words

• always
• every ...
• often
• normally
• usually
• sometimes
• seldom
• never
• first

Present  Progressive

right now

Look! Colin is playing football now.

also for several actions happening at the same time

Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

Signal words

• at the moment
• at this moment
• today
• now
• right now
• Listen!
• Look!
• then

Certain Verbs

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form). They are called stative verbs.

• state: be, cost, fit, mean, suit

Example: We are on holiday.

• possession: belong to, have, owe, possess.

Example: Sam has a cat.

• senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch, sound, recognise

Example: He feels the cold.

• feelings: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish, adore

Example: Jane loves pizza.

• brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I believe you.

• Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

Use the present simple with…

a.    … something that is more or less permanent.

I live in Las Palmas.

b.    … habitual actions or facts.

I go swimming every weekend.

c.    … a general truth.

The sun rises in the East.

d.    … future timetables or schedules.

The art course begins on Thursday.

e.    … a narrative, a joke, a commentary about a sporting event, etc.

He kicks the ball, it flies through the air and it’s a goal!

f.     … stative verbs (see, hear, etc.).

I don’t remember Jane’s address.

Use the present continuous with…

a.    ... an action that is happening at the moment of speaking.

We are watching a film on TV now.

b.    … an incomplete action still in progress, usually temporary.

J. K. Rowling is writing a book.

c.    … an arrangement or plan in the near future.

I’m meeting her at the theatre this evening.

d.    … with always, forever, constanly, etc., for an action that happens very often (usually a criticism or a complaint).

She’s forever arriving late.

ppt version at: 

http://es.slideshare.net/Isabelitamellamo/present-simple-and-present-continuous-26820605
More information at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDuZNqIeURA&list=PL2383423D9C6BD844