Ways of expressing the present tense in English

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Zadolina Olga
for students of 4-5 forms

English uses two forms of the present: the  present is simple  and the  present is progressive.  This page looks through the verbs in the active voice. See  “Passive”  for the forms of the present times in a passive voice.

This simple

In short,  this simple is  used to express:
a) constant states and constant truths.
b) repetitive actions
c) instantaneous actions.

1.1. The present simple affirmative

It is formed using the root form of the verb: only one ending is added, S – the third person singular or ES with verbs ending in -s, -sh, -x and – o

1.2. The present simple negative

For all verbs, the present simple negative is formed using the root of the verb, and the auxiliary do in the negative form: do not and does not are normally contracted in spoken English, and may also be contracted in the written language.

Examples:
a1) I like apples, but I don’t like oranges.
a2) I live in London, and I work for a big bank.
a3) Flowers grow well in a warm sunny climate.
a4) Tomorrow never comes
b1) My brother often goes to London.
b2) It snows in winter in New York.
b3) I get up at 6 every morning.
c1) Oh, I understand what you mean.
c2) And now Beckham gets the ball, he shoots, and he scores!

2. The present progressive

In short, the Present Progressive is used to express:
a) developing  situations.
b) actions that are actually taking place.
c) future actions.

2.1. The present progressive affirmative

This is  formed using the present participle of the verb and the present tense of to be.  The present participle is formed by adding -ing to the root (or to the root minus its final -e for verbs ending in e). The auxiliary is usually contracted in spoken English (as in the second line of examples).

2.2. The present progressive negative

The negative is formed by adding the particle not :  there are two different ways of contracting the present progressive negative, as illustrated by the two lines of examples for the verb take. Contracted forms are normally used in spoken English, and may be used in the written language too.Examples:
a1) John is getting better.
a2) The weather isn’t improving.
b1) This week I am working in New York.
b2) Look! That man‘s stealing my car!
b3) Slow down, you‘re going too fast!
c1) He‘s not going on holiday tomorrow.
c2) He said he‘s retiring next year.

Note: some verbs are almost never used in the present progressive – notably certain verbs of permanent state, such as know, be, like, exist.
We can say: I know the train is arriving late.
We cannot say: I am knowing the train is arriving late.

3. Present simple vs. present progressive:

A contrastive example :
This sentence is a clear example of the difference in usage between the two forms: