1) Big idea (fast choice)

2) Simple Present — form

Positive

• I / you / we / they + base verb: work
• he / she / it + -s / -es: works

Negative

• don’t + base verb: I don’t work
• doesn’t + base verb: He doesn’t work

Questions

• Do + subject + base verb? Do you work here?
• Does + subject + base verb? Does she work here?

Spelling for -s / -es

• watch → watches, go → goes
• study → studies (consonant + y)
• play → plays (vowel + y)

3) Simple Present — main uses

A) General facts / permanent situations

If it’s true in general (not only today), use Simple Present.

B) Routines / habits

Often with frequency words: always, usually, often, sometimes, never.

C) Schedules / timetables

Timetable facts also use Simple Present (even if the event is in the future).

4) Present Progressive — form

am / is / are + V-ing

Spelling for -ing

• make → making (drop e)
• sit → sitting (double consonant)
• lie → lying (ie → y)

5) Present Progressive — main uses

A) In progress now / around now

Common time words: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week/month, these days.

B) Temporary or changing situations

If it’s not permanent (it will change), progressive is often natural.

C) Progressive with always / constantly (extra meaning)

We use it to show annoyance or emphasis: “too often / unusually.”

6) Stative (non-action) verbs — the key rule

Stative verbs describe states (thoughts, feelings, possession, senses), not actions. So they are usually NOT used in the progressive.

25 common stative verbs (spoken + written English)

Tip: some of these are marked with ★ because they can also be used in the progressive when the meaning changes to an action (see Section 7).

Common stative categories (examples)

• Knowledge/opinion: know, believe, understand, think (belief) ★
• Emotions: love, like, hate, prefer
• Possession: have ★, own, belong, need, want
• Senses/perception: see ★, hear ★, smell ★, taste ★
• Description: seem, appear, look like

7) Verbs that can be stative or action (meaning changes)

Some verbs are usually stative, but in the progressive they can change meaning to an action. Common examples: think, have, see, be, smell, taste, look, weigh.

8) Special uses of Simple Present

A) Summaries / reviews

When you describe what a text/work says, Simple Present is common.

B) Procedures / instructions

Use sequencing words: first, then, next, after that, finally.

Type R (review/summary), P (procedure/instruction), or O (other: fact/routine/schedule).

9) Avoid common mistakes (quick checklist)

• Use Simple Present with stative verbs: I know, not I am knowing.
• Use Present Progressive for actions in progress: He is working, not He is work.
• Use Simple Present for timetable facts: The train leaves at 7:15.
• Use base verb after do/does: doesn’t interview (not doesn’t interviews).

10) Final “decision rule” (fast test)

If it’s a fact / routine / schedule / stative → Simple Present. If it’s now / temporary / changing / emphasis (always/constantly) → Present Progressive.

Answers