2-2050107 ©Roland Trego 4/20/2014 8:47 AM

PRESENT CONTINUOUS 1 2 3

If you are talking about right now or now, use PRESENT CONTINUOUS [am/is/are + verb + ing].

Statements Questions

You are reading this sentence right now. Are you reading this sentence?

He is trying to say the word (right now). Is he trying to say the word?

SIMPLE PRESENT

If you are telling how often or talking about habitual (习惯的,惯常的, habitual/acostumbrado, привы́чный)

action (动 词), use SIMPLE PRESENT [verb, verb + s, verb + es]. Some simple present time words are

always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom/rarely (很 少, rara vez, pocas veces, ре́дко), never, every

day, every night, once a day, twice a month..., hardly ever (= almost never, 几乎没有过, 极为少见 , casi

nunca, почти́ никогда́).

Statements Questions

We speak English in class every day. Do you speak English in class every day?

I use the computer lab sometimes. Do you ever (从来, alguna vez, когда́-либо) use the lab?

She never comes to class late. Does she ever come to class late?

Note: You can also use always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every... with past time.

Last semester, we spoke English in class every day.

I never came to class late last semester.

Did you ever use the computer lab last semester? Yes, we used it twice a week.

Part 1: Present Continuous or Simple Present? 1 2 3

If you are talking about now or right now, use present continuous: [am/is/are + verb + ing].

If you are talking about how often (always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, never, every day, every

night, every week, once a day, twice a month...), use simple present: [verb] or [verb + s] or [verb + es].

1. I often (get) ________________ to class a few minutes late. The teacher

doesn’t like it.

2. She never (get) __________________ to work late. She is always on time.

3. She always (talk) _________________ on her cell phone in class, and it drives the

teacher crazy! (使某人发疯, 发狂, me saca de quicio con su..., сводить кого-н с ума).

4. I can’t talk right now. I (make) __________________ dinner. Can I call you back in

a half hour?

5. Oh, look! The bus (come) _________________.

I have to go. (=I must go.) It was nice talking to you!

6. I (read) __________________ a wonderful book right now. It’s

called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

7. She never (ride) __________________ Muni. She takes BART.

8. a. Where’s Mary? b. She’s not here. She (work) _________________.

9. Every day after class, I (go) __________________ to the library.

10. He hardly ever (ride) __________________ the cable cars. The lines are too long

because of all the tourists.