Simple Present vs. Present Perfect

Improving our control over the present tenses

What’s the difference in meaning?

1. I eat spaghetti.2. I am eating spaghetti.

What do you usually eat for breakfast?

What are you eating right now? (Nothing! You’re not supposed to eat in class).

Verbs: Simple Present Tense

• WHEN do we use the present tense?– Uses #1-3 H.I.G.– Habits

• Colin always plays soccer on Tuesdays.

– Ideas/Opinions• I love her.

– General Truths/Facts• The sun always sets in the west.

Verb Tense: Simple Present• Use #4: to talk about FUTURE EVENTS with

timetables/calendars

• The train leaves at 9 pm.

• On Thursdays, lunch is after B Block.• The World Series baseball game starts

Saturday at 5:07 on Fox.

Form: Simple Present Tense

• How do we form the present tense?

  affirmative negative question

Iyouwethey

I play. I do not play. Do I play?

hesheit

He plays. He does not play. Does he play?

You try

  affirmative negative question

Iyouwethey

I ____. I ___ not ____. Do I ________?

hesheitNemo…

Nemo … He... He..

Simple Present Tense: Signal Words

• always, every …, often• normally, usually• sometimes, seldom• never

Brad Pitt sometimes has a beard.I always eat breakfast.

• http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/simple-present/signal/exercises

Form: Present Progressive

  affirmative negative question

I I am playing. I am not playing. Am I playing?

he, she, it He is playing. He is not playing. Is he playing?

you, we, they

You are playing. You are not playing. Are you playing?

subject + am/is/are + -ing verb

You try…

  affirmative negative question

I I  I ____ not ________ Am I ______ ?

he, she, it He  He 

you, we, they You  You 

Verb Tense: Present Progressive

• Use #1: to describe actions in progress RIGHT NOW!!

• The baby is crying.• The baby is crying right now.• Video Clip 1: The Simpsons• Video Clip 2: Cats in water

• Signal words: now, at the moment.

Verb Tense: Present Progressive

• Use #2: to talk about planned actions in the (near) future.

• I am buying a new car this weekend!• I’m going to the movies next week.

• What are you doing tonight?• Signal words: tonight, tomorrow, next Friday

Verb Tense: Present Progressive

• Use #3: To express an action or activity that is happening now but is temporary.– The students are doing a Webquest about Iran.– Nick is helping his brother this week.

Practice

• Iron Chef• Now you can see as he’s uh trimming those.

He’s scoring that outer skin. He’s going to be leaving the skin in place once the scales are off.

• p. 7 Exercise 2