Present Simple vs Present Continuous

To talk about things happening at the moment, use the present continuous.

Jim is watching television at the moment. 

Present simple To talk about habits and routines use the present simple.

Things we do often, every day, every week, etc.

Things that always happen. I arrive at school at 8.30. 

The first lesson starts at 8.45. The lesson finishes at 9.30.

Form

Positive statement:

 I play, He plays

Negative statement:

 I do not play (I don't play),

 He does not play (He doesn't play)

Questions: 

Do you play? Does he play?

Negative questions:

 Do you not play? (Don't you play?) 

Does he not play? (Doesn't he play?)

See also how to make the present simple in the passive voice.

We only use -s ending (plays) and -es ending (does) in the third person singular.

The auxiliary verb do is not used to make questions and negative statements with modal verbs and the verb to be.

Examples:

Are you a student?

 Is he in London?

 I am not at home.

 He is not happy. 

Can you sing? Must I come?

 I cannot swim. He mustn't stay.

We do not use the auxiliary do to make indirect questions and reported questions.

Wh- questions

If the wh- pronoun introducing the question (who, which) is the subject of the question, we do not use the auxiliary verb do. Compare the following sentences.

Who knows you? (who is the subject)

Which cars belong to you? (which cars is the subject)

But:

Who do you know? (who is the object)

The negative questions normally express a surprise.

Doesn't he work?

Spelling

We add -es to the verb that ends in ss, sh, ch, x and o: miss - misses, fix - fixes, go - goes.

If the verb ends in a consonant and -y we change -y into -i and add -es: carry - carries, try - tries.

But: play - plays, because it ends in a vowel and -y.

Use

1. We use the present simple tense for activities that happen again and again (everyday, sometimes, ever, never).

Examples: 

I sometimes go to school by bike. You don't speak Greek. Do they get up early?

He often travels. She doesn't work. Does she ever help you?

2. We use it for facts that are always true.

Our planet moves round the sun. Lions eat meat.

3. With a future time expression (tomorrow, next week) it is used for planned future actions (timetables).

The train leaves at 8.15. They return tonight.

Form

Positive statement:

 I am playing, You are playing, He is playing

Negative statement: 

I am not playing (I'm not playing), You are not playing (You aren't playing), He is not playing (He isn't playing)

Questions: 

Are you playing? Is he playing?

Negative questions:

 Are you not playing? (Aren't you playing?) Is he not playing? (Isn't he playing?)

It is formed with the verb to be and the present participle (-ing ending).

The negative questions normally express a surprise.

Isn't he working?

See also how to make the present continuous in the passive voice.

Use

1. We use the present continuous tense for activities that are happening just now.

Examples:

 I am learning English at the moment. You aren't listening! Why is he sitting here?

2. We use it for an action happening about this time (today, this week), but not necessarily at the moment of speaking.

 It is a temporary activity.

I am in London. I am staying at the hotel. (But just now you can be somewhere else.)

She can't go out. 

She is writing her essay today. (But she can be having lunch at the moment.)

You can't borrow this book today. Mary is reading it. (But not right now.)

3. With a future time expression (soon, on Monday) it is used for definite arrangements in the near future.

 The present continuous tense is more personal than the simple present tense, because it expresses the speaker's plan.

I am leaving soon. We are meeting on Monday. 

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS, CHECK THIS VIDEO

IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE, OPEN THIS LINK

LINK

• http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/various/imperative.htm
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEBRIBtq7q0
• http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/tenses/simple_present_progressive.htm
• http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-simple-present-continuous-1.html
• https://www.tes.com/lessons/UIp4EAysMXgziQ/present-simple-and-present-continuous-revision
• http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/imperative/menu.php
• https://en.islcollective.com/resources/search_result?searchworksheet=GO&Tags=imperative
• http://www.slideshare.net/RitaGalrito/eng-29816497

The Imperative

We can use the imperative to give a direct order.

1. Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
2. Stand up straight.
3. Give me the details.

We can use the imperative to give instructions.

1. Open your book.
2. Take two tablets every evening.
3. Take a left and then a right.

We can use the imperative to make an invitation.

1. Come in and sit down. Make yourself at home.
2. Please start without me. I'll be there shortly.
3. Have a piece of this cake. It's delicious.

We can use the imperative on signs and notices.

1. Push.
2. Do not use.
3. Insert one dollar.

We can use the imperative to give friendly informal advice.

1. Speak to him. Tell him how you feel.
2. Have a quiet word with her about it.
3. Don't go. Stay at home and rest up. Get some sleep and recover.

We can make the imperative 'more polite' by adding 'do'.

• Do be quiet.
• Do come.
• Do sit down.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS, CHECK THIS VIDEO

IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE, OPEN THIS LINK

Conditional

THE FOUR CONDITIONS

Conditional type 0 >> ZERO CONDITIONAL

IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE PRESENT

Used for scientific facts or general truth

EXAMPLE

If you heat butter, it melts.

If you put water in a cooler, it freezes.

If you heat water to 100 degrees, it boils.

If you cross an international date line, the time changes.

If you drop ice in water, it floats.

If iron gets wet, it rusts

Conditional type I >> FIRST CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about things which are possible in the present or the future. It is generally used for things which may happen

IF + SIMPLE PRESENT + SIMPLE FUTURE

EXAMPLE

If you study hard, you will pass your exams.

If we do not protect the panda bears, they will soon become extinct.

IMPERATIVE + OR / AND + SIMPLE FUTURE

EXAMPLE:

Don't say a word about this, or I will kill you.

Finish your job, and you will have a bonus.

IMPERATIVE + IF / IN CASE + SIMPLE PRESENT

EXAMPLE:

Contact me if you need any help.

Call them in case you need help.

Conditional type II >> SECOND CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about things which are unreal (not true or not possible) in the present or the future.

It is generally used for things which don't or won't happen.

It is generally used for things which may happen

IF + SIMPLE PAST + SIMPLE CONDITIONAL

If FIRST verb in the sentence is TO BE, WERE is used for all persons.

EXAMPLE:

If I were rich, I would buy a castle.

If I were him, I would go and see a doctor.

If elephants had wings, they would be able to fly.

Conditional type III >> THIRD CONDITIONAL

Used to talk about unreal situations in the past, that is, things which did not happen in the past.

IF + PAST PERFECT + CONDITIONAL PERFECT

EXAMPLE:

If I had known that you were sick, I would have gone to see you.

The real situation was that I didn't know you were sick. So I say If I had known... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (I had known) after IF.

EXAMPLE:

If you had saved your money, you could have bought a laptop.

The real situation was that you didn't save your money. So they say If you had saved... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (you had saved) after IF.

EXAMPLE:

If you hadn't been late for work so often, they wouldn't have fired you.

The real situation was that you wasn't early for work. So they say If you hadn't been late... When you are talking about the past, you use the Past Perfect (you hadn't been late) after IF.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTIONS, CHECK THIS VIDEO

IF YOU WANT TO PRACTICE, OPEN THIS LINK