Simple Present - Present Perfect Progressive

Simple Present - Present Perfect Progressive

Form

Simple Present Present Perfect Progressive

infinitive

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

Example:I / you / we / they speakhe / she / it speaks

form of 'have' + been + ing-form

Example:I / you / we / they have been speakinghe / she / it has been speaking

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 's': The verbs can, may, might,

must remain the same in all forms. Do not add s.

Example: he can, she may, it must

For verbs ending in o or a sibilant (ch, sh, s, z), add es.

Example: do - he does, wash - she washes

y as final letter after a consonant becomes ie. (but: not after a vowel)

Example: worry - he worriesbut: play - he plays

Exceptions when adding 'ing' : Silent e as final letter is dropped. (does not

apply for -ee)

Example: come - comingbut: agree - agreeing

After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.

Example: sit - sitting

l as final letter after a single vowel is doubled in British English (but not in American English).

Example: travel - travelling

ie at the end of the word becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

Use

We use Simple Present for general statements about the present and for actions taking place regularly in the present. We use Present Perfect Progressive to express how long an action has been going on.

General statements (when/how often) or how long already?

Do you want to make a general statement about the present, e.g. say when or how often an action usually takes place? Or do you want to express, how long an action has already been going on?

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general statement, when / how often

I write a letter every day.

how long already

I have been writing for an hour.

Signal Words


how often ... times

how long since for

Note: The signal words for Simple Present are the same here as for Present Perfect Simple. If we use these signal words for Simple Present, we want to know how often an action usually takes place in the present (not how often it has taken place so far). There is a difference, because you can ask someone how often he plays tennis (in general) or how often he has played tennis (so far).

Test 1

Use

When to use which tense?

1. 'for seven days' is a signal word for ……………………………………………..2. 'since 6 o'clock' is a signal word for ……………………………………………..

3. 'often' is a signal word for …………………………………………………………

Positive Sentences

Fill in the correct tense (Simple Present or Present Perfect Progressive).

1. I (read) …………………………………… since two o'clock.2. He (meet) ……………………………… his friends after school every day.3. They (live) ……………………………… here for just three months.4. The weather here (be) ………………………………….. really bad in winter.5. We always (get up) …………………………………….. very late on Sundays.

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Negative Sentences


1. My parents (speak/not) …….………………………………….. English very well.2. We (watch/not) ……………………………………………… TV for four hours.3. She (play/not) ……………………………………………….. tennis on Tuesdays.4. He (study/not) ………………………………………………. for his English test since he came

home.5. You need a break? Already? We (cycle/not) …………………………… for more than half an

hour.

Questions


1. What time (start/you) …………………………………………………… school on Mondays?2. When (leave/the train) …………………………………………………. for Manchester?3. How long (wait/we)……………………………………………………… for him?4. (go/she) ……………………………………………………….. to school for six years now?5. (get/they) …………………………………………………….. much homework at school each

day?

Text


1. Interviewer: Jane, how long (learn/you) ………………………………………………… English?

2. Jane: I (learn) ………………………………… English for six years. It's one of my favourite subjects.

3. Interviewer: What other subjects (like/you) …………………………………………………………….?

4. Jane: I also (love) ………………………………………………………… art and physical education.

5. Interviewer: How often (do/you) ………………………………………………………… sports per week?

6. Jane: I (go) ………………………… jogging every morning and I (play) ………………………..... in my schools basketball team for two years. We (train) ……………………………………………. three times a week.

7. Interviewer: And what about art? (paint/you) …………………………………………. a lot?

8. Jane: Oh yes, I (paint) ……………………………………………….. since I was just two years old.

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Test 2

Use

When to use which tense?

1. 'never' is a signal word for ………………………………………..2. 'every Monday' is a signal word for ……………………………………3. 'for eight months' is a signal word for ……………………………………………4. 'twice a week' is a signal word for …………………………………………….…….5. 'since yesterday' is a signal word for ………………………………………………..

Positive Sentences


1. My friend (travel) …………………………….…. around Canada for five weeks.2. They (sleep) ……………………………………..... for more than 10 hours.3. She (visit) ……………………………………..…… another museum every week.4. He (feed) ……………………………………………… his dog three times a day.5. The children (play) ……………………………….. in the garden since they came home.

Negative Sentences


1. We (see/not) ………………………………………… each other very often nowadays.2. My little brother (learn/not)………………………………….. English for a year yet.3. They (play/not) ……………………………………. for ten minutes, but the score is 5:1

already.4. My mum (work/not)…………………………………………….. on Tuesdays.5. My socks are smelly although I (wear/not) ………………………………… them for a

complete day yet.

Questions


1. (go/you) ………………………………………………… by bus very often?2. Since when (ski/Betty)…………………………………………….?3. What time (have/he)…………………………………… dinner in the evenings?4. How long (rain/it)…………………………………………….?5. (work/you) …………………………………………….. at the hospital for a long time yet?

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Text


1. William and his parents (live) ………………………………….. in Aberdeen for one year.2. Although William was a little afraid of moving to Aberdeen, he (have)………………………….

… many friends here now.3. Four of his best friends (go)…………………………………. camping every summer.4. This year, William (want) …………………………………….. to go with them.5. The five boys (plan)……………………………………… their holiday for a few months now.6. They already (know)………………………………………………… where to go and what to

do.7. What they (need) ……………………………………………… now, is a little more money.8. William only (get)…………………………………………….. very little pocket money every

month.9. That (be) ……………………………………… not enough.10. To earn some extra money, he (deliver)……………………………. newspapers for 6 weeks.

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Documents

Simple Present - Present Perfect Progressive