Verb Tenses-Simple Pres vs Pres Prog-09

8/12/2019 Verb Tenses-Simple Pres vs Pres Prog-09

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MPC English & Study Skills Center

Rev July 2009

Verb Tenses: Simple Present vs. Present

ProgressiveSimple Present

The simple present tense is used to present events or situations that are habitual oralways present or true. Some groups of verbs are only used in the simple present, notthe progressive; they describe mental states or conditions that exist rather than actionsthat are in progress.

Note:For a complete listing and explanation of verb tenses, see alsothe handout onVerbs/Verb Tenses.

Verbs that show habitual actionsthose things that occur over andover:

Tom worksfor Macy's. (five days a week!) I eatlunch in the cafeteria. (day after day) She drivesthe freeway to work. (every time she goes) We studyin the library. (day after day)

Verbs that show conditions that are always true:

The sun risesin the east. The sky is overhead. Rain feelswet. Kasarah livesin New York City.

Verbs that show mental state:

know believe imagine want

realize feel doubt need

understand suppose remember prefer

recognize forget mean think*

She knows that I love her. Janet understandthe problem. They needa raise. I doubthis answer is true. He thinksthat he knows the secret to life.

Note: "Think" can be used in a progressive form, but the meaning is different.I am thinkingabout you.

Here, the focus is on the ACT of thinking.


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Verbs that show emotional state:

love adore fear hate

like dislike envy mind

appreciate despise loathe care

I despiseliars. Stanley dislikesphysics. Margarita lovesher job. He enviesher ability to learn things so quickly.

Verbs that show possession:

possess own belong have*

Jason possessesthe secrets to the universe. I ownmy home. Tonybelongsto the Elks Club.

I havea new car.

Note: "Have" can be used in a progressive form, but the meaning is different.

Help! This man is havinga heart attack!Here, "is having" focuses on an action rather than possession.

Verbs that show sense perception:

taste feel hear see smell

The dog hearsthe siren.

She smellsthe smoke. I feelthe sand under my feet.

Note: Some of these verbs also have a meaning not associated with the senses and canbe used in the progressive:

Jonas is feelingquite ill.Here, "is feeling" does not relate to the sense of touch.

Verbs that show existing states:

seem cost be consist of

look owe exist contain

appear weigh include contain

She seemsso tired this afternoon. The list includesthe names of 200 people.


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Present Progressive (Be + verb + -ing:

The present progressive tense gives the idea that an action is in progressorcontinuing, that someone or something is in the middle of doing something. It can beused to describe an action taking place at this moment or in general.

I am studyingin the library. (Right now.) She is paintingthe barn. (She is in the middle of doing it.) They are dancingto the waltz. (They are on the dance floor now.) Terra is takingmath this semester. (Generally trueshe is in the middle of the

semester, but she is not in class at this very moment.)

Note: "Be" and "have" are rarely used in the progressive form.

Verbs with different meaning in different tenses:

Verb Simple Present: Existing State Present Prog.: Activity in Progress

think I thinkhe is nice. I am thinkinghard.

have She hasa new baby. He is havinga temper tantrum.

taste The dessert tastesgood. They are tastingthe wine.

smell The perfume smellssweet. Sarah is smellingthe rose.

see I seevery well. The doctor is seeingher patients.

feel The baby's skin feelssoft. The baby is feelingthe cat's fur.

appear She appearsto be confused. Jack is appearingin court.

weigh The elephant weighsa ton. The man is weighingthe food.

be I ama student. She is beinga jerk.

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Verb Tenses-Simple Pres vs Pres Prog-09