Guide to English grammar
| Am I reading?
Are you/we/they reading? Is he/she it reading? |
|
Do I/you/we/they read? Does he/she/it read? |
In present simple questions and negatives we use do/does and the base form of the verb.
NOT He does not reads and NOT Does he reads?
NOTE
There are some spelling rules for the participle.
Leaving out e: lose losing • 292(1)
Doubling of some consonants: stop stopping • 293
There are some spelling rules for the s-form.
Adding es after a sibilant sound: push pushes • 290(1)
Y changing to ie: hurry hurries • 294
For pronunciation of the s/es ending, • 290(3).
2 Use
1 An action continuing for a period
We use the present continuous for a present action over a period of time, something that we are in the middle of now. The action has started but it hasn't finished yet.
What are you reading? “Macbeth”.
It's raining now, look.
Hurry up. Your friends are waiting for you.
I'm just ironing this shirt.
Some typical time expressions with the present continuous are “now, at the moment, at present, just, already and still”.
We need not be doing the action at the moment of speaking.
I'm reading an interesting book. I can't remember what it's called.
We'd better get home. We're decorating the living-room at the moment.
2 A state
We normally use the present simple for a present state: a feeling, opinion or relation.
Mr. Adams loves Shakespeare.
I think it's a good idea.
Who knows the answer?
This book belongs to my sister.
Silicon is a chemical element.
York lies on the River Oise.
NOTE
We use the present simple for permanent states. With temporary states, states which go on only for a short time, we can sometimes use the present continuous.
The weather looks/is looking better today.
For details, • 62.
3 Repeated actions
We use the present simple for repeated actions such as routines and habits, things that happen again and again. We see the series of actions as permanent, without end.
Bob works in Avon mouth. He usually drives to work.
We do lots of things in our spare time.
I don't often see Sarah.
The old man takes the dog for a walk every morning.
Typical time expressions with the present simple are “always, often, usually, sometimes, ever/never; every day/week etc; once/twice a week etc; on Friday(s) etc; in the morning(s)/evening(s), at ten o'clock etc”.
We also use the present simple for permanent facts, things that always happen.
Food gives you energy.
Paint dries quicker in summer.
A practical guide to English grammar 69
But we use the present continuous when a series of actions is temporary, only for a period of time.
My car's off the road. I'm travelling to work by bus this week.
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