Verb Tenses! PRESENT CONTINUOUS (present progressive)

 

Exercise 3
Practice forming simple present tense verbs.

In the following sentences, the main subject is in bold letters.

Fill in the blank with the correct form (number and person) of the simple present tense verb:

1. Love preserves...
2. My wife usually goes....
3. Red symbolizes...
4. This problem repeats....
5. My country has...
6. They work
7. These people have...

Be a Grammar Geek!

Warm-up 1
Exercise 4
Each of the four sentences below correctly uses both simple present and present progressive
(continuous). Identify the two different present tenses. Beneath each highlighted verb, write simple or progressive, according to which form and tense it is.

Example: The moon is shining on the other side of the Earth, where my father lives.
                         present continuous                                                  simple present

1. At home we speak (simple present)... it is (simple present)...
    ... now I have (simple present)...I am making (present continuous)...

2. ... I feel (simple present) I am being born (present continuous, passive voice)

3. One sculpture is (simple present) who is sitting and reading (present continuous)...

One challenge is to know when to use each verb tense.  Now here is another activity. 


 

Exercise 5
Simple Present or Present Continuous?  Circle the best choice.

1. Which statement is correct?
a) My father is living in Hong Kong.
b) My father lives in Hong Kong.

Choose a) if he tends to move, that is, if he has just moved or is planning to move.
Choose b) if he has been there for a while, and Hong Kong is his permanent home.

2. Which statement is correct?

a) I am working in a doctor’s office.
b) I work in a doctor’s office.

Choose a) if you think that this is not a permanent job or position.
Choose b) if you have been there for a while, and you expect to be there for a while.

3. Which statement is correct?

a) I am studying English.
b) I study English.

The correct statement is probably a) because you will probably not study English permanently. Most academic programs are considered to be temporary.

Now It's Your Turn: Editing Practice

Above We've Studied Verb Tenses; In All Verb Tenses, Be Mindful of Subject-Verb Agreement!

Editing Tip: Edit for Correct SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT

Problem: Everybody wait for Friday night because this is the last day of work and of school.
Solution: Everybody waits ...

Problem: People who get married has to remember many important things.
 Solution: People who get married have ....

Editing Tip: Edit for Correct Verb Form

Problem: Sometimes we going dancing or going somewhere special to eat.
 Solution: Sometimes we go dancing or go ....

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