Present continuous versus habitual present

In lesson 5B we are studying present continuous. The form is very easy:

•  TO BE (AM / IS / ARE) + ________ING

Here you have some examples:  I am playing with my children     She's writing an email

This tense is used for specific time, especially now or at the moment, but it's also possible with short periods of time like I'm a teacher but now I'm working as a shop-assistant.
Here you have a video to practise present continuous. Click here. 

There is a problem with the spelling of the -ING form: you must double the last consonant if the infinitive ends in CONSONANT + VOWEL + CONSONANT and the vowel is stressed. Let's see some examples:

• get --- getting        swim ---swimming      BUT    open --- opening     listen --- listening 

If you have problems with the spelling go to this page

Once this is clear we have the problem to choose between present simple or present continuous. Remember present simple is connected to habits or routines and you usually have it with frequency adverbs or answering the question how often?, while present continuous is referred to a precise action. Look at the example:

• I usually go to the gym but today I'm going to the swimming pool

If you need more information about these tenses go to this link. The differencse between these two tenses are in lesson 5C in our student's book.

If you want to practise here you have some exercises:

• exercise 1      exercise 2     exercise 3 

Here you have a song Eternal Falme to practise with both tenses.

Present Simple

I prefer to call it habitual present because it's connected to how to use this tense, quite different from the present simple in Spanish, but you can call it as you like. It's referred to habits, routines, general truths, etc.

Present simple is formed with the infinitive and you must add the subject pronoun to know who does the action; e.g.TO PLAY --- I play, they play. there are 2 exceptions:

• the verb TO BE has 3 forms: I AM - he, she, it IS - we, you, they ARE
• the verb TO HAVE has 2 forms: I, you, we, they HAVE - he, she, it HAS

But in these two verbs the rule of having an -S in the 3rd person in singular is there. The problem is the spelling and the pronunciation, but it has the same rules as we have for plural forms:

• ending in CONSONANT+Y ---  -IES e.g. copy -- he copies  but play -- she plays
• ending in sibilant sound you add an extra syllable  /IZ/ : Peter finishes work at 5

As we saw in the previous lesson with the imperative form, we use DON'T for the negative form, but we have to use DOESN'T for the 3rd person in singular. As I explained in class this auxiliary is like the initial interrogative mark ¿ in Spanish. Have a look the examples: Do you like chocolate? Does she go with you? 

If you want to know something else about this tense go to this useful link but the explanation is in English:

http://esl.about.com/od/thebasics/a/beginner_present_simple.htm and then you can do the exercise at the end of the link or click here

If you need a simpler explanation you can go to this link: http://isabelperez.com/happy/tenses/present_simple.htm

To finish with go to My Name Is Luka : this is a marvellous song and present simple is used in it.
The other song to practise with present (simple and continuous) is Eternal Flame

I hope you can understand this tense. See you in class!