Learning English

In this unit, we're learning how to talk about clothes and fashion. In Session 1, we learnt some vocabulary, and now, it's grammar time!

The present simple and present continuous tenses help us to talk about clothes, fashion - and many other topics. In this session we're going to look at how to make and use these tenses.

First we'll find out how to make them. Take a good look at the grammar notes, and then try the activity.

Read the text and try the activity.

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple - Positive

This is made of: subject + infinitive without 'to' for I, you, we and they. For he, she and it, we add -s or -es to the infinitive.

• I wear a suit for work. Sarah wears a dress.
  
  

Present Continuous - Positive

This is made of subject + am/is/are + verb-ing.

• The phone's ringing - can you answer it?

Present Simple - Negative

This is made of subject + don’t (do not) or doesn't (does not) + infinitive without 'to'

• I don't eat meat. John doesn't eat fish.

Present Continuous - Negative

This is made of subject + am/is/are not + verb-ing.

• I'm not wearing a coat.

Present Simple Wh- Questions

These are made from question word + do/does + subject + infinitive without 'to'.

• Why do you want a new phone?

Present Simple Yes/No Questions

The form is do/does + subject + infinitive without 'to'.

• Does Mahmood read the news online every day?

Present Continuous Wh- Questions

The form is question word + am/is/are + subject + verb-ing.

• What are you doing?

Present Continuous Yes/No Questions

The form is am/is/are + subject + verb-ing.

• Is it raining?

To do

Time to make some sentences! Here's a list of the sentence types you are going to make:

1. A positive statement in present simple

2. A positive statement in present continuous

3. A negative statement in present simple

4. A negative statement in present continuous

5. A present simple wh- question

6. A present simple yes/no question

7. A present continuous wh- question

8. A present continuous yes/no question

When you are ready, start the game underneath this sentence. Click on the 'help' button or read the grammar notes if you need help.

Next

How did you do? If you got any wrong, have another go and see if you can get them right!

So now we know how to make the present simple and present continuous. In the next activity, we'll find out more about when and why to use them!