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Grammar CornerGrammar Lab · Leerjaar 2, 3, 4

Grammar Lab · Present simple vs present continuous

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Quick explain

  • Present simple = gewoonte, feit, altijd zo. Present continuous = nu of tijdelijk.
  • Let op de signaalwoorden: every day hoort bij de simple, at the moment bij de continuous.
  • Stative verbs (know, like, want, understand, have = bezitten) staan altijd in de simple.

elke dag → I play football | nu → I am playing football

Vorm

Positief

I play tennis on Fridays. / I am playing tennis now.

Ontkennend

I don't play tennis. / I'm not playing tennis.

Vraag

Do you play tennis? / Are you playing tennis?

Examples

  • She works in a café, but today she is working from home.
  • We usually take the bus, but this week we are cycling.
  • I don't eat fish. → gewoonte
  • I'm not eating; I'm not hungry yet. → nu

Signaalwoorden: simple: always, usually, every week · continuous: now, at the moment, today, Look!

Dutch alert

  • I am going every day to school by bike.

    I go to school by bike every day.

    Every day = gewoonte → present simple, en de tijd komt achteraan.

  • What do you do? I'm a student. / What are you doing? I read.

    What are you doing? I'm reading.

    What do you do? vraagt naar je beroep, What are you doing? naar dit moment.