PRESENT SIMPLE - to talk about events that happen around the NOW moment
To speak about the actions permanently characterizing the subject or to say sth that is general
She lives in London - general fact
He speaks three languages - characterizing the subject
They work at school - general fact - What do you do?
My cousin eats very little meat - telling the (permanent) feature
To say about scheduled, timetabled actions or situations often in the context of travelling (itineraries)or school plan (it also has future meaning)
The exam begins on Monday. - it does not depend on us, it is obligation that comes from outside
What time does the tram leave? - fixed arrangement
We use present simple ( or present perfect) with future meaning in zero and 1st conditional and after such words: if, when, unless, on condition that, provided/providing that, supposing that, assuming that, in case of.
If she comes, I will let you know.
As soon as, when, after, before, if, until, once, the minute, the second
Jak tylko wrócisz, zadzwoń do mnie - As soon as you come back, call me.
To say about repeated, habitual actions - time words telling us how often: regularly, every (day), each (month), once a year, on Sundays etc. and time adverbials expressing frequency: always, often, frequently, usually, occasionally, seldom, rarely, sometimes, from time to time, barely, hardly, never .
He reads the paper every day. - at the end of the sentence or the beginning
I always get up at 6 o'clock. When do you usually get up? I am never late. - between the subject and verb
Universal time sentences (it was, it is and it will be like that)
The birds fly.
Babies cry when they are hungry.
The Earth circulates around the Moon.
The water boils at 100 degrees.
Proverbs and jokes
Still waters run deep
Actions speak louder than words
Teacher: Maria please point to America on the map.
Maria: This is it.
Teacher: Well done. Now class, who found America?
Class: Maria did.
When we give instructions for example how to prepare the dish (Makłowicz's program) or when it is described what is going on during the match when the action is quick or while giving stage directions
I take the cabbage, I cut it into pieces, I boil it for 5 min etc.
He passes the ball and the other player scores a point.
The doors opens, the ghost appears.
To make the news fresh - headlines - although sth happened it is reported in present simple to attract attention
Forgotten Brother Appears
When we tell about fiction/describe events in narrative/summarizing them like film/book reviews, or about a biography of people who died.
When we report past events in a dramatic way or even talk about historical facts
Can you imagine, last summer, I enter the railway station, and what I see, the train leaves
To say that sth changes from now on. The sentence changes the reality and present simple makes it strong
During a wedding ceremony; I pronounce you a husband and a wife.
Or when we give name to sth
I name you TITANIC
Exclamations - when sb won sth
Here comes the winner, there comes the looser
Unusual statement: I am here for 6 weeks - meaning: I am going to be here for 6 weeks
Verbs of sense
See do - czynność dokonana
Hear sb
Widziałam jak przeszła przez ulicę - I saw her cross the street.
Feel
Smell doing - czynność niedokonana
Widziałam jak przechodziła przez ulicę - I saw her crossing the street.
When we use words that do not have ending ING so called STATIVE VERBS
Feelings: love, like, hate, want, prefer, adore, detest, dislike, forgive, enjoy, wish, hope, bet
Knowledge, beliefs, opinion: understand, know, believe, remember, agree, suppose, doubt, fear, mean, mind, refer, promise, suggest, refuse, recommend
Other: belong to, contain, consist of, depend on, own, fit, need, possess, require, concern, involve, resemble
Senses - postrzeganie zmysłowe - hear, see, smell, taste, appear, seem
Present simple and continuous - the same words different meaning
Be: Jack is noisy/ Jack is being noisy (behaving)
Think: I am thinking of going to the UK (considering) / I think she is clever (believe)
See: I see what you mean (understand) / I am seeing her tomorrow (meeting)
Have: I have a car (own) / They are having a great time (experiencing)
Smell: It smells of burnt chicken here ( it has the smell of it)/ Why are you smelling it (checking the smell)
Taste: The soup tastes wonderful / Why are you tasting it ( tasting its flavor)
Feel: This cloth feels soft (it has soft texture)She is feeling the baby to see if he's got the temperature (touching)
Look: He looks tired (appears)/ He is looking at it ( viewing)
Weigh: He weighs more than his brother /He is weighing the bag (finding out its weight
Hear: I can hear music/ He's hearing a new pianist (robi przesłuchanie, świadomie słucha)
PRESENT CONTINUOUS - has progressive aspect, limited duration, temporary actions
To say about actions that are happening now.
The children are laughing and jumping. (meaning now)
To say that sb is in the process of doing sth.
I'm reading “Alice in Wonderland”. (not now but I started some time ago and haven't finished yet - mam w czytaniu)
He is writing a new novel.
About temporary situation, changing situation.
He's having breakfast at 6 o'clock this week. (not always but only this week)
She lives in Dzierżoniów but she's living in Bielawa this month.
To show gradual development/change
He is getting fat.
It is getting dark.
Things are getting worse.
To describe a repeated but temporary action.
Whenever I see him, he is singing
I like to listen to the radio when I am driving.
Are you enjoying your stay here?
When talking about private plans or intentions that are already arranged so they will happen for sure.
Tomorrow, I'm leaving for the USA.
ALWAYS/CONSTANTLY - can be used in present continuous tense, but has strong, emotional meaning. It is used to say that a repeated action annoys us.
You're always loosing the keys.
She's constantly complaining about sth.
COMPARE
The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
The water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
Listen to them. What languages are they speaking?
They speak 3 languages.
Let's go out. It is not raining.
It doesn't rain very much in summer.
What are they doing?
What do you do?
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