Unit 1: The Grammar Gameshow
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Session 2
Welcome to the Grammar Gameshow! Test your knowledge in this crazy quiz! The presenter is a bit strange, the points don't make sense and the prizes could use some improvement, but at least the grammar is correct!
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- 0 / 3Activity 1
Activity 1
Episode 1: The present simple and continuous tenses
In this episode, our two brave contestants answer three questions about the present simple and present continuous tenses. One is all about habits, the other describes actions in progress...but which is which? Do you know? Can you answer the questions? Which contestant will win? Find out in this episode of the Grammar Gameshow!
Watch the video and then test yourself below with our quiz
Will
Hello and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow! I’m your host, Will! – not going to! And of course let’s not forget Leslie, our all-knowing voice in the sky.
Leslie
Hello everyone!
Will
Tonight we’re going to ask three questions about…
Leslie
The present simple and present continuous tenses.
Will
OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!
Sarah
Hi, everyone. I’m Sarah!
Will
Contestant number two?
Jim
Hi, Will. I’m Jim!
Will
Let’s get going, and don’t forget you can play along at home too. Our first round is a quick-fire round so get those fingers on those buzzers. I’m going to show you a sentence and I want to know if it’s in the present simple tense or present continuous tense. One point for every correct answer! Ready? Let’s Go!
'I never work very hard’
Jim
Present simple!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
‘I’m sitting at home.’
Sarah
Present continuous!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
‘Are you having dinner?’
Jim
Present continuous!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
‘He doesn’t know.’
Sarah
Present simple!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
‘Do you live here?’
Jim
Present simple!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
‘She isn’t coming home today.’
Sarah
Present continuous!
Leslie
Correct!
Will
Tell them Leslie!
Leslie
Well done! The present simple is used for habits, permanent situations and truth and is formed using an –s on the verb in the third person affirmative, and do or does in questions and negatives. The present continuous talks about actions happening now or around now and is formed with be + ing.
Will
Good work. Let’s count out the points! That’s one for you and one for you, and two for you and one, two for you, and three for you and one, two, three for you. So Sarah has three and Jim has six!
Sarah
But…
Will
Let’s move on to our second round. True or false: Both the present continuous and the present simple can be used to talk about the future.
Sarah
False! Only the present continuous can be used for the future. For example: ‘I’m playing tennis tomorrow.’
Will
Leslie?
Leslie
Sorry, not quite right!
Will
Jim, would you like to give it a try? She said false and was wrong so…
Jim
Errrrr... True?
Will
Leslie?
Leslie
Yes. That’s right. The present continuous can be used for future arrangements, such as ‘I’m having dinner tomorrow.’ But the present simple can also be used for the future for timetabled events, such as aeroplanes. For example, ‘My flight leaves at 6.30 tomorrow.’
Will
Good job Jim! Have 30 points!
Sarah
30 points! What…
Will
OK. It’s time for our final question. Fingers on the buzzers. When can the present simple be used with a present continuous meaning?
Jim
Sorry I got overexcited!
Sarah
I know, I know! When you use a state verb!
Will
Leslie?
Leslie
Well done, Sarah. State verbs – for example, need - cannot be used continuously. You cannot say I am needing, but only I need – even if we mean right now.
Will
Well done Sarah! Good answer. You can have one point!
Sarah
Oh come on… how about two?
Will
Alright, two then, but no ice cream. Well, that brings us to the end of today’s Grammar gameshow. Let’s count out the points. And the winner is… Sarah with 31 points. Well done! Here’s what you’ve won!
Sarah
I’ve won a holiday!
Will
No, no! You’ve won a picture of a holiday. But I went there last year and it was lovely. And how did you do at home? We’ll see you again next week, where you can play for an even bigger prize. And Jim? You tried hard, but lost. How do you feel?
Jim
Well, not too bad to be honest…
Will
Release the dogs! It looks like we’ll need another contestant. Thanks for joining us. Say goodbye Leslie.
Leslie
Goodbye Leslie
Will
See you next time.
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The present simple and present continuous tenses
Present simple
The present simple tense is used for habits, I always wake up at 6am, permanent situations He lives in New York and truth The sun rises in the east.
It uses an s on the verb in the third person singular (he / she / it)
I / You / We / They play
He / She / It plays
It uses do(n't) or does(n't) in questions and negatives
I don't know.
She doesn't live here
Do you work hard?
Does it rain a lot?
Present continuous
The present continuous tense is used for actions happening now, I am talking to you! Listen to me!, or around now I'm staying at my parents house this week and next.
It is always formed using the verb be and an ing verb.
I am eating dinner.
You / We / They aren't eating dinner.
Is he / she / it eating dinner?
The future
The present continuous can be used for future arrangements - these are strong future plans.
I'm having dinner tomorrow.
They're driving to Madrid next week.
The present simple can be used for timetabled future events - such as bus, train or aeroplane departures.
My flight leaves at 6.30 tomorrow.
The queen opens the museum at 3.30pm on Monday.
State verbs
Some verbs cannot be used continuously. These are called state verbs. For example: need, know, want, have (possess). They are usually used in the simple form, even if we would normally use the continuous tense.
I am really hungry. I want some food.
I have three children.
To do
Try our quiz to see how well you've learned today's language.
The Grammar Gameshow Quiz
3 Questions
Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!
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Activity
Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!
Hint
Can you remember what Leslie said? If not, read the grammar notes in the page above.Question 1 of 3
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Activity
Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!
Hint
Can you remember what Leslie said? If not, read the grammar notes in the page above.Question 2 of 3
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Activity
Test your grammar knowledge with the Grammar Gameshow quiz!
Hint
Can you remember what Leslie said? If not, read the grammar notes in the page above.Question 3 of 3
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Downloads
You can download the audio and PDF document for this episode here.
More
That's all from Leslie and the contestants for this episode. Why not go to The Grammar Gameshow homepage to watch another one?