You are on page 1of 18

Unit Three:

Simple & Progressive Verbs; Gerunds &


Infinitives

English Center Tutor Training


ESOL
Table of Contents
Unit 1: Parts of Speech
Unit 2: Phrases, Clauses, and Sentence
Structure
Unit 3: Simple & Progressive Verbs
Unit 4: Perfect & Passive Verbs
Unit 5: Complex Sentences
Unit 6: Overview of City ESOL Program
Simple Present
Habitual Actions
My dog Punch goes to bed at 8pm every night.
I drink coffee when I eat breakfast.
General Truths
The sky is blue.
Stress causes high blood pressure.
With Non-Action/Stative Verbs (describing states or
situations)
I hope to move abroad again soon.
This class knows how to write an introduction.
Four Types of
Non-Action/Stative Verbs:
1. Express Emotions
(hate, like, love, want, feel)
2. Describe Mental States
(know, remember, believe, understand)
3. Show Possession
(have, own, possess, belong)
4. Describe Perception and Senses
(hear, see, smell, taste, feel, notice, appear)
Simple Present: Lets Review
Habitual
Action

Express
Emotions
Describe SIMPLE
Mental PRESENT
States Non
General
Action/Stative
Truths
Show Verbs
Possession

Describe
Perceptions
and Senses
Present Progressive be + V-ing

Actions Happening Right Now


I am talking to the class.
The students are wearing shoes.
Extended Present Actions (which may not be happening at
the moment of speaking)
We are studying essay structure.
Mark is training for a 100-mile bike ride this month.
Temporary Actions
I am staying with friends, but I plan to leave soon.
Present Progressive

Now

Past Future

We are not sleeping right now because we are learning about


grammar.
Happening now
Occurring over a period of time
Do not use non action verb
Some verbs can have an active or stative (non-
action) meaning, depending on the context. You
need to be able to help students identify the
difference.
Common verbs that may be used with either
meaning include have, think, taste and look.
For example
The soup tastes good. Try some.
(non-action/stative)
Shes tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.
(active)
For each pair, use the present (non-
action/stative) or present progressive (active)
have
We _______
have two textbooks in this class.
They ___________
are having a hard time with grammar.
think
is thinking
She _____________about her boyfriend, not about
grammar.
He ___________
thinks we should go to the
library after class.
look
I _____________for
am looking a new book to read.
You ____________
look great today.
At the beginning levels, students tend to easily
distinguish the simple present from the present
progressive (habitual vs. happening now). As their
learning advances and they realize that the present
and present progressive tenses are used in more
varied situations, they can become confused.
Therefore, its important to be able to explain the
different uses of these two tenses.
Additionally, with the progressive tenses, students
tend to omit the be verb. If you notice that a
student as omitted a be verb, ask the student to
self correct. Whats missing here?
Is this verb complete?
Simple Past
To talk about actions, states, or situations that are now
finished. Now

Past Future

I wanted to eat chocolate ice cream before class.


I went to Paris in 1998.
I hiked Half Dome two years ago.
Past Progressive
To describe an action that was in progress over a period
of time in the past. Now

Past Future

We were hiking for many hours before we reached the summit.


*I was hating the hike down.
Happened in the past
Occurred over a period of time
REMINDER: Do not use non action/stative verb in progressive
Past Progressive
Two actions in progress at the same time in the past
Now

Past Future
was watching

was talking

While I was talking on the phone, he was watching TV.


He was watching TV while I was talking on the phone.
Past Progressive & Simple Past
An action interrupted by another action

phone Now
rang
Past Future

was taking a shower

When = simple past While = past-progressive


I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
While I was taking a shower, the phone rang.
Simple Past & Simple Past
One action occurs in the past, then another action
occurs in the past.

Now
Past Future

I walked into class, and I sat in a chair.


Future Forms
scheduled
Simple events
present

Be going Present
to + verb progressive
FUTURE

Will +
be + V -ing Will + verb

The plane leaves at 5:00pm tonight.


The plane is leaving at 5:00pm tonight.
My flight
departs on a
Future Forms Monday
morning.
I am going to
Simple
have a
wonderful present I am
experience. changing
Be going Present planes in
to + verb progressive Mexico City.
FUTURE

Will +
Will + verb
I will be hiking in be + V -ing
Will you go to
Patagonia for one Argentina with
week next me?
January.
In most cases will and be going to can be used
interchangeably. In the few situations where one
or the other is correct, just correct it for the
student because those differences are very subtle.

You might also like