The Basic Present

Start this course with a comprehensive course syllabus that explains what you'll be learning and why.

We set out the key objectives for this course so you can identify what you need to learn. We provide a downloadable checklist that you can print out to check off the points as you go through the course.

Before starting the grammar section of this course, we provide you with all the correct materials. This includes the slides used in our grammar presentations with notes lines and an interactive worksheet, which you can answer whilst watching the videos. We provide the correct answers to this interactive worksheet too and point you to our grammar forum, where you can ask any questions about the correct grammar of the present simple tense.

This video explains the key uses of the present simple tense. You will see numerous example sentences with in-depth explanations of why we need the present simple tense in English. You also have access to a downloadable PDF list of the most common stative verbs.

This grammar video explains the affirmative form of the present simple tense. We will explain all the parts needed and all the rules for regular and irregular verbs.

This grammar video explains the negative form of the present simple tense. We show you all the parts you need to correctly form the negative with numerous example sentences too. We also introduce the topic of contractions and how they are used in the present simple tense.

There are four different ways to form a question in the present simple tense. In this grammar video, we explain the structure of all four question forms and demonstrate how to choose between each question structure.

Most courses don't teach short responses as part of the tense, but at Virtually Fluent, we do. We explain in this video what a short response is, why you might need it, how it is used and how to form it in the present simple tense.

Keywords are special words that work very well in one particular tense. In this video, we explain the keywords for the present simple tense. As well as the words, you'll see how they are used, synonyms, their position in the sentence and numerous examples.

Through experience, we have collected information about the most common mistakes that learners make when trying to form the present simple tense. We present our top mistakes and explain how you can avoid them yourself.

This presentation demonstrates the use of the present simple tense in real life. We have found examples of the present simple tense online and in news articles and show these examples to you, so you can see how it's used in the everyday life of native speakers.

Before starting the pronunciation section of this course, we provide you with all the correct materials. This includes the slides used in our pronunciation presentations with notes lines and an interactive worksheet, which you can answer whilst watching the videos. We provide the correct answers to this interactive worksheet too and point you to our pronunciation forum, where you can ask any questions about the correct pronunciation of the present simple tense.

This pronunciation video summarises the S rule and explains when it is needed. You may have guessed that it's extremely important in the present simple tense.

We provide an in-depth explanation of how to pronounce the letter S. We show close-up videos of our native teachers saying this sound and explain why this matters for the present simple tense.

We provide an in-depth explanation of how to pronounce the letter Z. We show close-up videos of our native teachers saying this sound and explain why this matters for the present simple tense.

We provide an in-depth explanation of how to pronounce the combination sound IZ. We show close-up videos of our native teachers saying this and explain why this matters for the present simple tense.

This is a downloadable document with a list of present simple verbs. You can practise saying these words to ensure you are pronouncing the present simple tense correctly. You can also access audios of our native teachers saying these words, so you can repeat after the teacher or at the same time.

As you'll learn in our grammar videos, the present simple tense is often used to talk about habits and regular activities, such as daily routine. Here, we provide a timetable template that you can use to be able to fluently describe your day in English.

This activity tests your knowledge of your own country. You can tell us all about your country using our country fact file and send it through to us in a course forum. 

Forming questions is one of the hardest parts of the present simple tense. This activity focuses only on asking questions in a fun way. 

Conversation is normally the reason why we learn grammar. We provide a list of the most typical conversation questions in the present simple tense and you have access to our conversation forum where you can write answers to these questions. We also provide you with access to our private Flipgrid community where you can upload videos of yourself answering these questions and listen to other learners' answers.

Although it can be difficult to express everything perfectly with elementary or pre-intermediate level of English, we provide you with controversial statements that you must express your opinion about, using the present simple tense. 

Before starting the grammar section of this course, we provide you with all the correct materials. This includes the slides used in our grammar presentations with notes lines and an interactive worksheet, which you can answer whilst watching the videos. We provide the correct answers to this interactive worksheet too and point you to our grammar forum, where you can ask any questions about the correct grammar of the present continuous tense.

This grammar video explains the key situations we need to use the present continuous tense. As well as learning the uses and visualising them on a timeline, you will see numerous example sentences.

One of the key parts of the present continuous tense is the present participle. We follow very strict spelling rules to form the present participle and this video teaches them all. We provide numerous example verbs with a downloadable PDF summary of all the rules in one table. You also have access to a downloadable consonants and vowels summary too.

This grammar video demonstrates how to form the affirmative of the present continuous with any verb in English. You will see numerous example sentences and we will introduce contractions.

This grammar video demonstrates how to form the negative of the present continuous with any verb in English. You will see numerous example sentences and we review the use of contractions.

There are two different question forms in the present continuous tense and this video teaches both of them. We explain our very own acronyms to help you remember the correct question structures and provide you with many example questions.

Short responses are very useful phrases used to answer somebody without sounding rude. They're an essential part of the English language. Most courses don't teach them as part of the tense, but at Virtually Fluent we want to teach you everything. We explain what a short response is, how they can be used and how to form them in the present continuous tense.

Keywords are important words that are often associated with one tense. In this video we explain what the keywords are in the present continuous tense, what they mean, where they should be placed in a sentence and we provide you with numerous example sentences.

After analysing many learners speaking English, we have identified the top 4 mistakes made when trying to use the present continuous tense. In this video, we present these mistakes and explain how you can avoid them yourself.

This presentation provides examples of the present continuous tense in real life. We have found numerous sentences on news websites online as well as in comic strips. Here, you can see how the tense is used in everyday life by native speakers.

Before starting the pronunciation section of this course, we provide you with all the correct materials. This includes the slides used in our pronunciation presentations with notes lines and an interactive worksheet, which you can answer whilst watching the videos. We provide the correct answers to this interactive worksheet too and point you to our pronunciation forum, where you can ask any questions about the correct pronunciation of the present continuous tense.

Although the letters ING seem relatively simple to pronounce, there are 3 different ways you could say them. In this video, we explain what these three different pronunciations are and provide close-up clips so you can replicate it yourself.

Word stress is a very important part of the English language. In this pronunciation video, we explain what word stress is, how to do it and why it's important for pronouncing words with a present participle ending.

When saying any tense with an auxiliary verb, which includes the present continuous tense, the emphasis is very important. We need to stress the correct words to convey what we want to say correctly. In this pronunciation video, we review the basic sentence stress rules that apply to the present continuous tense.

This activity provides you with numerous sentences in the present continuous tense. You can practise reading them out loud to ensure your present continuous pronunciation is correct. You can easily download the document in PDF format and listen to audios of our native teachers saying these phrases too, so you can listen and repeat or copy at the same time.

A sub-topic of this tense is being able to convert verbs into their present participle formation. Use our downloadable or online verb flashcards to test your ability to turn any verb into its present participle form.

You will learn in the grammar videos from this topic that we use the present continuous tense to describe something happening right now. A great way to integrate the present continuous tense into your everyday life is to describe your actions throughout the day. We suggest our favourite diary apps to help you keep notes and suggest some tips on how to make this exercise very effective.

You can download our collection of images with people doing various actions and describe these actions to help you practise using the present continuous tense. We also explain how you can use your own books and scenarios to practise this tense.

This is a classic mime game that is best played with two or more people. Using our downloadable or online flashcards to guide you, you can put your acting skills to the test whilst still practising the present continuous tense.

Use our postcard template and send a postcard to your friends, family or even to us to explain a fun event or holiday. Again, you’ll be using the present continuous tense.

This is a game that requires a little research and tests your geography and general knowledge. Use our online spinner to land on a country and guess what people are doing in that country at this time of day/night.

The present continuous is a tense that is very regularly used in conversation. Here, we provide you with the typical questions that are most commonly asked in the present continuous tense, so you can be prepared to answer them if somebody asks. You can write your answers in our forum and get feedback and corrections from our teachers and you will have access to our private Flipgrid community so you can respond with video answers.

You will learn in this grammar topic that the present continuous is a tense used to compare situations from the past to the present. Use our flashcards or online tool to discuss how certain things, such as the economy, the environment and education have all changed over the past 100 years. This is a flexible exercise that can generate discussion.

Although the sense verbs in English are non-action verbs and rarely used in their continuous form, here we ask you to describe what you can touch, taste, hear, smell and see around you. As well as general vocabulary that might be useful, you will practise using the present continuous tense.

You will learn a list of the keywords that are used in the present continuous tense. Here, you can use our very own flashcards or our online tool to practise using these keywords in a sentence. Not only will you be able to practise the present continuous tense, but also the correct position of these keywords in a present continuous sentence.

Before starting the grammar section of this course, we provide you with all the correct materials. This includes the slides used in our grammar presentations with notes lines and an interactive worksheet, which you can answer whilst watching the videos. We provide the correct answers to this interactive worksheet too and point you to our grammar forum, where you can ask any questions about the correct grammar of the present simple and present continuous tenses

This grammar video places the present simple and present continuous tenses side by side so you can see the differences in use. We review the 5 individual uses for each tense and then discover the "grey areas" where it may be difficult to decide which tense to use. You will see in-depth explanations with numerous examples as well as a downloadable list of the most common stative verbs.

The verb to do has a complete change of meaning in the present simple and present continuous tenses. Here, we explain what this difference is and provide you with example sentences.

Every tense is associated with certain keywords. This video explains what the keywords are for the present simple and present continuous tenses and compares them.

With the experience of teaching many English learners, we have identified the key mistakes made when trying to use the present simple and present continuous tenses. We explain what they are, demonstrate them in sentences and explain how you can avoid them yourself.

These verb cards are very useful to review any tense in the English language and to learn new verbs. We provide a verb card template that you can easily download and print out as well as instructions on how to use it. 

Error correction is a great tool for spotting mistakes and then trying to correct them yourself. Being able to explain why this is a mistake before correcting it allows you to review the grammar rules and to try and prevent yourself from making this mistake when speaking or writing.

This is a fun activity that reflects the common experience of filling in forms online. We have combined a series of the most common questions in English in the present simple and present continuous tenses and put them into a questionnaire format, so you can practise filling in forms and answering questions in the present simple and present continuous tenses.

When celebrities do interviews that introduce themselves and present themselves, they often talk in the present simple and present continuous tenses. We point you towards some videos online and provide listening comprehension questions so you can practise hearing the present tenses in real-life conversations.

When we first introduce ourselves, we normally use the basic present tenses. We provide you with a presentation template and a guide to presenting yourself so you can be prepared in case you need to do this.

Use our booklet of images to describe actions that are happening and what we should do as good citizens to avoid the problems seen in the images. This activity practises your use of the present simple and present continuous tenses being used side-by-side.

You may notice that tour guides often speak using the present tenses. Although telling stories of the past will require the past tenses, most facts and statements are given using the present simple or present continuous tenses. We provide some information about various landmarks in cities around the UK alongside immersive 360° photos so you can become a tour guide and practise using the present tenses.

This review booklet summarises everything you learnt in this course. There is a one page summary of everything you need to know about the form and use of the present simple tense, one for the present continuous tense and a final page that places them side-by-side, so you can see the differences in use.

This page summarises everything you have learnt in our course, so you can review your achievements.

We always appreciate any feedback from our learners. Here you have the chance to fill in an optional questionnaire telling us what you liked and didn't like so we can keep on improving for our future learners.