Thereare differences between the simple present and the present continuous. The major difference between them is that we use the present simple tense when we want to talk about fixed habits or routines. We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening at the moment. We play soccer every tuesday night. (Simple Present) Whatare signal words for the Simple Present? These words tell you what tense you have to use. For the Simple Present these are adverbs of frequency: always; often; usually; sometimes; seldom; never; Other phrases of time can occur, like: every day; every week; every year; on Mondays; after school He She, It Was. I Was. You, We, They Were. The functions of Past Continuous Tense are : 1) To indicate that one action was in progress when another. action occurred. 2) To indicate that two actions were progress simultaneously. 3) To indicate an action that happened at a certain time in. the past. cash. Key words and expressions that refer to certain tensesTable of contents – signal wordsOn this page you will find the followingSignal words for English verb tensesFurther explanations and exercisesWhat are signal words and which ones are there?When learning a language, we sometimes come across the term signal word. Basically, it refers to expressions that indicate the use of particular verb tenses. Such phrases can be single words, typical word combinations, or groups of words in most cases adverbials, or even whole sentences. The advantage for language learners and, in this case, mainly for English learners is clear If we want to construct a sentence with one of those expressions, we can mostly rely on the tense that goes with it and conjugate the verb careful! However, it is essential to know that signal words are valid often or even very often but never in every most important signal words in the English language for grammatical verb tenses are the followingThe present simple offers these very typical signal words that show regularities that means how often something happensregularly, usually, every year, every day, normally, often, rarely etc.“Peter always plays tennis on Tuesdays.”For the present continuous, we have the followingcurrently, now, at the moment, this week, next month etc.“I’m living at my friend’s house at the moment.”Another tense that has very well-working signal words is the present perfect. In combination with the following key words, it usually appears in the simple form or the ing-form progressivesince, for, recently; since 7 o’clock, for five years etc.“Mary hasn’t seen her best friend for three years.”You can also rely very well on the key words for the simple pastyesterday, last year, two hours ago, last weekend, in 2007 etc.“Francis moved to Italy in 2010.”The past perfect also bears some signal words. However, you have to be careful as they can also stand for the present perfect. Some key words arejust, never, how long, for, since, already etc.“We had already left when the band started to play.”Information Although there is a good variety of signal words for other tenses in English, we are a bit limited when it comes to future tenses. Admittedly, there are some expressions or words that relate to the future, but they are all not very precise. Consequently, you should rather not rely on specific explanations referring to the Signal words for English verb tenses’The following explanations relate to the topic Key words and expressions for English verb tenses’ and may also be interestingComparison present simple and present continuousUse of the present perfect continuousAdverbs of indefinite frequencyOverview of the English verb tenses Present continuous tense expresses the ongoing action or task of the present. It is also called present progressive tense. For example, I am eating the meal. Present continuous tense Present progressive tense Signal Words at the moment just now right now Structure / Formula Subject + is/am/are + Present participle -ing form Subject IamPresent participle-ing+…Subject He/she/itisPresent participle-ing+… Subject We/TheyarePresent participle-ing+… Positive Sentences To make the positive sentences, we use same structure, Subject + is/am/are + Present participle -ing form Examples of positive sentences Julia is making a sponge cake right is going to the hill station next week. Negative Sentences We add not’ after auxiliary verb to make the sentence negative. Subject + is/am/are + not + Present participle -ing form Examples of negative sentences. Julia is not making a sponge cake right is not going to hill station next week. Question Sentences To make the question, auxiliary verb come at the start of the sentence and question mark at the end. Is/am/are + Subject + Present participle -ing form + ? Examples of question sentences. Is Julia making a sponge cake right now?Is he going to hill station next week? Usage UsageExampleTo express actions that are happening is playing tennis express actions that are is watching movie with his friend next changing climate is getting hotter each express time at the moment of speaking We are performing our duty at the moment. Example Sentences The laborer is pushing the is flattering the is kneading the is spending the holidays in am taking the examination this is writing an essay on is running on the jogging is reading his favorite police are catching the are playing badminton right now. See also Simple Present Tense Formula, Examples, Exercise Passive Voice Usually, passive voice of present continuous tense is made when the subject is not known. For example, Flowers are being plucked. affirmativeFlowers are not being plucked. negativeAre the flowers being plucked? question Structure of passive voice sentences, Object + is/am/are + being + Verbv3 Exercises _____ he ___________ the flowers? pluckJami __________ with the guitar. playAnu _________ the flour. kneadThe laborer _________ the carriage. pushWe _____ not _________ the ruinations. sketchI _________ an interesting essay. write________ you ________ holidays on the beach? spend_______ our leaders ________ for the prosperity of our country? workHe ______ not _______ the Examination this year. takeI _________ my clothes. ironThe doctor _________ the pulse of the patient. feelJamid ________ on a foreign tour. goHe _____ not ________ the birds. shootThey _________ the tea during the break time. takeShiza _________ the dose of medicine. take View Present Continuous/Progressive Tense Practice Test Answers Is he plucking the flowers?Jami is playing with the guitar. Anu is kneading the flour. The laborer is pushing the carriage. We are not sketching the ruinations. I am writing an interesting essay. Are you spending holidays on the beach? Are our leaders working for the prosperity of our country? He is not taking the Examination this year. I am ironing my clothes. The doctor is feeling the pulse of the patient. Jamid is going on a foreign tour. He is not shooting the birds. They are taking the tea during the break time. Shiza is taking the dose of medicine.

time signal present continuous tense