Oral Practice Tasks - Continuous vs Simple Aspect

1 Habits: I play tennis every weekend
2 General truths: Water boils at 100°C
3 Scheduled events: The train leaves at 5 PM

1 Actions happening now: I am reading a book
2 Temporary situations: She is living with her friend
3 Future plans: We are meeting tomorrow

1 Completed actions: I visited Paris last year
2 Sequential actions: I woke up, had breakfast, and went to school
3 Past habits: I used to play football

1 Ongoing actions: I was reading when she called
2 Two simultaneous actions: While I was cooking, he was cleaning
3 Background action: It was raining heavily

1 Predictions: It will rain tomorrow
2 Spontaneous decisions: I will help you
3 Promises: I will call you later

1 Ongoing future actions: I will be studying at 8 PM
2 Predicted duration: This time next week, I will be flying to London
3 Polite inquiries: Will you be using your car tonight?

• 1 Always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
• 2 Every day/week/month/year
• 3 In the morning/evening, at night
• 4 Yesterday, last week/month/year
• 5 When I was young, as a child

• 1 Now, at the moment, right now
• 2 Look!/Listen!
• 3 While, when (with past continuous)
• 4 At this time tomorrow/next week
• 5 Currently, these days

1 She _______ (work) in a bank. (Simple)
2 She _______ (work) late today. (Continuous)
3 They _______ (live) in London. (Simple)
4 They _______ (live) with friends temporarily. (Continuous)
5 I _______ (study) English every evening. (Simple)
6 I _______ (study) for my exam right now. (Continuous)

Yesterday evening, I was watching TV when suddenly I heard a loud noise. I got up and looked out the window. It was snowing heavily, and a tree fell across the street. While I was looking at the fallen tree, my neighbor called me to ask for help. We worked together to clear the road until midnight.

Tomorrow morning, I will wake up at 7 AM. I will have breakfast and then I will go to school. In the afternoon, I will be studying for my exams. This time tomorrow, I will be having dinner with my family.

Now create your own description of tomorrow using both tenses and read it aloud.

A: What do you do in your free time?
B: I usually read books and watch movies. What about you?
A: Right now, I am preparing for my exams. I am studying English grammar.
B: That's good. I will take an English test next month.
A: Great! This time next week, I will be reviewing all the tenses we learned.

• 1 Pay attention to signal words
• 2 Focus on pronunciation of -ing endings
• 3 Practice with a partner if possible
• 4 Record yourself to check pronunciation

1 The -ing ending is pronounced /ɪŋ/: running, singing
2 The 'g' is silent, only 'n' sound is made
3 Stress pattern: ru-NING, SI-nging
4 Practice: "I am run-ning", "She is sing-ing"

1 Am: /æm/ (as in "ham") - I am reading
2 Is: /ɪz/ (as in "his") - He is reading
3 Are: /ɑːr/ (as in "car") - We are reading

1 Using continuous for permanent states: ❌ I am knowing him → ✅ I know him
2 Mixing signal words: ❌ I always am eating → ✅ I always eat
3 Forgetting -ing: ❌ I am eat → ✅ I am eating
4 Using simple for temporary situations: ❌ I work here → ✅ I am working here (temporarily)

• 1 Simple = Habitual, permanent, scheduled
• 2 Continuous = Temporary, ongoing, changing
• 3 Use signal words as guides
• 4 Practice makes perfect!

Which sentence uses the correct tense? (Read both aloud and decide)

• A: I am liking ice cream
• B: I like ice cream

Answer: B (Permanent state verbs use Simple)

Complete: While I _______ (sleep), the phone _______ (ring).

Answer: was sleeping, rang (Past Continuous + Past Simple)

Which tense would you use to describe what you're doing right now?

Answer: Present Continuous

Combine different aspects in complex sentences. Read aloud:

• I have been studying English since I moved to London.
• While I was walking to school, I met my old friend.
• This time next year, I will have graduated and will be working as a teacher.

Make a sentence combining three different tenses. For example: "When I arrive tomorrow, I will have finished my homework and will be preparing for the presentation."

• Habits and routines
• General truths
• Scheduled events
• Completed actions
• Use signal words: always, usually, yesterday, last week

• Ongoing actions
• Temporary situations
• Actions happening now
• Future arrangements
• Use signal words: now, currently, at the moment, while, when

• Start with your daily routine (Present Simple)
• Talk about what you're doing this week (Present Continuous)
• Mention your plans for the future (Future forms)
• Use appropriate signal words
• Focus on clear pronunciation

Record your presentation and listen back to identify areas for improvement. Pay attention to tense accuracy and pronunciation.