PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TENSE AND SIMPLE PAST TENSE

 

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress at the moment of speaking. It began in the recent past, is continuing at present, and will probably end at some point in the future.

a.       John is sleeping right now.

b.       I need an umbrella because it is raining.

c.       John and Mary are talking on the phone.

Often the activity is of a general nature: something generally in progress this week, this month, this year. Note (c): the sentence means that writing a book is a general activity she is engaged in at present, but it does not mean that at the moment of speaking she is sitting at her desk with pen is hand.

a.       I am taking five courses this sentences.

b.       John is trying to improve his work habits.

c.       She is writing another book this year.

 

SIMPLE PAST

The simple past indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past.

a.       I walked to school yesterday.

b.       He lived  in Paris for ten years, but now he is living in Rome.

c.       I bought a new car three days ago.

If a sentence contains when and has the simple past in both clauses, the action in the “when clause” happen first. In (a): 1st: The rain began 2nd: I stood under a tree.

a.       I stood under a tree when it began to rain.

b.       When she heard a strange noise, she got up to investigate.

c.       When I dropped my cup, the coffee spilled on my lap.