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Present Continuous Games

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Perfect english grammar.

What's the difference?

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• We use the present simple with stative verbs . We can't use any continuous tense (including the present continuous tense, of course) with stative verbs.

Click here for more information about the present simple tense Click here for more information about the present continuous tense

• Present simple or present continuous exercise 1
• Present simple or present continuous exercise 2
• Present simple or present continuous exercise 3

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Present Simple vs. Present Cont.

Hannah Michelle Rile

Created on September 17, 2023

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Present simple vs. present continuous

When do we Use the present simple?

When do we Use the present Continuous?

On Saturdays

At the moment

Present Cont.

Present simple

When do we Use these adverbs?

Gameshow time!

Pg. 138Activities 1 - 3 Write the activities in your book

• Mike knows the answer to your question.
• Alice doesn't understand what you want.
• Does your teacher think you work well?

What we think or feel (state verbs)

• I am helping my Dad at his office this week.
• Grace is staying in France for a month.
• They are looking after their friend's dog.

Temporary Situations

• You are learning.
• The world is turning.
• You are not talking.

Something happening right now

• They are playing tennis after school today.
• My friend isn't going on holiday in summer.
• Are you going to the park later?

Future plans

• School starts on Monday.
• My flight leaves at 8:30 tomorrow.
• The concert is next month.

Timetabled events

• I always eat breakfast.
• On Sundays, you don't go to school.
• Does she do her homework at 7pm everyday?

Something that happens regularly

• The sky is blue.
• Water freezes at 0ºc.
• I don't live in England.

• Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

• I speak English.
• I am speaking English.

What is the difference? I speak English – is in the Present Simple tense I am speaking English – is in the Present Continuous tense

When do we use the Present Simple and when do we use the Present Continuous ?

Let’s look at each one…

PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE

We use the present simple tense :

1. For facts or things that are always true or generally true.

• Whales live in the ocean. (This is a fact, this is always true)
• A dog has four legs. (This is generally true, unfortunately some dogs have three legs or less)
• It  rains  a lot in winter. (Yes, this is generally true)
• Water boils at 100º Celsius. (This is a fact, just like the fact that water freezes at 0º Celsius)

The present simple tense is also used…

2. For regular habits or repeated actions

These are often daily routines and they happen always, often, generally, every week, etc.

• I brush my teeth three times a day.
• I read in bed every night.
• He walks to school every day.
• She goes to the gym after work.
• I study for two hours every evening.

Common time expressions used with the present simple tense are:

• always, often, generally, normally, usually, sometimes, never …
• every day, every week, every year… (note the time word is in single form, day, not days.)
• once a day, twice a week, three times a month… (then the rest are four times, five times etc. then A and the time period, a month, a year, a century)
• in the morning, in the afternoon, in the evening, at night (we don’t say in the night )
• on Mondays, on Fridays… (when the day is in plural it refers to all Mondays, all Fridays)

PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE

We use the present continuous tense :

1. An action happening right now at the moment of speaking.

When somebody is doing something right now or something is happening right now.

• I am teaching an English lesson. (Yes, that is what is happening right now)
• You are watching a video.
• Steve  is washing  his hair.
• She is taking her dog for a walk.
• Please be quiet, the baby is sleeping .
• It  is snowing  right now.
• Listen! The birds are singing .

You can see that these actions are happening right now and they are temporary actions, normally for a short period of time.

2. To talk about something that is happening AROUND the time of speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.

This action is in progress and hasn’t finished.

• I  am reading a great book.

(It doesn’t necessarily mean that I am reading a book right at this moment. It refers to this moment of my life. I have started reading this book and I haven’t finished it)

• They are staying at a local hotel because the roof of their house was damaged during the storm.

(It doesn’t necessarily mean they are at the hotel right at this moment. Maybe they are at work right now or somewhere else. This situation is temporary.)

• Jack is learning Italian.

(It doesn’t necessarily mean he is learning the language right now at a desk with all of his language books. It refers to this moment of his life.)

Common time expressions used with the present continuous are:

• Now, right now, at the moment, still

NOTE: Sometimes the present continuous is called the present progressive in some workbooks or lessons.

Now let’s compare the two tenses together…

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Here are the sentences from the beginning of this lesson.

• I speak English
• I am speaking

We say I speak English , because it is a fact. I generally speak English. So we use the Present Simple tense.

We say I am speaking English because it refers to what I am doing now. It is a temporary action because in a moment I might start speaking in Spanish. So we use the Present Continuous.

Let’s compare more sentences:

• I live in England.

We use the Present Simple for things that don’t change for a long time. I plan to live in England for a long time and I don’t plan to change soon. It is more or less permanent. But if I say:

• I am living in London at the moment.

I used the present continuous because this situation is temporary. Next month I plan to live in a different city.

Another example:

• It rains a lot in winter.

We use the present simple because this is a fact or is generally true.

• It is raining right now.

We use the present continuous because we are talking about an action that is happening right now. It is in progress. It will not continue forever, it is temporary. Tomorrow it might be sunny.

Compare these two sentences:

• He is biting his nails because he is nervous.
• He always bites his nails when he’s nervous.

The first sentence shows the action that is happening now… he is biting his nails right now. The second sentence uses the present simple because it is talking about his habit, sometime that he does when he is nervous. Notice how we use the present simple tense with the adverb of frequency, always.

• He teaches at a local school.

That is what he does for a job from Monday to Friday every week. This is his routine.

• He is teaching business at the local school this week.

It is possibly a temporary job he has this week because next week he will return to his normal job or maybe he will teach at another school next week.

Affirmative, Negative, Questions

Let’s compare the present simple and present continuous in affirmative sentences, negative sentences and in questions.

Here are two affirmative sentences:

• I eat cereal every day. (This is my habit, my routine)
• I am eating cereal right now. (This is an action happening now)

Let’s look at the negative form:

• I do not eat cereal every day. (No, sometimes I have pancakes for breakfast)
• I am not eating cereal right now. (No, I am eating broccoli)

We use DO NOT or DOES NOT to make negative sentences in the present simple . Remember, we can use the contractions don’t and doesn’t .

We add NOT between to be and the verb to make negative sentences in the present continuous .

And making questions:

• Do you eat cereal every day? (Is this your habit or routine?)
• Are you eating cereal right now? (Is this what you are doing right now?)

We use DO or DOES to make questions in the present simple tense.

We change the order of the subject (pronoun) and the conjugation of the verb To Be when making questions in the present continuous tense.

Questions – Same verbs, different meanings

Questions can have the same verb but its meaning changes depending on if the question is in the present simple or present continuous. For example:

• What do you do ? = What is your job?
• What are you doing ? = What (action) are you doing at the moment?
• What do you read ? = What type of books do you like to read?
• What are you reading ? = What is the name of the book you are reading right now?
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10 Types of Presentations with Specific Examples

Never underestimate the power of a good presentation. It can help you land the job of your dreams, attract investors to back your idea, or elevate your stature within your organization. Nonetheless, you must use the right presentation type to achieve your goal. So, what are the different types of presentations? Dive in.

Article Last Updated: September 20, 2024

• Informative Presentation
• Persuasive Presentation
• Demonstration or How-to Presentation
• Sales Presentation
• Pitch Presentation
• Training or Instructional Presentation
• Motivational or Inspirational Presentation
• Status or Progress Report Presentation
• Story-telling Presentations
• Problem Solution Presentations

How Zight Can Help you Make your Personalized Video Presentations

Types of presentations to make using zight.

Presentations have been part of our lives since day one—whether it’s nervously standing in front of a class in high school, explaining ideas in college, or pitching a project at work. They’re the backbone of sharing knowledge and getting our points across. However, do you know there are different types of presentations, each with a specific purpose and objective? It can be on anything and everything under the sun – the global economic crisis, the history of a country, a story of how you overcame hardships in life, you name it. These are all presentations, yet each of them is a different kind.

Presentations are used to inform and educate audiences in a fun and informative way. They can also be used with other tools to ensure a successful presentation. One of the best tools for creating a visually appealing presentation is Zight . With features like its screen recorder for capturing live demos, the GIF maker for spicing up your slides, and the webcam recorder for adding a personal touch, Zight helps you deliver more engaging, memorable presentations. We have provided a detailed guide to using Zight below; but you can get started with Zight right away for free.

• Capture or record your screen
• Annotate your screenshots or screen recordings with text, arrows, lines, and blur
• Instantly share with a link

Now, let’s explore each type of presentation and how understanding these styles can elevate your skills.

1. Informative Presentation

As the name suggests, informative presentations provide information or knowledge to the audience about a specific topic. It is one of the most common presentation formats that can be used for many occasions, from educational settings and continuous learning to business environments where information needs to be communicated.

This type of presentation is all about informing and educating your audience. Your main goal is to share knowledge; your role is simply to listen and absorb what you deliver.

This presentation style is perfect for reporting new data, sharing findings, or giving a lecture. Since you’re aiming to teach, your information must be accurate and meaningful. Ensure what you’re presenting adds real value. To keep your audience engaged, use visual presentations to bring your data to life and make it easier to understand.

Examples of Informative Presentations

• TED Talks where experts from various fields captivate audiences by sharing insights from their areas of expertise.
• University lectures also fit the bill, with professors guiding students through presentations tailored to their specific courses.
• Another example is a doctor leading a session on health and wellness , educating the audience about proper nutrition and exercise for a healthier, longer life.

2. Persuasive Presentation

Persuasion is a skill that involves shaping how others think, feel, and act. For many professionals, such as marketers , project managers, and salespeople , being able to deliver persuasive presentations is crucial in their roles.

When creating a persuasive presentation, it’s crucial to ask yourself, ‘What do I want my audience to do after they’ve listened to me?’

The goal is to convince your audience, shift their perspective, or present a fresh viewpoint so that they’re motivated to take action. This approach is particularly useful when introducing a new product or service and you want to spark a strong desire for it.

To be effective, you need to project confidence, as you’re the primary source of information about your product for your audience.

Examples of Persuasive Presentations

From YouTube videos to religious sermons, persuasive presentations are a powerful tool across many areas of life.

• Government agencies might use them in policy debates or election campaigns to rally support and prompt action.
• Senior executives and management teams can leverage persuasive presentations to build trust and gain the confidence of stakeholders.
• TED Talk speakers might rely on this technique to convince their audience of their ideas and make a lasting impression.

3. Demonstration or How-to Presentation

Demonstration presentations, or how-to presentations , guide audiences through detailed processes or techniques, providing step-by-step instructions for easy replication. These presentations are great for teaching practical skills and hands-on procedures, and you’ll often see them in workshops, training sessions , and cooking classes. Using creative slides can boost audience engagement and help people remember the information better.

Incorporating visuals, props, and live demos, speakers break down complex tasks into manageable steps, encouraging audience interaction and effectively addressing questions .

These presentations make complex concepts clearer with the help of visuals and demonstrations. They’re useful for a wide range of audiences, from employees learning new software to investors exploring new technologies.

Preparation is key. Thorough research helps turn complex topics into easy-to-understand sections. Using tools like graphs and charts can simplify difficult information, making it accessible to everyone. This careful planning ensures that all audience members, regardless of their background knowledge, can follow along and stay engaged.

Examples of Demonstration Presentations

• A master class on communication skills or making a product model is a perfect example

4. Sales Presentation

Sales presentations are a crucial type of business presentation, serving as the primary tool for companies aiming to attract and persuade potential clients or customers. A successful sales presentation typically includes essential elements like a clear value proposition, engaging storytelling, confidence, and a powerful call to action.

Sales presentations have a pre-defined strategy for initiating and closing the sales deal . This can be done in person or nowadays, on the phone, or via e-communication. Visual aids are a great way to make your points stand out and stay memorable.

In your sales presentation, your main aim is to showcase a product, service, or idea effectively. It’s vital to understand your audience’s needs so you can tailor your presentation to address those needs directly. Instead of just listing features, focus on how the product adds value for the users .

Emphasize the key benefits, stress what makes your offering unique, and use persuasive language to help guide your audience toward a favorable decision. Close your sales presentation by encouraging your target audience to take the next step, whether scheduling a follow-up meeting , requesting a demo, or making a purchase.

Lastly, you can use a sales presentation to showcase service offerings, introduce new products, or present consultancy proposals, highlighting a business’s expertise and industry experience.

Examples of Sales Presentations

• A sales representative for Zight might present its advanced features , user-friendly interface, and how it can streamline the client’s workflow , boost visual presentation, and ultimately save time and increase productivity .

5. Pitch Presentation

Pitch presentations are designed to present and sell an idea, project, or business to stakeholders. They need to be concise, engaging and focused on highlighting the value proposition. As key decision-making tools, pitch presentations should be impactful and to the point, clearly outlining the problem your idea solves, offering a unique solution, and showcasing the potential benefits.

Ensure to highlight your strengths, experience, and achievements. Your confidence will significantly influence the decision-making process, so prepare thoroughly for any questions that might come up. Using visual aids , data charts, and a summary slide can also help make the decision easier for your audience.

Examples of Pitch Presentations

• You’re presenting a fitness app designed for busy professionals, sharing your struggle to balance work and health, and showcasing how your app’s tailored workout plans, AI-driven tracking, and time-efficient meal tips can meet this market need while inviting investors to support its growth and make a significant impact.

6. Training or Instructional Presentation

Instructional presentations provide step-by-step instructions on how to perform a task or complete a process. They’re similar to educational presentations, but they might include some extra details or specific steps for the audience to follow. They are often used in training , education, and technical fields where they give people new information and help them develop new skills.

Whether you’re showing your audience how to use new software , explaining a manufacturing process, or breaking down a complex idea, instructional presentations are great for making information easy to understand and digest. In addition, creating an interactive presentation by incorporating elements like quizzes or group activities to reinforce understanding can forge a better connection.

Examples of Training or Instructional Presentations

• Suppose you are in HR. You might create an instructional presentation to explain how employees can sign up for the new insurance plan.

7. Motivational or Inspirational Presentation

Need a morale boost? Presentations aren’t just about teaching new concepts but they can also be a source of inspiration and motivation. Motivational presentations are all about encouraging your audience to chase their dreams, lift the audience’s spirits, tackle their challenges, and take action in their lives.

Think of the pep talks you hear at corporate events or personal growth seminars . When done well, motivational presentations can really charge your audience, thus getting your call to action across to your target audience .

To come up with a great informative presentation, use the power of emotions to create a stronger connection with your audience. Your body language and tone of voice play a crucial role in resonance with them, so use them wisely.

In addition, starting with an inspiring, engaging story or personal anecdote is a fantastic way to set the stage and give your audience a glimpse of what’s to come. Keep the energy up throughout, and finish your inspirational presentations with a strong call to action to motivate your audience. This approach helps establish a personal connection and sets the tone for your presentation.

Leaders in organizations will often use a motivational presentation to boost employee morale , which encourages them to work harder. Similarly, recruiters might use these types of presentations to showcase employee success stories and get potential hires excited about joining the company.

Examples of Motivational or Inspirational Presentations

• Think of a sports coach giving a passionate pep talk to their team before a major game like in college football to fire them up and boost their energy.
• Or imagine a TEDx Talk by a famous entrepreneur sharing their secrets to success in the business world, motivating and inspiring the audience with their journey and insights.

8. Status or Progress Report Presentation

When you’re deep into a project, keeping all your stakeholders informed is important. That’s where progress presentations come in handy. They provide a status check of what’s been accomplished, showcase any achievements, and outline any challenges faced along with the next steps.

Business managers and project teams commonly use these presentations to update everyone on the project’s status. This helps manage expectations and ensures that everyone is aligned and on the same page.

Examples of Status or Progress Report Presentations

• Research and doctoral students often update their advisors on their thesis progress.
• Project managers , particularly in IT, regularly share progress reports with their clients.
• Scientists also present their latest research findings at conferences to keep their peers informed.

Worthy Read: Presentation Design Tips to Wow Your Audience

9. Story-telling Presentations

Here’s a type of presentation that blends education, instruction, and motivation into one: storytelling presentations. They rely on the power of a compelling narrative to engage, entertain, and deliver a message. The beauty of the storytelling style is that it doesn’t have a set stage. You’ll find it everywhere, from classrooms and corporate seminars to casual social gatherings, connecting with audiences on a personal level.

Examples of Story-telling Presentations

• Keynote speakers at graduation ceremonies could share their personal journeys and inspiring stories with the audience.
• History teachers could bring past events to life by recounting thrilling historical battles to capture their students’ interest.
• TEDx speakers often open up about their life stories and the challenges they’ve faced, making their experiences relatable and impactful.

10. Problem Solution Presentations

There are times when you’ll face a problem and need to find a solution, and a problem-solution presentation is perfect for that. Whether you’re a team leader tackling a project issue or a scientist proposing a breakthrough solution to a longstanding problem, this type of presentation has you covered.

You’ll often see problem-solution presentations in business meetings, scientific conferences, and even political debates, where they help identify issues and advocate for effective solutions.

Remember, persuasion is your friend here. You want to ensure your audience sees why your solution is the best fit for the problem at hand.

Examples of Problem Solution Presentations

• A board meeting where the CEO lays out a strategic plan to tackle a financial crisis or discusses solutions for merger challenges.
• A climate scientist at a conference unveiled groundbreaking technology designed to combat the climate crisis.
• Even in political debates, candidates often outline their policies to tackle urgent social issues, like when Biden and Trump presented their plans during the last election.

Zight’s strengths lie in how it effortlessly combines personalized visual storytelling with functional screen sharing. By combining screen recordings and webcam footage, you can explain your ideas more clearly while keeping your audience visually connected.

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to make personalized video presentations using Zight.

Step 1: Install and Launch Zight

First, download and install Zight on your Mac or PC. Once installed, log into your Zight account. If you’re new, signing up is quick, and you’ll gain access to all features with the free trial.

Step 2: Choose Your Recording Mode

Zight offers different options for capturing your presentation:

• Screen Recording Only : Ideal for how-to guides, software tutorials, or product demos where the focus is on the presentation being shared.
• Webcam + Screen Recording : Use this feature to add a personal touch to your presentations. You can overlay your webcam feed on the screen, making your video feel more connected and human.

To use Webcam + Screen Recording , click on the screen recording button on the Zight dashboard and choose the option to record both screen and webcam.

Step 3: Customize Your Video Settings

Once you’ve selected your recording mode, you can adjust the camera and microphone settings:

• Choose Webcam : Pick the camera you want to use (built-in or external).
• Select Microphone : Zight allows you to select which microphone to record your voice with for clear narration.

Ensure your video is framed properly, and the audio levels are correct for a professional output.

Step 4: Start Recording

Click the Record button to start your screen recording. You can record your entire screen or just a portion, depending on what you need to show. Either you:

• Narrate While Recording : Speak naturally as you move through your presentation, using the webcam feed to make direct eye contact with your viewers. This helps build rapport, especially during a product demonstration presentation, onboarding videos , or training sessions .
• Demonstrate Features or Ideas : Walk through your presentation slides, show product features, or explain complex topics with your webcam, adding a personal touch.

Once your presentation is finished, click Stop Recording . Zight automatically saves your video to your account. Before sharing, you can watch the video to ensure everything looks and sounds good.

Step 5: Edit Your Video (Optional)

Zight offers basic video editing tools that allow you to:

• Trim : Cut out any unnecessary parts at the beginning or end of the video.
• Add Captions : If needed, you can add captions for accessibility or emphasis.
• Annotations : You can go back and annotate the video with highlights, arrows, or text, making it easier for diverse audiences to follow along

Step 8: Share Your Personalized Presentation

Once you’re satisfied with your video presentation, sharing it is simple. Zight generates a sharable link that can be copied and sent via email, embedded on websites , or posted on social media. You can also download the video if needed for offline use.

Additionally, Zight allows you to adjust privacy settings, giving you control over who can view your video.

• Product Demonstration Presentations – Log into Zight and record your screen to demonstrate the product in action while appearing in the corner of the video to provide live commentary via the webcam. This dual approach lets viewers see both the product and your explanations, creating a more relatable and informative experience.
• How-To Guides – Click record on the Zight app to record your screen and walk your audience through the step-by-step instructions while using your webcam to provide additional commentary and tips. Adding your webcam presence ensures they see the person behind the instructions, which helps in building trust and making complex processes feel more approachable.
• Podcast-Style Style Presentations- Create compelling video podcasts where you discuss topics or interview guests . You can combine your screen recordings with webcam footage to create a podcast-style presentation where you share slides or data on your screen while appearing on camera to discuss the topic. This format works well for interviews , discussions, or solo commentary, making your presentation feel dynamic and personable.
• Sales and Pitch Presentations – Show off your product’s features on screen while using the Zight app and your webcam. This combination helps build rapport and trust with potential clients , making your pitch more persuasive.

Luckily for you, we have a detailed guide here: Make your sales pitch stand out by recording your presentation with Zight .

• Training and Educational Presentations – Another way Zight can help with your presentations is by helping enhance your training materials by recording tutorials with both screen and webcam. Your webcam overlay personalizes the learning experience, making the session more interactive and engaging. Such presentations serve as an effective way to ensure your audience understands and retains the information.

By now you can tell that each presentation style is unique in its own way and is effective in different situations. However, some are universal, and by modifying them a little bit, you can use them for various purposes. Also, to come up with impactful presentations, don’t leave out Zight. As a matter of fact, start by signing up and getting started .

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