Present Continuous vs. Present Simple

Want to understand the uses of the simple present and present continuous?


Here take a look.

TENSES.

Simple Present Tense.

We use the simple present tense to talk about:

Uses	Examples
Facts	Alan and Lu are professors at the university. Alan works in the Physics department. Lu teaches music.
Habits, routines & customs	Lu has classes every day. Alan doesn’t have classes on Tuesdays or Thursdays. Lu celebrates Thanksgiving with her family every year. Alan smokes cigars to celebrate victories.
Opinions	Do they enjoy their work? Lu enjoys her classes very much. Alan doesn’t like to teach. Alan thinks he is wasting his time doing that.
A person’s profile	My name is John Smith. I live on Sunset Boulevard. I work for a real estate company. I am a realtor. I am 35 years old.
The generalities of a job	What does a secretary do? She answers the phone. She organizes the office. She helps her boss with his work.
Likes & dislikes	Betty really loves ice cream. Jack hates cats. He is allergic to them. Sue really likes going to the cinema.
Possession	I have a car. Mary owns a yacht. This car belongs to my brother.
Things in general: Something is true in general	Cats are not as faithful as dogs. The earth goes around the sun. Women love hugs. The sky is blue. People die.
Repeated events	I usually take a shower in the morning. Winters come every year. Tonho goes out every night.
Frequency	I always wake up at 8:00 am. Jack usually visits relatives on weekends. Sonia sometimes skips breakfast.
Permanent events	I live in San Salvador. John works in San Salvador. Tony has a beautiful family.
Reference to the future	Next year, Alan has a sabbatical. He doesn’t teach next year. What time does the bank open?

Form

Forms	Examples
Affirmative	I live in New York. Tony loves chocolates. We need another job. Betty goes to work every day. They travel abroad every year.
Negative	I don’t live in Zaca-1000. I don’t like eggplant. Mary doesn’t watch TV every night. Betty doesn’t cook lunch on weekends. They don’t want to find a job.
Questions	Do you need any money?                   / Yes, I do. Does Jack live in Las Arboledas?       / No, he doesn’t. Do they train every week?                   / No, they don’t. Do we know each other?                     / No, we don’t. Does Caroline love ice cream?            / Yes, she does.
Spelling: -s Spelling: -es	Verbs that finish with b, g, l, m, n, etc. Works  lives   travels   visits   speaks   runs    gets Verbs that end with ss, s,  ch, sh, x, o, & y. Watches   crashes  kisses   goes   focuses  studies

USE 1 Repeated Actions

Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.

Examples:

I play tennis.

She does not play tennis.

Does he play tennis?

The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.

The train does not leave at 9 AM.

When does the train usually leave?

She always forgets her purse.

He never forgets his wallet.

Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.

Does the Sun circle the Earth?

USE 2 Facts or Generalizations

The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact. It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.

Examples:

Cats like milk.

Birds do not like milk.

Do pigs like milk?

California is in America.

California is not in the United Kingdom.

Windows are made of glass.

Windows are not made of wood.

New York is a small city. It is not important that this fact is untrue.

USE 3 Scheduled Events in the Near Future

Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future. This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with other scheduled events as well.

Examples:

The train leaves tonight at 6 PM.

The bus does not arrive at 11 AM, it arrives at 11 PM.

When do we board the plane?

The party starts at 8 o'clock.

When does class begin tomorrow?

USE 4 Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

Speakers sometimes use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only be done with Non-Continuous Verbs and certain Mixed Verbs.

Examples:

I am here now.

She is not here now.

He needs help right now.

He does not need help now.

He has his passport in his hand.

Do you have your passport with you?

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You only speak English.

Do you only speak English?

The Present Continuous.

We use the present continuous to talk about:

Uses	Examples
Accusing	Mom, Bill is pulling my hair!! Tell him to stop!! Dad, Katie is eating my food!!
Complaining	What? I’m always running the errands. Send Billy. You’re always watching TV. Help me clean up!!
Criticizing	She’s always talking about her new boyfriend!! Look. He’s wearing a very funny outfit!!
Changes: Abrupt & gradual	You’re being very nice to me today. What do you want? The sky is getting darker and darker.
Describing a picture	In this picture, I am skiing in Aspen. Here, my sister is celebrating her sweet sixteen.
Explaining	A.   What are you doing? B.   I’m classifying these insects.
Current events	Look at those people. What language are they speaking? Can we stop soon? I’m getting tired.
Excusing someone for not coming to the phone	A.   May I speak to Mary, please? B.   Sorry, she’s taking a shower now.
Describing the background of a story	The wind is blowing and the sun is shining. It’s a perfect day to fly a kite. As we are moving along, people are curious and stare at us. We ignore them. She is tall and I’m short, so what?!!
Temporary situations	I’m looking for a job. Can you help me find one? My brother is staying at my sister’s house until he finds an apartment.

USE 1 Now

Use the Present Continuous with Normal Verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.

Examples:

You are learning English now.

You are not swimming now.

Are you sleeping?

I am sitting.

I am not standing.

Is he sitting or standing?

They are reading their books.

They are not watching television.

What are you doing?

Why aren't you doing your homework?

USE 2 Longer Actions in Progress Now

In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the Present Continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.

Examples: (All of these sentences can be said while eating dinner in a restaurant.)

I am studying to become a doctor.

I am not studying to become a dentist.

I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.

I am not reading any books right now.

Are you working on any special projects at work?

Aren't you teaching at the university now?

USE 3 Near Future

Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.

Examples:

I am meeting some friends after work.

I am not going to the party tonight.

Is he visiting his parents next weekend?

Isn't he coming with us tonight?

USE 4 Repetition and Irritation with "Always"

The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."

Examples:

She is always coming to class late.

He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.

I don't like them because they are always complaining.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using Present Continuous with these verbs, you must use Simple Present.

Examples:

She is loving this chocolate ice cream. Not Correct

She loves this chocolate ice cream. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You are still watching TV.

Are you still watching TV?

Form

Form	Example
Affirmative Statements	We’re doing our homework now. Mary is studying the lesson now. They’re playing BKB outside. I’m watching TV now.
Negative Statements	I’m not kidding. This is serious. Jack is not working hard. We aren’t doing the dishes yet. They aren’t flying their kites.
Questions	Are you doing the homework now? / Yes, I am. Is Betty watching TV now?              / No, she isn’t. Are they fighting again?                   / Yes, they are. Is John studying the lesson?           /No, he isn’t.
Spelling	Picnic – picnicking   Traffic – trafficking Panic – panicking    mimic – mimicking Tie – tying  die – dying  untie – untying Lie – lying  dye – dyeing Take – taking  Bake – baking  ride – riding Write – writing  make – making  rake – raking Run – running  spit – spitting  stir – stirring Get – getting  hop – hopping  hug – hugging Begin – beginning  repel – repelling  refer – referring Study – studying  fly – flying  play – playing

Verb Tense Exercise 1

Simple Present / Present Continuous

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

1. Every Monday, Sally (drive) her kids to football practice.

2. Usually, I (work) as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)  French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep) .

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain).

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always).

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)  because everybody (talk)  so loudly.

7. Justin (write, currently)  a book about his adventures in Tibet. I hope he can find a good publisher when he is finished.

8. Jim: Do you want to come over for dinner tonight?

Denise: Oh, I'm sorry, I can't. I (go)  to a movie tonight with some friends.

9. The business cards (be, normally )  printed by a company in New York. Their prices (be)  inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

10. This delicious chocolate (be)  made by a small chocolatier in Zurich, Switzerland.

Verb Tense Exercise 2

Simple Present / Present Continuous

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, then click the "Check" button to check your answers.

A Trekking Journal

November 12, 1997

Today (be)  the second day of my trek around Mount Annapurna. I am exhausted and my legs (shake)  ; I just hope I am able to complete the trek. My feet (kill, really)  me and my toes (bleed) , but I (want, still)  to continue.

Nepal is a fascinating country, but I have a great deal to learn. Everything (be)  so different, and I (try)  to adapt to the new way of life here. I (learn)  a little bit of the language to make communication easier; unfortunately, I (learn, not)  foreign languages quickly. Although I (understand, not)  much yet, I believe that I (improve, gradually) .

I (travel, currently)  with Liam, a student from Leeds University in England. He (be)  a nice guy, but impatient. He (walk, always)  ahead of me and (complain)  that I am too slow. I (do)  my best to keep up with him, but he is younger and stronger than I am. Maybe, I am just feeling sorry for myself because I am getting old.

Right now, Liam (sit)  with the owner of the inn. They (discuss)  the differences between life in England and life in Nepal. I (know, not)  the real name of the owner, but everybody (call, just)  him Tam. Tam (speak) English very well and he (try) to teach Liam some words in Nepali. Every time Tam (say) a new word, Liam (try) to repeat it. Unfortunately, Liam (seem, also) to have difficulty learning foreign languages. I just hope we don't get lost and have to ask for directions.

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Choose the correct form for each verb.

1. Look! Emily ________ into the water.

  a)    jumps

  b)    is jumping

2. I ________ to the beach next Thursday. Do you want to come?

  a)    go

  b)    am going

3. Once a week, I ________ to an art class at the college.

  a)    go

  b)    am going

4. Mario is rich — he ________ a Ferrari.

  a)    drives

  b)    is driving

5. I ________ you're crazy!

  a)    think

  b)    am thinking

6. Juliette isn't Canadian. I ________ she comes from France.

  a)    believe

  b)    am believing

7. Don't give Julia any cheese. She ________ it!

  a)    hates

  b)    is hating

8. It ________ quite hard — perhaps we shouldn't go out tonight.

  a)    rains

  b)    is raining

9. I ________ lunch in the cafeteria every day.

  a)    have

  b)    am having

10. You won't find Diego at home right now. He ________ in the library.

  a)    studies

  b)    is studying