PRESENT SIMPLE vs.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Use:

We use Present Continuous for:

1) things that are happening at the moment of speaking;

Ex.: John is writing his homework now.
2) things that are temporary and are happening around now, but maybe not at the moment of
speaking;
Ex.: Charles is applying for every job he hears about.
3) fixed future arrangements:
Ex.: I’m going to visit my grandparents this weekend.
4) annoying habits:
Ex.: She’s always reading my notes without asking.
5) currently changing and developing situations:
Ex.: The air is becoming more and more polluted.

We use Present Simple for:

6) general truths and laws of nature;

Ex.: Water freezes at 0C.
7) daily routines and things we always / sometimes / never do;
Ex.: Mary sometimes reads the newspaper.
8) timetables / schedules / programmes:
Ex.: The plane arrives at nine o’clock tomorrow morning.
9) verbs that describe states (be, want, like, etc.):
Ex.: Anna likes watching TV.

ACTIVITY AND STATE VERBS

 Activity verbs talk about activities and actions. We can use activity verbs in Present
Simple and Present Continuous. Some common activity verbs are: play, work, write, run,
eat or do.
Ex.: Andrew plays football every day.
 State verbs talk about states, feelings and opinions. We don’t usually use state verbs in
Present Continuous (or other continuous verb forms).
Ex.:
Correct: I love you.
Wrong: I am loving you.
 Some verbs can be both activity and state verbs.
Ex.: I am having dinner with my parents tonight (activity).
I have a nice car (state).
FORM:

 We write sentences in Present Continuous as follows:

Subject + be (not) + verb-ing + object
Ex.: We are not walking home.

 We write questions in Present Continuous as follows:

Be + Subject + verb-ing + object (yes / no questions)
Ex.: Are you coming to the cinema tomorrow?

Wh-word + be + subject +verb-ing + object (wh- questions)

Ex.: What are you doing home?

 We write sentences in Present Simple as follows:

Subject + verb + object
Ex.: I like you.
Subject + do/does + not + verb + object
I don’t understand you.
 We write questions in Present Simple as follows:
Do/Does + Subject + verb + object (yes / no questions)
Ex.: Do you want milk?
Wh-word + do/does + Subject + verb + object (wh-question)
Ex.: What does he do here?

 TIME EXPRESSIONS - Present Continuous: now, today, tonight, at the moment, these
days, nowadays, still etc.
 TIME EXPRESSIONS - Present Simple: usually, often, always, every day / month / year,
in the morning / afternoon / evening, at night, on Fridays etc.