When should I use the Present Simple?

1: We use the present simple when something is generally or always true.

• People need food.

• It snows in winter here.
• Two and two make four.

2: Similarly, we need to use this tense for a situation that we think is more or less permanent. (See the present continuous
for temporary situations.)

• Where do you live?

• She works in a bank.
• I don't like mushrooms.

3: The next use is for habits or things that we do regularly. We often use adverbs of frequency (such as ‘often’, ‘always’ and
‘sometimes’) in this case, as well as expressions like ‘every Sunday’ or ‘twice a month’. (See the present continuous for new ,
temporary or annoying habits).

• Do you smoke?
• I play tennis every Tuesday.
• I don't travel very often.

4: We can also use the present simple for short actions that are happening now. The actions are so short that they are
finished almost as soon as you’ve said the sentence. This is often used with sports commentary, or in demonstrations.

• He takes the ball, he runs down the wing, and he scores! First I put some butter in the pan and turn on the cooker.

When should I use the Present Continuous?

1: First, we use the present continuous for things that are happening at the moment of speaking. These things usually last
for quite a short time and they are not finished when we are talking about them.

• I'm working at the moment.

• Please call back as we are eating dinner now.
• Julie is sleeping.

2: We can also use this tense for other kinds of temporary situations, even if the action isn’t happening at this moment.

• John's working in a bar until he finds a job in his field. (He might not be working now.)
• I'm reading a really great book.
• She’s staying with her friend for a week.
 Compare this with the present simple, which is used for permanent situations that we feel will continue for a long
time.

• I work in a school. (I think this is a permanent situation.)

• I’m working in a school. (I think this is a temporary situation.)

3: We can use the present continuous for temporary or new habits (for normal habits that continue for a long time, we use
the present simple). We often use this with expressions like ‘these days’ or ‘at the moment’.

• He's eating a lot these days.

• She's swimming every morning (she didn't use to do this). You're smoking too much.

4: Another present continuous use is for habits that are not regular, but that happen very often. In this case we usually use
an adverb like 'always', 'forever' or 'constantly'. Often, we use the present continuous in this way to talk about an annoying
habit.

• You're forever losing your keys!

• She's constantly missing the train.
• Lucy’s always smiling!

→ Future Uses

5: The next use is for definite future arrangements (with a future time word). In this case we have already made a plan and
we are pretty sure that the event will happen in the future.

• I'm meeting my father tomorrow.

• We're going to the beach at the weekend.
• I'm leaving at three.

We can't use this tense (or any other continuous tense) with stative verbs.

What's the difference?

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Continuous
Present Simple

Things which are happening at the moment of speaking: The

Things which are always true: Water boils at 100 degrees. water is boiling now, so you can put in the pasta.
 Temporary situations: Julie is living in Paris for a few months
(usually she lives in London).
Permanent situations (or nearly permanent; true for a few
years at least): Julie lives in London.
Situations which are slowly changing: I'm getting better and
better at speaking English.
Temporary or new habits: I'm drinking too much coffee
these days because I'm so busy at work.
Habits or things we do regularly: I drink coffee every morning.
Annoying habits (usually with 'always'): My flat mate is always
leaving the kitchen in a mess!
Future events which are part of a timetable: My plane leaves
at eight tonight.
Definite future plans: I'm meeting John after class today.
To talk about the future after certain words ('when' 'until'
'after' 'before' 'as soon as'): I'll call you when I get home.
To talk about what happens in books, plays and films: At the To talk about people in pictures and photos: In this photo,
end of the book, the detective catches the killer. my mother is walking beside a lake.

Remember: 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.

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous tenses (like

the present continuous, or the future continuous). These verbs often describe states that last for some time. Here is a list

of some common ones:

Stative (or State) Verb List

like know belong consist hear astonish surprise

love realise fit seem disagree deserve taste

hate suppose contain depend satisfy lack sound

want mean please matter doubt owe impress

measure
weigh (=have feel (=have an
need understand promise see (=have length
weight) opinion)
etc)

think (=have an
prefer believe look (=seem) wish concern involve
opinion)
 appear
agree remember imagine smell dislike have

mind recognise be deny possess include own

A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

Some verbs can be both stative and dynamic:

Be

be is usually a stative verb, but when it is used in the continuous it means 'behaving' or 'acting'

• you are stupid = it's part of your personality

• you are being stupid = only now, not usually

Think

• think (stative) = have an opinion

I think that coffee is great
• think (dynamic) = consider, have in my head
what are you thinking about? I'm thinking about my next holiday

Have

• have (stative) = own

I have a car
• have (dynamic) = part of an expression
I'm having a party / a picnic / a bath / a good time / a break

See

• see (stative) = see with your eyes / understand

I see what you mean
I see her now, she's just coming along the road
• see (dynamic) = meet / have a relationship with
I've been seeing my boyfriend for three years
I'm seeing Robert tomorrow

Taste

• taste (stative) = has a certain taste

This soup tastes great
The coffee tastes really bitter
• taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup

('taste' is the same as other similar verbs such as 'smell')

Exercises:
I. Are the underline verbs right or wrong? Correct them where necessary:
a. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
b. The water boils. Can you turn it off?
c. Look! That man tries to open the door of your car.
d. Can you hear those people? What do they talk about?
e. The moon goes round the earth in about 27 days.
f. I must go now. It gets late.
g. I hear you´ve got a new job. How do you get on?
h. They don’t get on well. They´re always arguing.
II. Choose the correct alternative:
Hi Kai,
(1)I´m having/I have a great time here in Canada. My MSc course (2) isn´t starting/doesn´t start until next month, so (3)I´m
making/I make use of the time to get to know the place. (4)I´m staying/I stay near Vancouver with Ryan, my Canadian
cousin. He and his brother Glen (5) are owning/own a software business. In the evenings (6) we´re driving/ we drive into
the city and go clubbing or see a movie. (7) I´m making/I make a lot of new friends. (8) I´m thinking/I think my pronunciation
is much better already, and (9) I´m understanding/I understand almost everything. On weekdays (10) I´m helping/I help
Glen. At the moment (11) he is working/works on their website and (12) he is needing/needs help with it. (13) I am
learning/learn some useful stuff about how people (14) are doing/do business in this country. (15) Do you come/are you
coming to see me? (16)I´m spending/I spend the winter holiday skiing with Ryan and Glen. (17) They are wanting/want to
meet you and there´s plenty of space. You must bring lots of warm clothes because (18) it is getting/gets really cold here
in the winter. Let me know as soon as (19) you are decided/decide. And tell me what (20) you are doing/do these days.
See you in December, I hope.
Pedro
III. Tick (✓) the sentences which are correct. In some pairs, one sentence is correct. In other pairs, both sentences are
correct.
a. What do you think of my hair? What are you thinking of my hair?
 b. You look good today! You´re looking good today!
c. Do you enjoy your meal? Are you enjoying your meal?
d. Where do you live? Where are you living?
e. My brother looks for a new job. My brother is looking for a new job.
IV. Chose the words from the box and make sentences ending as shown. Use verbs in the present continuous or
present simple and any other words you need.
My best friend My boss My boyfriend My father
Our children Our next-door neighbour None of my friends

a. My boyfriend is studying for his final exams this term.

b. _________________________________________________________________________ very often.
c. _________________________________________________________________________ right now.
d. _________________________________________________________________________ at the moment.
e. _________________________________________________________________________ at weekends.
f. _________________________________________________________________________ right now.
g. _________________________________________________________________________ every week.