The present simple and the present continuous are two verb tenses that are used to

talk about the present time in English. However, they have different meanings and
uses depending on the context and the type of verb. Let’s look at each tense in more
detail.

Present Simple
The present simple is formed by using the base form of the verb (e.g. work, play, eat)
and adding -s or -es for the third person singular (he, she, it). For example:

 I work as a teacher.
 He plays soccer every weekend.
 She eats healthy food.

The present simple is used to talk about:

 Permanent facts and general truths. For example:
1
o Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
1
o The Earth revolves around the Sun
1
o Julie lives in London
 Regular habits or repeated actions. For example:
2
o I drink coffee every morning
2
o She studies hard for her exams
2
o They go to the gym twice a week
 Future events that are part of a timetable or schedule. For example:
1
o My plane leaves at 8 pm tonight
1
o The concert starts at 7:30 pm
1
o She has a dentist appointment tomorrow
 To talk about what happens in books, plays, and films. For example:
3
o At the end of the book, the detective catches the killer
3
o In this scene, Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time
3
o The movie tells the story of a boy who finds a magic lamp

The present simple is also used with some stative verbs that describe a state or
condition rather than an action. These verbs are not normally used in the present
continuous. Some examples of stative verbs are: know, suppose, think, understand,
admire, adore, detest, hate, like, respect, smell, taste, consist, contain, last, promise,
swear. For example:

 He knows a lot about cars4

 I like this song4
 She promises to be careful4

Present Continuous
The present continuous is formed by using the verb to be and adding the -ing form of
the verb (e.g. working, playing, eating). For example:

 I am working on a project.
 He is playing soccer right now.
 She is eating a sandwich.

The present continuous is used to talk about:

 Things that are happening at the moment of speaking or around now. For
example:
1
o The water is boiling now, so you can put in the pasta
1
o She is living with her parents for a few months
1
o They are speaking Portuguese in Brazil
 Temporary or new situations that are not permanent or usual. For example:
2
o I am drinking too much coffee these days because I’m so busy at work
2
o She is studying French for her trip to Paris
2
o They are going to the gym more often to get fit
 Future plans or arrangements that are already decided or confirmed. For
example:
1
o I am meeting John after class today
1
o She is flying to New York tomorrow morning
1
o They are getting married next month
 To talk about people in pictures and photos. For example:
3
o In this photo, my mother is walking beside a lake
3
o Here you can see my friends and me having fun at the beach
o This is a picture of my grandfather when he was young. He is riding a
horse3

The present continuous can also be used with always or constantly to express
annoyance or criticism about something that happens too often or too much. For
example:

 He is always leaving his clothes on the floor.

 She is constantly talking on the phone.
 They are always complaining about everything.

History
The present simple and the present continuous have different origins and histories in
the English language.
The present simple comes from the Old English present indicative tense, which was
formed by adding different endings to the verb stem depending on the person and
number (e.g. ic singe “I sing”, þu singst “you sing”, he singþ “he sings”). The Old
English present indicative tense was used to express both present and future time, as
well as habitual or general actions5
The present continuous comes from the Middle English present progressive tense,
which was formed by using the verb to be and the present participle of the verb (e.g. I
am singinge “I am singing”, he is singinge “he is singing”). The Middle English present
progressive tense was used to express ongoing actions in the present or near future,
as well as temporary or new situations6

The present simple and the present continuous have evolved and changed over time,
but they still retain some of their original meanings and uses in modern English.