Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple Present Continuous

Things which are always true: Things which are happening at the
 Water boils at 100 degrees. moment of speaking:
 The water is boiling now, so you
can put in the pasta.
Permanent situations (or nearly Temporary situations:
permanent; true for a few years at least):  Julie is living in Paris for a few
 Julie lives in London. months (usually she lives in
London).

Situations which are slowly changing:

 I'm getting better and better at
speaking English.

Habits or things we do regularly: Temporary or new habits:

 I drink coffee every morning.  I'm drinking too much coffee
these days because I'm so busy at
work.

Annoying habits (usually with 'always'):

 My flatmate is always leaving the
kitchen in a mess!
Future events which are part of a Definite future plans:
timetable:  I'm meeting John after class
 My plane leaves at eight tonight. 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, To talk about people in pictures and
plays and films: photos:
 At the end of the book, the  In this photo, my mother is
detective catches the killer. walking beside a lake.
 Frequency Adverbs we use with the Present Simple

With the present simple we use these frequency adverbs:

(Notice that the adverb comes before the main verb in the sentence.)

Always: ‘I always read before I go to bed.’

Often: ‘Her sister often comes shopping with us.’

Frequently(Часто) :‘Michael frequently visits his family.’

Sometimes:‘You sometimes go to the gym, don’t you?’

Occasionally(Час від часу):‘It occasionally rains in summer.’

Seldom(Рідко):‘They seldom ask for help.’

Rarely(Рідко): ‘He rarely goes out without his backpack.’

Hardly ever:‘I hardly ever eat pizza.’

Never: ‘Japanese people never wear shoes inside.’

Time Expressions we use with the Present Continuous

With the present continuous we use these time expressions:

(Notice that the time expression can come at the start or at the end of the sentence.)

At the moment: ‘I’m watching TV, at the moment.’

These days(Цими днями): ‘Paul’s living in Cardiff, these days.’

Now: ‘What are you doing, now?’

Nowadays(Зараз, у ці дні): ‘I think you are smoking too much, nowadays.’

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.

Stative verbs
Possession Власність
have I have two brothers and one sister.
own Володіти/мати She owns a big house.
possess володіти Jane possesses that garden.
lack Не вистачати People of Africa lack water.
consist Мати/складати This course consists of 10 themes.
involve Залучати Physics involves math.
include Включати/враховувати They don’t include me in a team.
contain Становити/складати “Apple” contains 5 letters.
Belong Належати This book belonged to my
grandfather.
Mental States
Know I don’t know where she is.
Believe I don’t believe the news.
Understand I don’t understand this question.
Doubt Піддавати I doubt what you are saying.
сумнівам/сумніватися
Think (have an opinion) Вважаю Dad thinks it’s a good idea.
Suppose Допускати I suppose we shouldn’t do it.
Recognize I don’t recognize it.
Forget Can you forget me?
Remember Tom doesn’t remember where he
was.
Imagine Imagine you are in space космос.
Mean Мати на увазі She means not going.
Agree She didn’t agree with us.
Disagree I disagree with you.
Deny Заперечувати/відкидати Lily always denies my propositions.
Promise I promise we will meet again.
Realise Усвідомлювати Derek realizes he is late.
Appear Схоже на те It appears to be raining.
Concern Турбувати It concerns me a lot.
Emotions
Love I love my mum.
Like I like pizza.
Dislike Lucy doesn’t like coffee.
Hate His older brother hates pineapple.
Adore Обожнювати She adores her mother.
Prefer Надавати перевагу I prefer comedies.
Care for Піклуватися про He cares for me.
Mind За I don’t mind going to the cinema.
Want They want pasta, not pizza.
Need We need your help.
Desire Прагнути I desire to win.
Wish You wish it was your fault.
Hope I hope we meet again.
Appreciate Цінувати I appreciate what you are doing.
Value Цінувати He values this ring the most.
Senses
Sound It sounds nice.
Hear Do you hear the music?
Smell Мати запах It smells good.
See I can see you.
Taste Мати смак It tastes good.
Touch Can you touch it?
Fell Вважати/думати I don’t feel it’s a good idea.
Look Виглядати/здаватися It looks like it’s going to rain.
Measure(Міри), Cost and others
Cost It costs 30$.
Measure Мати якусь довжину This window measures 150cm.
Weigh Мати якусь вагу This cake weighs 450g.
Owe Бути в боргу I owe you £20.
Seem Здаватися The weather seems to be
improving.
Fit Підходити This shirt fits me well.
Depend Залежити It depends on the weather.
Matter Мати значення It doesn’t matter.

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(частина) of your personality
you are being stupid = only now, not usually
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 (also: taste (stative) = has a certain taste
smell, feel, This soup tastes great
look) taste (dynamic) = the action of tasting
The chef is tasting the soup
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