PRESENT SIMPLE

VS
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 CONTENT:

• Present actions;
• Future Actions;
• Non-Continuous Verbs
 PRESENT ACTIONS
Present Simple
 General truths!
eg.: Water boils at 100 degrees C.
 Permanent situations!
eg.: She works in publishing! Julie lives in London!
 Regular actions or habits!
eg.: I usually get to office by car!
Present Continuous
 Action occurring at the moment of speaking!
eg.: The water is boiling now, so you can put in the
pasta
 Temporary situations for a period at the present time!
eg.: Julia is working for a new employer that is why she
is living in Paris (she usually lives in Rome)
 Situations changing during the present time!
eg.: He is getting better
 Temporary or new actions ad habits/Action occurring
at the moment of speaking!
eg.: I’m drinking too much coffee these days because
I’m so busy at work! I am using Mary’s phone because I
left mine at home!
 Present Simple Present Continuous
 Regular actions or habits with “always: - “ever  Annoying actions/habits with “always” – “all the
time” time”
eg.: He always does well at his tests! eg.: You are always losing something! My flatmate is
always leaving the kitchen in a mess!
 To tell stories, summarize the plot of a book/film.  To talk about people in pictures and photos
eg.: At the end of the book, the detective catches killer! eg.: In this photo, my mother is walking beside a lake!
 In live commentaries when the report take place at the same time as the actions.
eg.: She makes a wonderful return. She is playing superb tennis in this match.
 In newspaper headlines to describe the events that have already happened.
eg.: I wonder/I am wondering – more friendly and polite, particularly if we are unsure about the listener’s reaction
to what we say.
 Never!  Never…again
eg.: I never miss an opportunity of going to the theatre. eg.: I am never speaking to you again.
 To comment on a game:
eg.: ...and he scores a goal!!!
 FUTURE ACTIONS
Present Simple Present Continuous
 Formal arrangements!  Definite future plans; personal arrangements!
eg.: The delegation arrives at eight! eg.: I’m meeting John after class today!

 Part of a timetable:
eg.: My plane lives at eight tonight.

In conditional and time clauses after: “when”, “until”,  In conditional and time clauses after: “while”
“after”, “before”, “as soon as”, etc. eg.: I often fall asleep while I am watching
eg.: I’ll call you when I get home. television. The phone always rings while I’m having
a shower.
VERBS NOT USED IN THE
CONTINUOUS FORM
 Verb Example

Sense perception and sensation: feel, hear, notice, see, smell, sound, taste,
etc.

Feelings and emotions: Adore, care, detest, dislike, envy, fear, hate,
hope, like, love, regret, respect, etc.

Desire: desire need, prefer, want, wish, etc.

Knowledge, mental states, opinions, speech Astonish, believe, compare, consider, deny,
acts: doubt, fancy, forget, imagine, know, mean,
mind, presume, promise, realize, remember,
suppose, think, understand
 Verb Example

Being or seeming to be: be, exist, appear, fit, seem

Resemblance: Appear, resemble, seem

Composition Have, contain, consist of

Connection, relation Come from, concern, cost, depend, differ,

fit, hold, matter, suit, value

Positions/stance Lie, surround

Possesion Belong to, have, need, own, owe, posses