Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

by Marta Barroso

​Stative verbs

​Stative verbs describe a state rather than an action.

They aren't usually used in the present continuous form.

​I don't know the answer. I'm not knowing the answer.

She really likes you. She's really liking you.

He seems happy at the moment. He's seeming happy at the moment.

​​thoughts, opinions, feelings and emotions:

agree,

believe,

doubt,

guess,

imagine,

know,

​mean,

recognise,

remember,

suspect,

think,

understand

appreciate,

attract,

desire,

expect,

hate,

love,

like,

dislike,

hope,

prefer,

regret,

anticipate,

assume,

​consider,

feel,

find,

realise,

​wish

​senses and perceptions:

​appear,

be,

feel,

hear,

look,

see,

seem,

smell,

taste

​ache,

notice,

sound,

​possession and measurement:

​belong to,

have,

measure,

own,

possess,

weigh,

​consist of,

constitute,

contain,

cost,

​differ from,

look,

mean,

measure,

resemble,

seem

Multiple Choice

She _____ I'm crazy to leave my job.

• is thinking

• thinks

Multiple Choice

It’s nice fabric – it ____ like velvet.

• is feeling

• feels

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence

• Are you having an English dictionary?

• Do you have an English dictionary?

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence

• This bread is tasting funny.

• This bread tastes funny.

Multiple Choice

We __________ to go to the movies than the mall.

• are preferring

• prefer

​Performatives - verbs witch perform action they describe

​admit, apologise, acknowledge, advise, beg, confess, congratulate, declare, deny, forbid, guarantee, name, order, permit, predict, promise, refuse, remind, request, thank, warn

​

​are generally used with Present Simple

Present Simple

​in newspaper headlines

Present Continuous with stative verbs

• ​if we want to emphasise that the situation is temporary

​ The children are loving having her here.

​

• ​when the meaning of the verb is different

​ I'm thinking of going to the UK

​

• ​when we have recently started to think about sth in a new way

​ I'm regretting my decision to give her the job

​

​Present Simple and Present Continuous

​stories and jokes

​She goes up to this man and looks straight onto his eyes. He's not wearing his glasses and he doesn't recognise her.

​Present Simple highlights an event;

background events are described using Present Continuous

​Present Continuous

​with always, constantly, continually, forever to ephasise that something is done so often that it is characteristic of a person, group or thing

​

​He's always offering to help me.

​

​we can use Present Continuous t describe something we do regularly at a certain time:

​

​7 o'clock is a bit early. We are generally eating then.

Multiple Choice

That can't be right. I _____ you!

• don't believe

• 'm not believing

Multiple Choice

My holiday's next week. I _____ myself on the beach right now!

• imagine

• 'm imagining

Multiple Choice

Fifty-three? Are you sure that's the answer, or _____?

• do you guess

• are you guessing

Multiple Choice

The film's on at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Which _____?

• do you prefer

• are you preferring

Multiple Choice

Where's Grandad? Oh, he _____ the flowers in the garden.

• smells

• 's smelling

Multiple Choice

I don't know, but I _____ he'll win the election.

• doubt

• 'm doubting

Multiple Choice

Are you making bread? It _____ amazing.

• smells

• 's smelling

Multiple Choice

___ ______ your concern, but mind your own business!

• I appreciate

• I’m appreciating

Multiple Choice

This bottle __ ______ 6 liters of water.

• contains

• is containing

Multiple Choice

I______ could leave this place

• wish

• am wishing

Multiple Choice

a) How about meeting at 7?

b) Yes, that ------- perfect

• sounds

• is sounding

Multiple Choice

a) Are you going to Morocco for your holiday?

b) No, the flights were too expensive. It

-----like we’ll be driving to Italy instead

• is looking

• looks

Multiple Choice

You -----nice because you want to borrow my car

• are being

• are

Multiple Choice

We-----a party on Saturday. Are you coming?

• have

• are having

Multiple Choice

When --------her baby? “Anytime now

• is she having

• does she have