Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Simple Present vs.
Present Continuous

Use the simple
present for:

1) action that
happens repeatedly
(habitual action)

2) general or
permanent
situations

3) facts

Use the
present
continuous for:

1) Something that
is happening now or
close to the time
of speaking

2) A temporary
situation

Simple Present Tense

1) Habitual Action:
Tom goes fishing every week.

I usually work until 2:00 p.m.

My family comes to visit me every year.

*Frequency adverbs: these adverbs are
commonly used with simple present:
Always, never, usually, rarely,
sometimes, often, etc.

Simple Present

2) General or Permanent Situations:
My family lives far away.
Jack doesn’t work on Saturday.
Beth and Toan work at ECC.

3) Facts:
The Earth is round.
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The Eiffel Tower is in Paris.

Present Continuous Tense

1) Action happening now or close to
time of speaking:
Where’s Tom? He’s playing soccer.

Don’t bother the kids. They are doing
their homework.

2) Temporary situations:
Martha and her husband are traveling
around Europe for two weeks.

Lisa is living with friends until she finds
an apartment.

Present Continuous . . .

We often use the present continuous
(and not simple present) when action
continues over a period of time.
this week, this semester, this year

I’m working 50 hours this week.

She’s taking an Italian class this
semester.

This year, I’m trying
to cut back on junk food.

More Examples:

Everyone is studying hard.

They are celebrating their 40th
anniversary today.

I am cleaning my house this week.

1) Sara works on Sunday.
Sara doesn’t work on Sunday.

2) They have a big house.
They don’t have a big house.

3) Sam takes classes at night.
Sam doesn’t take classes at night.

4) I have a lot of free time.
I don’t have a lot of free time.

More Examples

For this tense, simply ADD the word
NOT after the verb BE.

They are working today.
They are NOT working today.

She is taking a Math class.
She is NOT taking a Math class.

STATIVE VERBS

Some verbs are NOT typically used in
the present continuous tense. Instead,
we prefer to use these verbs in the
simple present.

These verbs are called STATIVE (or
non-action) verbs. Here are some
examples:
want

like

love

hate

know

need

see

hear

believe

understand

have (possession)

forget

remember

belong

Examples:

I like Rome.
NOT:

I am liking Rome.

She has a big house.
NOT:

She is having a big house.

I prefer to have coffee.
NOT:

I am preferring to have coffee.

Practice!

Do these exercises with your class.
Choose the simple present or present
continuous and discuss why each is
correct.

1. On Tuesdays, I ________ (go) to the gym.
2. Karen ________ (paint) her apartment this week.
3. This room __________ (be) very large.
4. He _________ (have) a headache right now.
5. It ________ (rain) really hard right now.
6. Where is John? He _______ (work).
7. I ________ (meet) my friend in a few minutes.
8. My family ________ (come) to San Diego often.

Answers!

1. On Tuesdays, I go to the gym.
2. Karen is painting her apartment this week.
3. This room is very large. (fact)
4. He has a headache right now. (stative)
5. It is raining really hard right now.
6. Where is John? He is working. (right now)
7. I am meeting my friend in a few minutes.
8. My family comes to San Diego often.

Present simple

Present continuous

Regular activities

At the moment

I fix computers.

I’m fixing a computer.

You fix computers.

You’re fixing a computer.

She fixes computers.

She’s fixing a computer.

We fix computers.

We’re fixing a computer.

They fix computers.

They’re fixing a computer.

fix

fix

fixes

fix

fix

Complete the table with the present simple and
present continuous affirmative form of fix.

Present simple and present continuous (affirmative)
SUMMARY

’m fixing

’re fixing

’s fixing

’re fixing

’re fixing

Present simple

Present continuous

Regular activities

At the moment

I don’t fix cars.

I’m not fixing a car.

You don’t fix cars.

You aren’t fixing a car.

She doesn’t fix cars.

She isn’t fixing a car.

We don’t fix cars.

We aren’t fixing a car.

They don’t fix cars.

They aren’t fixing a car.

don’t fix

don’t fix

doesn’t fix

don’t fix

don’t fix

’m not fixing

aren’t fixing

isn’t fixing

aren’t fixing

aren’t fixing

Complete the table with the present simple and
present continuous negative form of fix.

Present simple and present continuous (negative)
SUMMARY

Present simple

Present continuous

Regular activities

At the moment

Do I build houses?

Am I building a house?

Do you build houses?

Are you building a house?

Does she build houses?

Is she building a house?

Do we build houses?

Are we building a house?

Do they build houses?

Are they building a house?

Do

build

Do

build

Does

build

Do

build

Do

build

Am

building

Are

building

Is

building

Are

building

Are

building

Complete the table with the present simple and
present continuous question form of build.

Present simple and present continuous (questions)
SUMMARY

Fernando and Amelia __________ a wall.
(build)

are building

Complete the sentence with the present continuous
form of the verb in brackets.

Present simple and present continuous
MORE PRACTICE

David and Hong ___________ basketball.
(not play)

They_________ football. (play)

aren’t playing

’re playing

Sue ______________.
(skateboard)

She _________ a plane. (not fly)

is skateboarding

Present simple and present continuous
MORE PRACTICE

isn’t flying

Devon ________ food for a barbecue.
(cook)

is cooking