7. Unit 3 – Present Continuous and Present Simple 1 (I am doing and I do)
past futurenow
I am doing
Present Continuous (I am doing)
past futurenow
Present Simple (I do)
I do
The water is boiling The water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
What language are they speaking? Do you speak greek?
I am getting tired. I always get tired after lunch.
I’m living with some friends. I live in Manhattan.
Temporary Situations Permanent Situations
I always do (something) I’m always doing (something)
I’m always losing my keys.
= I do this very often, perhaps too often.
I always do my homework.
= I do it every time
8. Unit 4 – Present Continuous and Present Simple 2 (I am doing and I do)
when Think = believe, we do not use the continuous.
Some verbs cannot be used in a “continuous” way - we can’t say “I am knowing” or
“they are liking” - we say “I know” and “they like”.
like want need prefer
know realise suppose mean understand believe remember
belong fit contain consist seem
I think that is a great idea. ( not I’m thinking )
when Think = consider, we the continuous is possible.
Joanne is thinking about hiking the Andes. (= she is considering it.)
See, Hear, Smell and Taste normally use the Present Simple.
Do you see that man over there? (not Are you seeing) I can hear a strange noise. Can you hear it?
Look, Feel - we can use either the Present Continuous or the Present Simple to say how somebody looks or feels now.
You look good today. or You are looking good today.
He is selIish = He is generally selIish, noy only at this moment
He is being selIish = He behaving in a selIish way at the moment
We use am/is/are being to say how someone is BEHAVING
Sarah is very worried (not is being very worried)