The document summarizes the differences between the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. The present simple is used for habitual or repeated actions, general truths, and permanent situations. The present continuous is used for actions happening now, temporary situations, and changing situations. Some stative verbs like think, know, have, see can be used in the present continuous to indicate actions rather than states. The document provides examples and exercises to illustrate the proper uses of each tense.

1. PRESENT SIMPLE
AND PRESENT
CONTINOUS
B2 level
By: Marcia Criollo Vargas

2. Present simple vs present continuous
The present simple is used: The present continuous is used:
1. For habitual or repeated actions and situations.
• I go to the park once a week.
• He buys new clothes every month.
2. For general truths and natural phenomena.
• The earth goes round the sun.
• Most rives flow in the sea.
3. For permanent situations in the present.
• Louis lives in London.
• I work in New York.
4. For future actions related to timetables and
programs.
• The train leaves at six o’clock
• The meeting is at ten o’clock
1. For actions or events happening at or around
the time of speaking.
• Look! That boy is climbing up a tree.
• I am cleaning my room.
2. For temporarly states in the present, often with
words like now, at the moment, at present or
just.
• Dave is doing his homework at the moment.
• I am studying French this term.
3. For situations which are changing or developing
around the present.
• The problem of pollution is getting more and
more serious.
• The earth’s temperature is rising.

3. Presnt simple vs present continuous
The present simple is used: The present continuous is used:
5. For headlines, sports, commentaries, story-telling,
reviews of books, directions and instructions.
• Three men rob bank.
• Martin takes the ball and scores.
• He is a good person
• In this chapter, Bob meets his old friend,
Charlie.
• You turn left at this junction and you’ll find it.
• First, connect it into the outlet, then turn it
on…
6. In exclamatory sentences with “here…! There….!
Here comes the bride!
There he goes again!
4. For planned future actions related to personal
arrangements.
• I am traveling to London tomorrow.
• Mark is getting married in June.
5. With adverbs of frequency (constantly, continually,
always, etc), to express annoying habits.
• Steve is always leaving his clothes on the
floor!
• My mother is constantly critisizing me.
6. With adverbs of frequency (constantly, always,
etc), when something unexpected happens several
times.
• Sam is very kind. He is always helping the
poor.
• I’m always meeting my neighbour Jhon near
the station, I guess he works somewhere near
here.

4. Present simple vs present continuous
The present simple is used: The present continuous is used:
Time expressions:
Often, usually, always, never, sometimes, seldom, rarely,
hardly ever, never
Everyday, once a week, twice a month, three times a
year.
Time expresiones:
Now, at present, at the moment,
nowadays, this month etc.
STATIVE VERBS
• Verbs of the senses:
feel, hear, see, smell, taste, notice
This sauce tastes great.
Do you see anything you want to buy here.
• Verbs of emotions and preferences:
adore, like, dislike, love, want, hate, fear,
mind, wish, need, prefer, admire, etc.
He wants to buy a new washing machine.
They despise me because of the way I am living.
.

5. Present simple vs present continuous
The present simple is used: The present continuous is used:
STATIVE VERBS
• Verbs of perception, belief and knowledge:
think, believe, know, understand, expect, mean,
realise, recognise, remember, suppose, forget,
hope, feel (=believe) think (=believe)
I think you are wrong.
We feel this decission is right.
• Verbs of ownership:
have/ have got (=possess), own, belong, possess
This backpack belongs to Louis.
My neighbour has such a big car.
• Other verbs which describe permanent states:
be, cost, weigh, seem, appear, consist (of), contain,
deserve, fit, seem, look(=seem), look like, matter etc.
This medicine contains aspirin.
Mark weighs 70 kilos

6. Present simple vs present continuous
The present simple is used: The present continuous is used:
STATIVE VERBS
• Some stative verbs can be used in the progressive forms when they express actions rather than
states but with a difference in meaning
STATE ACTION
• They have a wonderful house. I am having lunch now.
• I see Mary coming towards us. I am seeing the doctor tommorrow at 11:00.
• I think she is clever. I am thinking of buying a new car.
• Do I smell smoke? Why are you smelling the milk. Do you think it’s
gone off?
• This chewing gum tastes like strawberry. She is tasting the soup to see if it needs any
more salt.
• He is very selfish (=what is his character) Why is he being selfish? (=why is he behaving so
selfishly?)
Listen, look and watch, though verbs of the
senses, can also be used in the progressive
tenses because they express voluntary action.
James is watching the news.
A friend is watching my luggage. I needed to
come to the restroom.

7. exercises
 Circle the correct answers.
1. In this story, a boy …………(find) a time machine and ………..(travel) through time.
finds/travels
2. Don’t bother me now. I …………………(write) an important letter.
am writing
3. I ………………(think) about grandmother. We hardly ever ……..(visit) her. Let’s visit her tomorrow.
am thinking/visit
4. The minibus, which ………..(take) people to the other side of the island, …………….(leave) at 11:00 am
and……………..(return) at 6:00 pm.
takes/leaves/returns
5. I ……………(sleep) at my mother’s house this week because I ………(have) my house painted.
am sleeping/am having.

8. exercises
 Check the correct form of the verb.
6. Why……………………(leave) so early tomorrow morning.
are you leaving
7. I…………………..(think) you should buy him a tie. He………..(like) to dress formally.
think/likes
8. Flowers ………………….(bloom) in spring.
bloom
9. You………………………..left at the traffic lights and ……………(go) up Oxford street.
turn/go
10. Here ……….(come) Tom. Let’s tell him the news.
comes

9. Thanks