This document compares and contrasts the use of the present simple and present continuous tenses in English. It provides examples of sentences using each tense and explains when each is used. The present simple is used to describe habitual or repeated actions, facts, and general truths. The present continuous is used to describe actions happening now or temporary situations. It also notes that some state verbs like "think" and "want" cannot be used in the present continuous tense, while others can be used with a change in meaning.

1. PRESENT SIMPLE -
PRESENT CONTINUOUS

2. COMPARE THESE TWO SENTENCES
My father always rests in his room in the
afternoon.
My father is resting in his room now.

3. PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 My father is resting in his room now.
 TO TALK ABOUT ACTIONS
HAPPENING NOW
NOTE: SOME ADVERBS USED
WITH P. CONTINUOUS : NOW,
RIGHT NOW, AT THE MOMENT,
AT PRESENT, STILL, THESE
DAYS, NOWADAYS
 My father always rests in his room
in the afternoon.
 TO TALK ABOUT HABITS AND
ROUTINES
NOTE: SOME FREQUENCY
ADVERBS USED WITH PRESENT
SIMPLE: ALWAYS, ALMOST
ALWAYS, USUALLY, OFTEN,
SOMETIMES, RARELY, HARDLY
EVER, NEVER

4. COMPARE THESE SENTENCES
 The world revolves around the
sun.
 Water boils at 100 C.
 How many courses are you
taking this term?
 Have you seen Peter recently?
No, he is very busy these days.
He is redecorating his house.

5. PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 The world revolves around the
sun.
 Water boils at 100 C.
 TO TALK ABOUT FACTS AND
GENERALIZATIONS
 How many courses are you
taking this term?
 Have you seen Peter recently?
No, he is very busy these days.
He is redecorating his house.
 TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY
SITUATIONS

6. COMPARE THESE SENTENCES
 The economic
situation in Greece
is very bad.
 The economic
situation is getting
worse in Greece.

7. PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 The economic situation in Greece
is very bad.
 GENERAL SITUATION
 The economic situation is getting
worse in Greece.
 TO TALK ABOUT CHANGES

8. COMPARE THESE TWO
SENTENCES
 When I get up in
the morning, I
want to drink water
immediately.
 I am very thirsty. I
want to drink water
now.

9. PRESENT SIMPLE OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS
 When I get up in the morning,
I want to drink water immediately.
 I am very thirsty. I want to drink
water now.
 STATE VERBS CANNOT BE
USED IN PRESENT
CONTINUOUS TENSE

10. STATE VERBS
 THINK
 HAVE
 SEE
 SMELL
 TASTE
 FEEL
 LOOK
 BE
 APPEAR
 WEIGH
NOTE: THEY CAN BE USED IN P.
CONTINUOUS TENSE BUT THE
MEANING CHANGES.
 REALIZE
 BELIEVE
 UNDERSTAND
 WANT
 MEAN
 SUPPOSE
 DOUBT
 KNOW
 OWN
 BELONG
 SEEM

11. VERBS THAT CAN BE USED IN P. CONTINUOUS TENSE BUT
WITH A DIFFERENT MEANING
 I think he is a student.
 I am thinking about going abroad.
 Now, I am looking out of the window. I see a lot of cars.
 The doctor is seeing his patient now.
 The perfume smells very nice.
 Look! Mother is smelling the flowers.

12.  The soup tastes awful! I can’t eat it.
 What are you doing in the kitchen now? I am tasting the
soup.
 I feel something bad will happen.
 I am feeling better today.
 You look ill. You should go home and take a rest.
 Why are you looking out of the window?
VERBS THAT CAN BE USED IN P. CONTINUOUS TENSE BUT
WITH A DIFFERENT MEANING

13.  Sorry, I can’t lend you any money because I don’t have
much now.
 She is having her breakfast now.
 The baby is getting fatter. She weighs six kilos.
 The butcher is weighing the meat now.
VERBS THAT CAN BE USED IN P. CONTINUOUS TENSE BUT
WITH A DIFFERENT MEANING

14. VERBS THAT CAN BE USED IN P. CONTINUOUS TENSE BUT
WITH A DIFFERENT MEANING
 You are very rude.
 You are being rude at work these days.
 The teacher appears to be in a bad mood today.
 Look! Ali is appearing from where he has hidden.