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Present simple or present continuous?
A2 A2 grammar · lesson 1 of 25
You already know two present tenses. In this lesson you learn how to choose between them: habits and facts, or actions happening now.
Two present tenses
You know the present simple (I work, she works) and the present continuous (I am working) from A1. They both talk about the present, but they have different jobs.
| Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|
| habits and routines: I walk to school every day. | actions now: I am walking to school now. |
| facts that are always true: Water boils at 100 °C. | temporary situations: She is staying with her aunt this week. |
| words: every day, usually, often, never, on Mondays | words: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week |
Tom plays football every Saturday.
Look! Tom is playing football in the park.
Anna usually drinks tea in the morning.
Today Anna is drinking coffee.
Ken works in a bank.
This month Ken is working from home.
I live in a small town, but this summer I am living with my cousins in the city.
Verbs we do not use in the continuous
Some verbs talk about feelings, thoughts and having. We normally use them only in the present simple, even when we mean now.
- like, love, hate, want, need, prefer
- know, understand, remember, believe, mean
- have (= own), belong, cost
I know the answer.
She wants a glass of water now.
Common mistakes
✗ I am going to the gym every day.
✓ I go to the gym every day.
✗ Be quiet! The baby sleeps.
✓ Be quiet! The baby is sleeping.
✗ I am knowing your brother.
✓ I know your brother.
✗ He is wanting a new phone.
✓ He wants a new phone.