Present Simple or Present Continuous?
How do you choose between Present Simple and Present Continuous?
Present Simple
We use Present Simple to talk about facts, hobbies and regular activities:
- Tom lives in London. (fact)
- I go swimming on Mondays. (regular activity)
- Do you speak Russian? (question about a fact)
We use the Present Simple to talk or ask about things that are always true:
- Do you speak English?
- I don’t have a car, I prefer to ride a bike.
We use the Present Simple to express likes, dislikes and opinions:
- I like football. (likes)
- I don’t like tennis. (dislikes)
- Do you love pop music? (question about likes)
- I think it’s interesting. (opinions)
We also use the Present Simple to talk or ask about habits:
- Peter goes for a walk every day.
- Do you drink tea or coffee in the morning?
We often use the Present Simple with adverbs of frequency (always, sometimes, never, etc.), or when we say a time, day or period (at 9.00, on Wednesdays, in spring, etc.):
- Sometimes I dream about you.
- I never walk alone at night.
- Jane wakes up at 7.00 a.m.
- He meets with his friends on Saturdays.
Present Continuous
We use the Present Continuous to talk about things happening now, or unfinished activities:
- Are you reading a book? (now)
- They are building a new house. (it’s not finished yet)
- Mary is studying French at university. (around now, not at the moment of speaking)
We use expressions like ‘at the moment’, ‘now’, and ‘today/this week/month/year’:
- Michael is talking on the phone at the moment.
- It’s snowing a lot this week.
- I’m working in our Chicago office this month.
Note: Want, like, love, need, understand and believe are not used in Present Continuous:
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