[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]

Present Simple or Present Continuous

[/text_block]

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]To help to get this right in active spoken English, we can say that the present continuous is used for temporary things, and the present simple is used for things which are always or generally true.  This general rule actually works for everything you need when talking about the present: facts, things happening now, habits, continuing events:[/text_block]

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]

Here are some further examples to show this in action:

[/text_block]

• Continuing events

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]One mistake that English learners sometimes make is that they think that you have to be currently doing something right now to use the present continuous.  This is not the case.  Present continuous can be used to describe something that is temporary, even if you are not in the middle of that action right now.[/text_block]

• Habits

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]English learners sometimes think that when we talk about habits and repeating events we must use present simple.  This is not the case.  Habits also follow the same rule as above:[/text_block]

• Facts

• Things happening now

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]Another common mistake from English learners, even advanced learners, is that they sometimes forget to use present continuous to talk about things happening now. [/text_block]

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]This rule also works when we talk about trends.  Most trends are only temporary so we use present continuous. When we describe graphs and charts, we also mainly use present continuous for this reason.  

One classic mistake that English learners make when they talk about trends or graphs is that they sometimes use present simple when they want to use present continuous. 

Below is what graphs look like when you use present continuous vs. present simple:[/text_block]

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]

Exceptions: (a small number of verbs that are not used in the continuous)

Of course there are always some exceptions to any rule. Certain verbs cannot be used in the continuous form.  The verbs which are never in the continuous form are listed below.  With any other verbs you can be pretty sure that if you follow the temporary/permanent rule above, you will actually still be correct. Verbs which cannot be used in the continuous form:

Verbs of containing – contain / include

“This email contains some very important information”

Verbs of possession – have / own 

“Our company has 3 offices in Beijing” 

“I own the company”

Verbs of opinion – I think that.. / I believe that.. / I feel that..

“I believe that the company is performing very well”

Verbs of the senses – smells / sounds / tastes

“The presentation sounds good”

All other verbs, such as ‘verbs of emotion’ or ‘performative verbs’, can pretty much always be used in the continuous form when they are describing situations that are only temporary.[/text_block]

[text_block style=”style_1.png” align=”left”]Check out how the present simple and present continuous tenses can be used to talk about future plans right here![/text_block]