Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple and Present Continuous are two present tenses, usually learned at the beginning of learning English.

We use the Present Simple when talking about habits and actions that happen frequently, in contrast to the Present Continuous, which we use to describe actions happening at the given moment. Both tenses are easy to master and are needed to precisely express what we want to say.

Present Simple, Present Continuous – Differences

When is the Present Simple used?

The Present Simple tense has several uses:

→ when talking about habits and actions that repeat regularly,

→ when stating facts or talking about permanent and long-term situations and feelings,

→ when talking about laws of nature and phenomena considered true,

→ when citing timetables and schedules,

→ when talking about preferences, views, and beliefs,

→ in newspaper headlines, sports commentary, and when relating events, e.g., from films or books.

Examples of sentences:

• I start work at 9am every day.
• She always eats porridge for breakfast.
• The floor is wet.
• My brothers play football every Saturday.
• Don’t you like them?
• Marta works as a nurse.
• Tomek lives in Krakow.
• The baby is asleep.
• My younger brother goes to school every day.
• This building is very old.
• The Earth goes around the Sun.
• The plane lands at noon.
• That smells great!
• The pharmacy is open till 8pm.
• They play basketball every weekend.
• I like my coffee with a little bit of milk.
• I hate going to the dentist.
• And then Deadpool starts to dance.
• Aleksandra Mirosław wins Olympic gold.
• What is your favourite movie?
• She watches Netflix every evening.

Do you want to learn more about the Present Simple tense? Read the article: >>>

When is the Present Continuous used?

We use the Present Continuous tense:

→ when describing events and situations that are happening at the moment of speaking,

→ when talking about temporary situations (even when they are not happening at the moment of speaking),

→ when talking about plans for the near future,

→ to describe changing states and situations around us,

→ when talking about repeating actions that irritate us.

Examples of sentences:

• I’m eating breakfast.
• Tomek is looking for a new job.
• They are working on a new design.
• I’m going to Warsaw next month.
• They are celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary next year.
• It’s getting late.
• Your English is improving.
• The children are growing up quickly.
• They are always arguing!
• Not now, please. I am reading a book.
• Are you coming with me?
• He’s always smiling.
• Are you taking these pictures with you?
• I’m studying for my exams.
• Paweł is playing football in the park now.
• What are you eating?
• You are always complaining about the weather!
• We are waiting for the train.
• What are you doing?
• Where are the children?
• We’re booking our holiday now.
• He is playing football with his friends right now.
• She is watching TV in the living room.
• In this photo, they are playing with their dog.

Do you want to learn more about the Present Continuous tense? Read the article: >>>

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Stative Verbs

Stative verbs are a group of verbs in English related to emotions, perception, and thinking. In their case, it is important to use the Present Simple, not the Present Continuous.

✏️ List of Stative Verbs

• Believe
• Belong
• Consist of
• Feel
• Hate
• Have
• Hear
• Know
• Like
• Love
• Mean
• Need
• Own
• Prefer
• Realise
• Recognise
• Remember
• See
• Suppose
• Think
• Understand
• Want
• Wish

Comparison of the structure of the Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses

The structure of sentences in both present tenses follows different rules. In the Present Simple, we add the ending -s / -es to the third person singular, while in the Present Continuous, we add the ending -ing to the main verb.

Structure of the affirmative sentence

In the Present Simple, an affirmative sentence consists of the subject and the verb in the base form (for the 3rd person singular, the ending -s or -es is added). For example: She works every day.

In the Present Continuous, an affirmative sentence consists of the subject, the conjugated form of the verb to be (am / is / are), and the verb with the -ing ending. For example: She is working now.

Present Simple: Subject + verb in the infinitive form + rest of the sentence

Present Continuous: Subject + “to be” (am / is / are) + verb with -ing + rest of the sentence

Structure of the negative sentence

In the Present Simple, the negative is formed by adding do not (don’t) or does not (doesn’t) before the verb (in the base form). The structure is: Subject + don’t / doesn’t + verb + rest of the sentence. For example: She doesn’t work every day.

In the Present Continuous, the negative is formed by adding not after the verb to be (am / is / are). The structure is: Subject + am / is / are + not + verb with the -ing ending + rest of the sentence. For example: She is not working now.

Structure of the question

In the Present Simple, a question is formed by adding the operator do or does (for the 3rd person singular) at the beginning of the sentence. The structure is: Do / Does + subject + verb (in the base form) + rest of the sentence. For example: Does she work every day?

In the Present Continuous, a question is formed by moving the verb to be (am / is / are) before the subject. The structure is: Am / Is / Are + subject + verb with the -ing ending + rest of the sentence. For example: Is she working now?

Conjugation of an example sentence in respective persons

➡️ Affirmative sentences

➡️ Negative sentences

➡️ Questions

Time expressions (adverbs of frequency) in Present Simple and Present Continuous

Examples:

• I rarely go to the theatre.
• We’re meeting Ania for coffee tomorrow.
• She never puts the milk back in the fridge!
• They usually go to the gym on Monday.
• We are not currently hiring.
• How often do you see them?
• My sister is always borrowing my clothes!

Present Simple or Present Continuous – practical exercises

Complete the sentences in the Present Simple or Present Continuous tense:

1. Maria …………………. (not drink) coffee.
2. I …………………. (live) in Gdańsk.
3. Prices …………………. (raise).
4. …………………. (Tomek, sleep) right now?
5. We …………………. (go) to the cinema on Friday.
6. Marta …………………. (visit) her grandmother once a week.
7. The children …………………. (not, do) their homework at the moment.
8. She …………………. (look) for a new flat.
9. Poland …………………. (win) Olympic gold!
10. Tomek …………………. (not, know) the answer.
11. She …………………. (come) for dinner tomorrow.
12. …………………. (he, clean) his room?
13. We …………………. (stay) with my sister at the moment.
14. Marta …………………. (not, believe) in ghosts.
15. He …………………. (pick up) the cake tomorrow morning.
16. Tomek …………………. (play) tennis three times a week.
17. I never …………………. (wake up) before 6 am.
18. …………………. (you, speak) English?
19. …………………. (you, work) tomorrow?
20. They …………………. (not, need) help.
21. Is …………………. (she, go) to the party tonight?

Correct answers:

1. Maria doesn’t drink coffee.
2. I live in Gdańsk.
3. Prices are rising.
4. Is Tomek sleeping right now?
5. We are going to the cinema on Friday.
6. Marta visits her grandmother once a week.
7. The children are not doing their homework at the moment.
8. She is looking for a new flat.
9. Poland wins Olympic gold!
10. Tomek doesn’t know the answer.
11. She is coming for dinner tomorrow.
12. Is he cleaning his room?
13. We are staying with my sister at the moment.
14. Marta doesn’t believe in ghosts.
15. He is picking up the cake tomorrow morning.
16. Tomek plays tennis three times a week.
17. I never wake up before 6 am.
18. Do you speak English?
19. Are you working tomorrow?
20. They don’t need help.
21. Is she going to the party tonight?