Present Simple  Present Continuous 

to say when things happen if they take place regularly: to talk about the present moment:
They eat at lunch at two o’clock. I’m looking at a blue bag right now.

to talk about permanent situations: to suggest that an action is temporary (now, at the moment, at
I work in London. present, just, currently,... ):
I’m working in London this week​.

to state general truths or scientific facts: for an action around the time of speaking, which has begun but is not
Those bags sell really fast. finished:
The moon goes round the earth. Don’t disturb me! I’m studying for my final exams.

to talk about habits and their frequency: Frequency Adverbs* for changing or developing situations:
You buy new clothes every Sunday. The Earth’s temperature is rising.

to describe plots of books and films: *with a word like ​always​ or ​continually​ if we want to criticise or
The story begins and ends in Spain. The year is 1937. complain:
You’re always buying new clothes.

with ​always​ when something unexpected h

​ appens several times​:
I’m always meeting my neighbour John near the station. I guess he
works somewhere near there.
STATE VERBS: always used with simple tenses, rather than
continuous. Regarding: Frequency Adverbs
● thoughts​: believe, know mean, realise, recognise,
remember, suppose, understand, feel (=believe)
● feelings​: adore, dislike, despise, hate, like, love, want, wish,
prefer.
● belonging​: belong, have* (= possess), own, possess
● senses​: smell*, taste*, hear, see (percepción sea pasiva)
● others: need, contain, deserve, fit, seem, look (=seem), look
like, matter, weigh*
*Think only when meaning believe.
I think I broke my leg.
*taste and smell can be continuous when they refer to what
someone is doing. ​I’m tasting the sauce.
*In collocations, have loses the meaning of “possess”, and can
appear in continuous (e.g.: having a great time)
*Weigh can be continuous when referring to what someone is
doing.
THE VERB TO BE - is nearly always used in simple tenses. When it
appears in continuous, ​it emphasizes that the situation is temporary
and often describes a person’s behaviour​:
You’re being so impatient!
My brother is being very nice to me this week. I wonder what he wants!