Present Simple and Present Continuous

1. Present Simple

We use the present simple:

- a) when we talk about habits and everyday/repeated actions – We usually have
lunch at 10 o’clock.
- b) for facts that are always true/general truths and natural phenomena – The earth
goes round the sun.
- c) permanent (állandó) situations in the present – James lives in the future.
- d) for future actions related to timetables and programs – The train leaves at six
o’clock.
- e) headlines, sport commentaries and story-telling – Martin takes the ball and
scores.
- f) in exclamatory sentences like ’Here she comes’ and ’There he goes’
- g) for feelings and states (stative verbs: like, love, think, want, be, know) – Italians
love eating.
Time expressions:
- often
- usually
- always
- never
- sometimes
- seldom
- rarely
- hardly ever
- everyday/week
! Note: He is asleep now. Why not use he is being asleep now? Be is a stative verb in that
case. For example when I call you and say: I am at your house. This is then a state.
2. Present Continuous

We use the Present Continuous:

- a) for actions or events happening at or around the time of speaking – Look! The
boy is climbing up a tree.
- b) for temporary (átmeneti) states in the present – David is doing his military service.
- c) for situations which are changing or developing around the present – The problem
of pollution is getting more and more serious.
 - d) for planned future actions related to personal arrangements (személyes tervek) – I
am travelling to London tomorrow.
- e) with adverbs of frequency (constantly, always, forever), for emphasis or to
express annoying habits – Stave is always leaving his clothes on the floor. AND Sam
is very kind; he is always helping the poor (emphasis).
Time expressions:
- now
- at present
- at the moment
- nowadays
Stative verbs
They express a state – not an action – and are not used in Progressive Tenses:
- senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, notice
- emotions and preferences: like, dislike, love, hate, fear, want, wish, need, prefer,
admire
- belief, knowledge and ownership: think, believe, know, understand, expect,
remember, forget, hope, have, own, belong
- permanent states: be, cost, weigh, seem, appear, consist
Look and feel can be used in continuous form without change in meaning. – How do you feel
today? How are you feeling today?
Some stative verbs can be used in the continuous forms when they express actions rather than
states but with a difference in meaning.
- They have a wonderful house (they own it). I’m having a bath (I am doing it).
- I see (act of seeing) Mary coming towards us. I’m seeing a doctor tomorrow
(appointment).
- I think (believe) she is clever. I’m thinking (I am considering) of buying a house.
- Do I smell (state) smoke? Why are you smelling (action) the milk?
- It tastes (state) bad. She is tasting (action) the soup.
- He is very selfish (it is his character). Why is he being selfish (he is behaving so).
More explanation in Mind Map format:
https://miro.com/welcomeonboard/
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Exercises