PRESENT SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?  I like chocolate.

 I‘m liking chocolate.

PRESENT SIMPLE

We use the present simple for habits or permanent situations. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Habits or actions that happen regularly We use the present continuous for things that are happening now (at the
We use the present simple for habits or actions that we repeat regularly: moment of speaking) or for temporary things that are happening around
now (these days or weeks, etc.).
 I wash my hair every day.
 I never go to the library. Actions happening now
 I go to the library on Saturdays. We use the present continuous for things happening now, at the moment of
speaking.
Permanent situations or things that are always or often true
 ‘What are you doing?’ ‘I‘m watching TV.’
 I don’t drink coffee.
 She’s very tall. Actions happening around now
 I have two brothers. We use the present continuous for temporary things that are happening
 Water boils at 100 degrees. around now (=not at the moment of speaking but these days, weeks, etc.)
 I like soup.
 I‘m reading a very good book at the moment. (=I’m not reading it at
Adverbs and expressions of frequency the moment I’m speaking, but I’m reading it these days.)
We use adverbs and expressions of frequency with the present simple to  What TV series are you watching these days? (=You are not
talk about how often something happens. watching it at the moment of speaking, but these days.)

 We usually order a pizza on Fridays.
 I go running twice a week.
Stative or non-action verbs
Some verbs don’t describe actions. These verbs are called stative or non-
action verbs, and we can use these verbs in the present simple but NOT in
the present continuous. Some of these verbs are be, have (=possess/own),
like, love, hate, prefer, need, want, know, etc.
 They have a new car.
 They are having a new car.
Now, these days, at the moment, etc.
We use the present continuous with time expressions that mean now or
around now. Some of these expressions are: now, at the moment, at
present, today, these days, this week, etc.
PRESENT SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?
Usually or now?
We use the present simple for things that we usually do, and we use the
present continuous for things that we are doing now.
 I listen to the radio. (=I usually listen to the radio; it’s a habit.)
  I‘m listening to the radio. (=I’m doing it now.) 11. Can we stop walking soon? I ______________ (start) to feel tired.
 I don’t usually watch documentaries, but I’m watching a 12. Can you drive? I _______________ (learn). My father ______________
documentary now. (teach) me.
13. Normally I ______________ (finish) work at 5.00, but this week I
Temporary or permanent? _______________(work) until 6.00 to earn a bit more money.
We use present simple when a situation is permanent or present continuous 14. My parents ______________ (live) in Bristol. They were born there and
when a situation is temporary. have never lived anywhere else. Where _____________ (your parents/live)?
15. Sonia ______________ (look) for a place to live. She _______________
 I work in an office. (=Permanent situation.)
(stay)with her sister until she finds somewhere.
 I‘m working in an office. (=Temporary situation.)
16. In Johannesburg most people _______________ (speak) at least five
 I live in Edinburgh. (=Permanent situation.)
languages.
 I‘m living in Edinburgh. (=Temporary situation.)
17. Languages _________________ (disappear) very fast. Half of world's
What do you do?/What are you doing? languages will disappear by 2100.
18. You can't see Tim now; he ________________ (have) a bath.
 What does Erik do? (=What is his job?) 19. I ______________ (never/wear) a scarf, but today I ____________
 What is Erik doing? (=What is he doing now, at the moment of (wear) one because it's unusually cold.
speaking?) 20. I finished watching the series you recommended. Now I ___________
(watch) another one.
Put the verbs in the correct forms, present continuous or present simple. 21. Nobody ______________ (think) they will win the match.
1. Let's go out. It __________________ (not/rain) now. 22. You look worried. What _____________ (think)?
2. Julia is very good at languages. She _____________ (speak) four
languages very well.
3. Hurry up! Everybody _______________ (wait) for you.
4. ____________________ (you/listen) to the radio? No, you can turn it off.
5. __________________ (you/listen) to the radio every day? No, just
occasionally.
6. The River Nile ____________ (flow) into the Mediterranean.
7. Look at the river. It ______________ (flow) very fast today - much faster
than usual.
8. We usually _____________ (grow) vegetables in our garden but this year
we ____________ (not/grow) any.
9. How is your English? Not bad. It ______________ (improve) slowly.
10. Ron is in London at the moment. He _______________ (stay) at the
Park Hotel. He ___________________ (always/stay) there when he's in
London.