Present Simple vs Present Continuous
The Present Simple
We use the Present Simple tense to talk about:
Examples:
She usually wakes up at 7 a.m.
I brush my teeth three times a day.
Examples:
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
The sun rises in the east.
Examples:
He has two sisters.
My parents live in a small village.
As you can see from the examples above, the Present Simple is not used for a specific moment. In other words, the Present Simple is not really about the past, present, or future — it describes facts or actions that are generally true or happen regularly.
We often use the Present Simple tense with adverbs of frequency (always > usually > often > sometimes / occasionally > hardly (ever) / rarely / seldom > never).
Adverbs of frequency are placed either before the main verb, or after "am", "is", or "are".
Examples:
I hardly ever go to the movies.
We don't often play football.
She can usually sing well.
They are never at home on the weekend.
As you can see from the example above, "never" makes the sentence negative, so it is used with a positive verb.
Example:
They don't never call us.
The Present Simple tense is also commonly used with expressions of frequency, such as: once a week, every day, every three months, every other day, etc. These expressions are usually placed at the end of a sentence.
Example:
We usually play badminton every other day.
The Present Continuous
We use the Present Continuous tense to talk about:
Examples:
Can you turn down the music? I'm studying.
The baby is crying. Can you check on her?
Examples:
I'm reading an interesting book about the Second World War these days.
We're studying Italian this semester.
There are some verbs in English called state verbs (also known as non-action verbs) that are not used in continuous tenses. These describe feelings, thoughts, possession, or senses — for example: want, need, like, love, hate, believe, understand, know, belong etc.
Example:
I am needing need to eat something right now.
Exercises
Complete the sentences with the Simple Present or Present Continuous form of the verbs in brackets.
1She usually ____ dinner at 7 p.m., but today she ____ late. (eat, work)
She usually eats dinner at 7 p.m., but today she is working late.
2Mark ____ to the gym three times a week. (go)
Mark goes to the gym three times a week.
3What ____ you ____ about? You look worried. (think)
What are you thinking about? You look worried.
4My parents ____ in Spain, but right now they ____ in Italy on vacation. (live, stay)
My parents live in Spain, but right now they are staying in Italy on vacation.
5We ____ any bread. Can you buy some? (not have)
We don't have any bread. Can you buy some?
6I always ____ coffee in the morning, but today I ____ tea. (drink, have)
I always drink coffee in the morning, but today I am having tea.
7Be quiet, please! I ____ for the exam. (study)
Be quiet, please! I am studying for the exam.
8____ she often ____ to work by bike? (go)
Does she often go to work by bike?