In today's lesson we are going to focus on the simple present and present continuous
also called the present progressive, and a few more details involved in the way these
terms are used. First, let's review the basic difference between the simple present and
present continuous. The simple present is used for actions or states that are generally
true, or for events that happen regularly. For example, I drive home from work every
day. I'll usually listen to music in the car. The present continuous is used for actions
that are happening now, in the moment of speaking. For example, if you are on your cell phone
in the car, you could say, I'm driving home from work right now. I'm listening to a great
new CD at the moment. Some forms of present continuous are used to emphasize a situation
that is temporary. For example, I work for a cosmetics company. This month I'm working
on a new line of nail polish. The nail polish project is a temporary situation, and my working
for a cosmetics company is more permanent. It's true in general. My brother lives in
Chicago. At the moment he's between apartments, so he's living with a friend. Living with
a friend is a temporary situation, so we use the present continuous
Signal words that are typically used with the simple present include adverbs of frequency
such as never, sometimes, usually, generally, occasionally, seldom, rarely, hardly ever
and always. And every day, every week, every month, every year, as well as once or twice a day
week, month, or year. These are all signal words that are typically used with the simple present
Signal words that are typically used with the present continuous include now, right now
at the moment, currently, today, this week, this month, and this year
Now put it into practice. Answer these questions with the present simple
What's one thing that you always do? What's one thing that you usually do
What's one thing that you sometimes do? What's one thing that you rarely do
What's one thing that you never do? There are two situations in which we tend not to use the present continuous
One is with verbs that describe states of existence, not actions. For example
This bike costs $150. Don't say, This bike is costing $150
He currently owns a boat. Don't say, He's currently owning a boat
We used to drink coffee, but now we prefer tea. Don't say, We used to drink coffee, but now we are preferring tea
You can see that even though we're using signal words that normally go with the present continuous
like currently and now, we use the simple present. Verbs that describe states of existence rather than actions are often called state verbs or stated verbs
They tend to include verbs of opinion, like know, believe, understand, recognize, prefer
agree and disagree, approve and disapprove, suppose, and suspect. Verbs of possession, like have, own, belong, possess, include, and owe
Verbs involving perception of the senses, like hear, smell, see, feel, appeal, seem, and resemble
Verbs of emotion, like love, hate, like, want, need, desire, and with
And verbs that describe intrinsic states or qualities, like weigh, contain, consist, measure, cost, exist, depend, deserve, involve, and matter
For example sentences with these verbs, please see the lesson on Stated and Dynamic Verbs
The link is in the lesson text. We also tend not to use the present continuous with verbs that perform the action they refer to
These are usually verbs that make some sort of statement. For example, I admit that I was wrong
No, absolutely not. I refuse to let you copy my work. We promise we'll do a good job
Other examples include acknowledge, advise, confess, congratulate, declare, deny, forbid, guarantee, order, permit, predict, remind, request, and thank
These verbs are usually not used in the present continuous. The simple present is used for actions or states that are generally true, or for events that happen regularly
For example, I drive home from work every day. The present continuous is used for actions that are happening now, in the moment of speaking
For example, if you are on your cell phone in the call, you could say
I'm driving home from work right now. I'm listening to a great new CD at the moment
There are two situations in which we tend not to use the present continuous
One is with verbs that describe states of existence, not actions. We also tend not to use the present continuous with verbs that perform the action they refer to
These are usually verbs that make some sort of statement. For example, I admit that I was wrong
Signal words that are typically used with the simple present include adverbs of frequency
such as never, sometimes, usually, generally, occasionally, seldom, rarely, hardly ever, and always
and every day, every week, every month, every year, as well as once or twice a day, week, month, or year
These are all signal words that are typically used with the simple present
Signal words that are typically used with the present continuous include now, right now, at the moment
currently, today, this week, this month, and this year. Signal words that are typically used with the simple present continuous include now, right now, at the moment
currently, today, this month, this year, this month, this year, this month, this year, this month, this year
this month, this year, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month
this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month, this month