Grammar - Intermediate - Present Simple and Present Continuous

The Present Simple and the Present Continuous:

Both the present simple and the present continuous are used to talk about actions and states in the present time but each one has its own peculiarity. Let's see what are they?


1. The Present Simple. - (I, you, we and they = verb; he, she, it = verb+s)

 The Present simple talks is used when we want to tell things that are:

a) Permanent states, that is, states that hardly ever change or never change at all.

Ex: I'm Brazilian (And I'll be forever)
John works in a University. (Unless John decides to quit his job, he will work there for a long time)

b) Habits and routines, that is, things that happen frequently.

Ex: Mary walks to work. (It is something she does frequently)
I repair my own car. (It is something I usually do)

c) Permanent facts and truths, that is, things that NEVER change.

Ex: The desert is very hot during the day. (And it'll always be)
Earth is the third planet of the Solar System (And it'll always be)

There are some words called adverbs of time that usually come with the present simple: They are:
usually, today, every day, often, frequently, seldom. rarely, among others.

2. Present Continuous. - Form: (to be + verb + ing) 

Before we start talking about the Present Continuous, let's remember the verb to be in the Present Simple, once it is used to form the Present Continuous.
I am - I'm
You are - You're
He is - He's
She is - She's 
It is - It's 
We are - we're
You are - You're
They are - They're


Basically the present continuous are used when we want to talk about things that are:


a) Actions happening at the moment of speaking, that is, the action happens while the speaker is speaking.

Ex: Look! Fernando Alonso is overtaking Mark Webber.(He is overtaking right now!)

b) For temporary situations, that is, things that are not happening while someone is speaking, but in situations which the speaker hopes to be temporary. Remember! For permanent situations we use the Present Simple)

Ex: I'm having trouble finding a new house to let. (I'm not having this trouble necessarily now, but in a period of time I hope to be temporary).

There are also time adverbs that follow the present continuous and they are:
at the moment, now, at the present, today among others.

Now let's practise all we have seen today:

1. Peter ____________ (work) in a big company.
2. Jennifer's new car ___________(be) very expensive.
3. Michael _______________(talk) to his girlfriend now.
4. Steve _______________(look) for a new flat.
5. I _______________(wear) a raincoat because it might rain.
6. Be quiet! I ___________(think) my mum _____________(sleep) upstairs.
7. I ______________(look) for a new car. Mine _________(be) very old.
8. Look! The police _______________(chase) that motorbike.
9. I ____________(paint) a picture of my brother.
10. We ________________(building) a new robot for the company at the moment.

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