subject + base verb / verb-sUse this for routines and permanent situations. Add -s after he, she, it.
Present Simple vs Continuous
A2Present Simple talks about habits and permanent situations. Present Continuous talks about actions happening now or temporary situations.
What you'll learn
- Choose Present Simple for routines and repeated actions.
- Choose Present Simple for permanent or long-term situations.
- Choose Present Continuous for actions in progress now.
- Choose Present Continuous for temporary situations.
- Use markers like every day, now, and these days to pick the tense.
Structure
subject + am/is/are + verb-ingUse this for actions happening now and temporary situations around now.
Build a sentence
Subject
Context
Verb
Heworksevery day
He works every day.
every day points to a routine, so use Present Simple.
When to use
Habits and routines
Repeated actions in daily life. Maria drinks tea every morning. Tom plays tennis on Saturdays.
Permanent situations
Long-term facts about life. Anna works in a bank. Leo lives near the station.
Right now
Actions happening at this moment. Lisa is talking to her manager now. The kids are sleeping.
Temporary period
Short-term situations around now. Dmitri is staying with friends this month. Maria is taking a short course this week.
Markers
every dayon weekendsalwaysnowright nowat the momentthis weekthese days
Spelling
verb ends in -e
→ drop -e, add -ingwrite → writingverb ends in -ie
→ change -ie to -yinglie → lyingmost verbs
→ + ingwork → workingIn contrast
vs stative-verbs
Some verbs are often not used in the continuous form for current meaning: I know, I want, I understand.
Common mistakes
Wrong
Maria is taking the bus to work every day.
Correct
Maria takes the bus to work every day.
Every day shows a routine, so use Present Simple.
Wrong
Tom is living in Chicago with his family.
Correct
Tom lives in Chicago with his family.
This is a stable life situation, not a short-term action in progress.
Wrong
Anna talks to her boss now.
Correct
Anna is talking to her boss now.
Now points to an action in progress, so use Present Continuous.
Wrong
Lisa stays with her aunt this week.
Correct
Lisa is staying with her aunt this week.
This week shows a temporary situation, so use Present Continuous.
Wrong
She working in the kitchen now.
Correct
She is working in the kitchen now.
Present Continuous needs am, is, or are before the -ing form.
Wrong
They are cook dinner right now.
Correct
They are cooking dinner right now.
After am, is, or are, use the -ing form, not the base verb.
Common misconceptions
❝ If the sentence is about the present, Present Simple is enough. ❞
For actions happening now, English uses Present Continuous, not Present Simple.
❝ A repeated action should use Present Continuous because it is still happening in life. ❞
Repeated routines use Present Simple. Present Continuous shows an action in progress or a temporary period.
Skills in this rule (6)
USE_SIMPLE_FOR_HABITSw5Use Present Simple for habits and routines
Choose Present Simple for actions that happen regularly: every day, on weekends, after work, in the morning.
USE_SIMPLE_FOR_PERMANENT_STATESw5Use Present Simple for permanent or long-term situations
Choose Present Simple for jobs, homes, relationships, and other stable facts that are true beyond this moment.
USE_CONTINUOUS_FOR_NOWw5Use Present Continuous for actions happening now
Choose Present Continuous for actions in progress at this moment or around this exact time.
USE_CONTINUOUS_FOR_TEMPORARYw4Use Present Continuous for temporary situations
Choose Present Continuous for short-term situations that are true these days, this week, or for a limited period.
PICK_PRESENT_TIME_MARKERSw4Use time markers to choose the right present form
Markers like every day point to Present Simple. Markers like now, at the moment, these days point to Present Continuous.
FORM_CONTINUOUS_BE_VERB_INGw5Build Present Continuous with be + verb-ing
Use am/is/are with the -ing form. Do not use the base form alone for actions in progress.