This page highlights the difference between simple present and present continuous, also known as the present progressive, explaining their distinct uses and applications.
Table of Contents
Simple present vs present continuous
What is the difference between simple present and present continuous? Here is the short answer!
The simple present tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, or permanent situations. It is formed by using the base form of the verb, with variations for the third person singular (he, she, it). For example, “She works in an office” or “I play tennis on weekends.” On the other hand, the present continuous tense is employed to express actions happening at the moment of speaking or around the current time. It is constructed using the present tense of the verb “to be” (am, is, are) with the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. For instance, “He is reading a book” or “They are playing football now.”
Difference Between Simple Present And Present Continuous
The simple present tense describes routine actions, universal truths, or permanent states using the base form of verbs. It includes variations for the third person singular (he, she, it), (e.g., “She works in an office”.) Conversely, the present continuous tense describes actions occurring around the current moment, formed by combining the present tense of “to be” (am, is, are) with the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. For example, “He is reading a book” or “They are playing football now.”
Let’s explore the difference in detail.
The Simple Present Tense
This tense is used to express routines, truths, schedules, and narratives. Let’s explore its form and use:
Forming the simple present tense
The forms of the simple present are as follows:
Affirmative/Positive:
| I, you, we, they | work |
| He, she, it | works. |
Interrogative/Questions:
| Do | I, you, we, they | work? |
| Does | he, she, it |
Negative:
| I, you, we, they | do not | work. |
| don’t | ||
| He, she, it | does not | |
| doesn’t |
Notice that the simple present takes an “s” in the third person singular. The axillaries “do” and “does” are used in the interrogative (i.e. to form questions) and negative forms.
The Use Of the Simple Present Tense
The simple present tense is versatile, providing a foundation for expressing not only routine actions and habits but also conveying general truths, scheduled events, and universal facts, and serving as a tool for narration.
- General truths and facts:
- Example: “The Earth revolves around the sun.”
- Habitual actions or routines:
- Example: “She eats breakfast every morning.”
- Scheduled events:
- Example: “The train departs at 9 AM every day.”
- Universal facts or laws:
- Example: “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.”
- Narration in literature or storytelling:
- Example: “In the story, the protagonist always wears a red hat.”
The Present continuous Tense
The present continuous tense (also known as “the present progressive“) expresses ongoing actions in the present moment. Let’s explore its form and use:
The Form Of The Present Continuous
| The verb to be (in the simple present) + verb + ing |
In The affirmative form, the present continuous is conjugated as follows:
| I | am | working. |
| ‘m | ||
| You, we, they | are | |
| ‘re | ||
| He, she, it | is | |
| ‘s |
The Use Of the Present Continuous
The present continuous is used for actions occurring at the present moment (“She is studying now”), temporary situations (“I am staying with friends”), and arranged or planned events in the near future (“We are meeting tomorrow”).
1. Actions that are happening right now
The present continuous is used to talk about actions that are happening right now (at the moment of speaking.)
Example:
- Mom is in the kitchen. She is preparing dinner.
- Look at Jane! she is wearing a nice dress.
- John is busy. He’s working at the moment.
- It’s raining g heavily at the moment. We’d better go home immediately.
2. Temporary situations
Sometimes the present continuous is used to emphasize a temporary situation.
Example
- I work for a digital marketing company. I’m working on a brand-new product.
- “The brand-new product” is a temporary situation (present continuous) and “working for a digital marketing company” is more permanent (simple present). It’s true in general.
- John’s working with his father until he finds the job he prefers.
- “Working with his father” is a temporary situation.
Notice that although the actions are not happening at the moment of speaking, we use the present continuous. That’s because “working on a brand-new product” and “working with his father” are temporary situations.
3. Planned Or Arranged Events
The present continuous is also used for things that we have planned and arranged to do at a specific time in the future.
Examples
- He is meeting his new date tomorrow evening.
- They are leaving tonight.
Signal words
Signal words (or time expressions) may also highlight the difference between simple present and present continuous.
Let’s pinpoint the nuances between the simple present and present continuous by examining the distinct signal words or time expressions associated with each tense. These cues play a crucial role in signaling whether an action is a routine, an ongoing event, or a planned or arranged event.
1. The signal words that are typically used with the simple present include:
| Simple Present Signal Words | Example |
|---|---|
| never | He never eats meat. |
| seldom | She seldom attends parties. |
| rarely | They rarely go to the beach. |
| hardly ever | I hardly ever watch TV. |
| sometimes | We sometimes visit the museum. |
| usually | She usually arrives on time. |
| often | They often travel together. |
| always | He always speaks the truth. |
| generally | It generally snows in winter. |
| occasionally | We occasionally eat out. |
| every day | She reads a book every day. |
| every week | They clean the house every week. |
| every month | He pays the bills every month. |
| every year | We celebrate birthdays every year. |
| once or twice a day/week | I exercise once or twice a week. |
2. The signal words that are typically used with the present continuous include:
| Present Continuous Signal Words | Example |
|---|---|
| now | I am studying now. |
| right now | She is cooking right now. |
| at the moment | They are discussing it at the moment. |
| currently | He is currently working on a project. |
| today | We are meeting today. |
| this week | She is traveling this week. |
| this month | I am busy this month. |
| this year | They are planning a trip this year. |
When not to use The present continuous tense
We do not use the present continuous tense with state or stative verbs:
What are State/Stative verbs?
- Stative verbs describe states rather than actions. Examples: hate, love, prefer, believe…
- We tend not to use the present continuous with verbs that describe states rather than actions.
- Example:
- I believe he is guilty.
- NOT
I am believing he is guilty.(The verb believe is a stative. So we don’t conjugate it into the present continuous tense.)
- Example:
Other examples of stative verbs include:
- Verbs of opinion and thought:
Believe, think, know, think, consider, agree, disagree, suppose, doubt, guess, imagine, recognize, remember, suspect, understand. - Verbs of emotions:
Feel, hate, like, dislike, prefer, love… - Verbs the senses and perception:
See, smell, feel, seem, appear… - Verbs of possession:
Own, belong, have, possess… - Verbs that describe intrinsic states or qualities:
Weigh, measure, cost, exist…
More about the difference between simple present and present continuous here.
Summary
| Aspect | Simple Present | Present Continuous |
|---|---|---|
| Use | Describes habitual actions, general truths, or permanent situations. | Expresses actions happening at the moment of speaking or around the current time. |
| Form | Base form of the verb; variations for the third person singular (he, she, it). | Present tense of “to be” (am, is, are) + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. |
| Examples | “She works in an office.” | “He is reading a book.” |
| “I play tennis on weekends.” | “They are playing football now.” | |
| “Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.” | “I am studying for my exam today.” |
Related Pages:
- The present simple
- Present continuous
- Simple Present VS Present Continuous
- The present continuous for future plans
- State and dynamic verbs
- Exercises on the present continuous
- Exercise: Present simple or present continuous
- Dynamic and stative verbs exercise
- Listen to the song “Sailing” by Rod Stewart.