Comparison of Present Simple and Present Continuous

 

PRESENT SIMPLE

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

USE IT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT HAPPEN REPEATEDLY, REGULARLY, AND HABITUALLY:

 

 

I ALWAYS READ IN THE EVENING.

 

I WRITE A REPORT EVERY MONTH.

 

SHE PLAYS THE GUITAR.

 

USE IT TO TALK ABOUT PERMANENT SITUATIONS:

 

THEY LIVE IN DUBLIN.

 

I WORK ALL THE TIME

 

IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE IF THEIR PLANS, LIKE TIMETABLES, ARE FIXED:

 

I START MY TRAINING NEXT WEEK

USE IT TO TALK ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AT OR AROUND THE MOMENT OF SPEAKING:

 

I AM READING NOW.

 

I AM WRITING A REPORT THIS WEEK.

 

SHE IS PLAYING THE GUITAR.

 

USE IT TO TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY SITUATIONS:

 

I AM STAYING AT MY FRIEND'S HOUSE

 

SHE IS WORKING IN THE GARDEN

 

IT IS USED TO TALK ABOUT AN ACTION THAT IS CHANGING OR DEVELOPING:

 

THE BEACH IS GETTING CROWDED

 

 

  ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE EXPRESSES THINGS YOU DO EVERY SINGLE TIME:

 

I ALWAYS GO TO MY LOCAL CAFE ON THE WEEKENDS

 

SHE ALWAYS SMILES

 

THEY ALWAYS ARGUE

ALWAYS IN THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS EXPRESSES ANNOYANCE REGARDING SOMEONE'S HABITS:

 

YOU ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING

 

SHE IS ALWAYS LEAVING THE LIGHTS ON

 

THEY ARE ALWAYS ARGUING

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