Present continuous and present simple

(I am doing and I do)

Present continuous (I am doing) Use the continuous for something that is Happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not finished.

Present simple(I do) Use the simple for tings in general or things that happen repeatedly.

è The water is boiling. Can you turn it off? è Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? è Let’s go out. It isn’t raining now. è ‘Don’t disturb me. I’m busy. ’ ‘Why? What are you doing?’ è I’m going to bed now. Goodnight! è Maria is in Britain at the moment. She’s learning English. Use the continuous for a temporary situation. ->I’m living with some friends until I find a flat. -> You’re working hard today. ‘yes, I ‘ve got a lot to do.’

-> Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.   -> Excuse me, do you speak English?. -It doesn’t rain very much in summer. -What do you usually do at weekends? -what do you do? (=what’s your job) -I always go to bed before midnight. -Most people learn to swim when they are children. Use the simple for a permanent situation: è My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives. è John isn’t lazy. He works very hard most of the time.

I always do and I always doing

Usually we say ‘I always do something’ (=I do it every time):

I always go to work by car. (not I’m always going)

-I ‘ve lost my pen again. I’m always losing things.

‘I’m always losing things’ does not mean that I lose things every time. It means that I lose things too often, more often than normal.

‘You’re always  -ing’ means tat you do something very often, more often than the speaker tinks is normal or reasonable.

-your are always watching television. You should do something more active.

-john is never satisfied. He’s always complaining.

We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings (they are eating/ it is raining etc.),

Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not action verbs. You cannot say ‘I am knowing’ or ‘they are liking’; you can only say ‘I know’, ‘they like’.

The following verbs are not normally used in continuous tenses:

Like	Love	Hate	Want	Need	Prefer	Know
Realize	Suppose	Mean	Understand	Believe	Remember	Belong
Contain	Consist	Consist	Depend	Seem.	--	--

è I am hungry. I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting.)

è Do you understand what I mean?

è Ann doesn’t seem very happy at the moment.

When think means ‘believe’, do not use the continuous.

è What do you think(=believe) will happen? (not ‘what are you thinking’)

But -> you look serious. What are you thinking about? (=What is going on in your mind?).

è I’m thinking of giving up my job, (= I am considering)

When have means ‘possess’ etc.., do not use the continuous.

è We ‘re enjoying our holiday. We have a nic room in the hotel. (not ‘we ’re having’).

è But-We’re enjoying our holiday. We’re having a great time.

See hear  smell   taste

We normally use the present simple (not continuous) with these verbs:

è Do you see that man over there? (not are you seeing)

è This room smells. Let’s open a window.

We often use can+ see/hear/smell/taste:

è Listen! Can you hear something?

But you can use the continuous with see(I’m seeing) when the meaning is ‘having a meeting with’(especially in the future.)

è I’m seeing the manager tomorrow morning.

He is selfish and He is being selfish

The present continuous of be is I am being/ he is being/you are being etc.

I’m being: I’m behaving /I’m acting

è I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.

(being selfish=behaving selfishly at the moment.)

But – He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish.(not he is being)

(=he is selfish generally, not only at the moment)

We use am/is/are being to say how somebody is behaving. It is not usually possible in other sentences:

è It ‘s hot today. (not ‘it is being hot’)

è Sarah is very tired.(not ‘is being tired’)

Look and feel

You can use the present simple or continuous when you say how somebody looks or feels now;

è You look well today. Or you’re looking well today.

è How do you feel now? Or How are you feeling now?

è  but, I usually feel tired in the morning. (not I’m usually feeling)  .