Grammar: Present Simple vs Present Continuous
What's the difference between the Present Simple / Present Continuous and how to use them?
We use the present simple tense when we want to talk about fixed habits or routines – things that don’t change.
Example: They play soccer every day.
We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening at the present moment, but will soon finish.
Example: I am playing soccer
With the present simple we say:
I play soccer
You play soccer
We play soccer
They play soccer
He/she/ it plays soccer
With the present continuous we say:
I am playing soccer
You are playing soccer
We are playing soccer
He/she/it is playing soccer
Frequency Adverbs we use with the Present Simple
With the present simple we use these frequency adverbs:
Always: ‘I always read before I go to bed.’
Often: ‘Her sister often comes shopping with us.’
Frequently:‘Michael frequently visits his family.’
Sometimes:‘You sometimes go to the gym, don’t you?’
Occasionally:‘It occasionally rains in summer.’
Seldom:‘They seldom ask for help.’
Rarely: ‘He rarely goes out without his backpack.’
Hardly ever:‘I hardly ever eat pizza.’
Never: ‘Japanese people never wear shoes inside.’
* The adverb comes before the main verb in the sentence.
Time Expressions we use with the Present Continuous
* The time expression can come at the start or at the end of the sentence.
At the moment: ‘I’m watching TV, at the moment.’
These days: ‘Paul’s living in Cardiff, these days.’
Now: ‘What are you doing, now?’
Nowadays: ‘I think you are smoking too much, nowadays.’
