Download the present simple tense

THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE
The present simple tense is used to describe:
• a permanent state or situation:
I live in the town where I was born.
• a fact or something which is always true:
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
• an activity which happens regularly or occasionally:
He gets up at six o’clock every day.
THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
TENSE
The present continuous tense is used to describe:
•
a temporary situation:
I am living with my uncle while the builders finish decorating my house.
•
an activity happening at the present moment:
I’m sorry you can’t talk to her at the moment. She is having a shower.
•
an activity in progress but not exactly at the present moment:
I am studying three foreign languages, so I’m quite busy nowadays.
•
a situation which is changing or developing:
Lots of people are coming to live here, so the town is growing quickly.
•
things the speaker finds strange or irritating, with always. This is the way of
complaining:
You are always using the telephone. Our phone bill will be enormous!
•
something which happens frequently, with always:
My girlfriend is always cooking me special meals.
STATE VERBS
Verbs which describe states, not actions, are not usually used in the
continuous. These verbs describe:
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thoughts:
believe, know, remember, think (meaning believe), feel
(meaning believe), suppose, etc.
feelings:
love, like, hate, want, prefer, etc.
senses:
smell, hear, taste, see
possession: have, belong, own, etc.
the verb to be