Grammar - Present Simple v Present Continuous (I do v I'm doing)

Compiled from Grammar Builder Book 2

Present Simple

1. The present simple is used in these ways:

• To show habits and regular actions or to refer to current situations.

Eg: I go to church every Sunday. (habit)

     John works in a bank. (current situation)     

• To state general truths and facts.

Eg: Nurses work in hospitals.

     The sun rises in the East and sets in the West.

Present Continuous 

2.   To show that an action is going on at the time of speaking or writing (now), or is planned for the future.

Eg: They are playing tennis now.

      They are playing tennis tomorrow morning. (future)

Only the present simple can be used with the verbs in the box below:

• I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not ‘I’m wanting’)
• ‘Do you know her?’      ‘Yes, but I can’t remember her name.’
• I don’t understand what the teacher said. (not ‘I’m not understanding’)

3.   Only the present simple can be used with the verbs in the box below:

like                  love                want               know         understand remember        depend           prefer             hate            need                mean               believe            forget             belong        contain           hear                like                  own                see              smell

• I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not ‘I’m wanting’)
• ‘Do you know her?’      ‘Yes, but I can’t remember her name.’
• I don’t understand what the teacher said. (not ‘I’m not understanding’)