PRESENT SIMPLE vs PRESENT CONTINUOUS: By English For You

1. PRESENT SIMPLE

 MURPHY (2019:4), there are many ways in which present simple is used for. Namely:

1. It is used to talk about things in general and general facts or truth.

Examples: 

Mr. Bow is a singer. 

Teachers teach students in schools.

 

2. It is used to talk about repetitive things. In order words, things that take place all the time or often.

Examples:

 I go to school every day.

She drinks water every day.

 

3. It is used to talk about how often things are done.

Example:

I go to the cinema twice a week.

She often visits her uncle.

 

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

(Ibidem, p.2) the use of present continuous:

1. Present continuous is used to talk about things or actions that are taking place at the time of speaking.

Example:

Mr. Bow is singing now. (It means that Mr. Bow is in the middle of singing at the time of speaking).

Marta and Mario are eating bananas. (It means that Marta and Mario are in the middle of eating bananas at the time of speaking).

 

2. In this particular case, present continuous is used while the action is not taking place at the time of speaking.

For example:

John says, “I am still building it (his house)".  Here, at the time of speaking, John is not building his house. However, he started building it and he has not finished it yet, so John is in the middle of building his house but is not building it at the time of speaking.

 

Look at this example too:

Elisa is at her friend's home now. She says this to her' I am studying syntax for the test tomorrow'. In this sentence, Elisa is not studying syntax at the time of speaking. However, she is in the middle of studying it.

 

 Bibliography

Murphy, Raymond (2019) English Grammar in Use, UK: CUP, 5^th ed.

 

 

 

 

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