Present Simple or Continuous?
I work vs I'm working — choose the right tense. Learn the rules, then practise.
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Present simple or present continuous?
| Situation | Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|---|
| habits & routines | I work every day. | — |
| actions happening now | — | I am working now. |
| permanent situations | She lives in Rome. | — |
| temporary situations | — | She is living in Rome this year. |
| facts | Water boils at 100°C. | — |
| changing situations | — | The climate is getting warmer. |
Signal words
- present simple: every day, usually, always, often, sometimes, never, on Mondays, twice a week
- present continuous: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, currently, Look!, Listen!
✅ She goes to the gym every morning.
✅ Look! She is going to the gym.
Stative verbs — always present simple
Verbs that describe states stay in the present simple, even when you mean "now":
know, understand, believe, want, like, love, hate, need, mean, belong, prefer, see (= understand)
❌ I am knowing the answer. → ✅ I know the answer.
Permanent vs temporary
This is the key contrast at B1-B2:
✅ She lives in London. (her permanent home)
✅ She is living in London this year. (temporary)
✅ He works in a bank. (his job)
✅ He is working from home this week. (just this week)
Common mistakes
| ❌ | ✅ |
|---|---|
| Look! She goes out. | Look! She is going out. |
| I am wanting a coffee. | I want a coffee. |
| Every day I am working. | Every day I work. |
| She lives in a hotel this week. | She is living in a hotel this week. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the present simple and the present continuous?
The present simple describes habits, routines, permanent situations, and general facts: 'I work every day', 'She lives in Rome', 'Water boils at 100°C'. The present continuous describes actions happening now, temporary situations, and changing situations: 'I am working right now', 'She is living in Rome this year', 'The climate is getting warmer'.
Which signal words go with each tense?
The present simple goes with: every day, usually, always, often, sometimes, never, on Mondays, twice a week. The present continuous goes with: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, currently, and the words 'Look!' and 'Listen!'.
Why can't stative verbs be continuous?
Stative verbs describe states, not actions — verbs like know, understand, believe, want, like, love, need, mean, and belong. They stay in the present simple even when you mean 'now': say 'I know the answer', not 'I am knowing the answer'.
What is the permanent vs temporary contrast?
Use the present simple for permanent situations ('She lives in London' — her home) and the present continuous for temporary ones ('She is living in London this year' — she will move back later). The same applies to jobs: 'He works in a bank' (his job) vs 'He is working from home this week' (just this week).