Present continuous (I am doing) Use the present continuous to talk about something that is happening at or close to the time of speaking: I am doing | Simple present (I do) Use the simple present to talk about things in general or things that happen repeatedly: ← I do → | ||||
past | now | future | past | now | future |
The water is boiling. Could you turn it off, please? Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? "Where's Tom?" "He's playing tennis." (you find a stranger in your room) What are you doing here? Maria is in Canada for three months. She's learning English. Use the present continuous for a temporary situation: I'm living with some friends until I can find an apartment. Mary usually has a summer job, but she isn't working this summer. | Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English? Tom plays tennis every Saturday. What do you usually do on the weekend? What do you do? ( = What's your job?) Most people learn to swim when they are children. Use the simple present for a permanent situation: My parents live in Boston. They have been there for 20 years. Jack doesn't work during the summer. He always takes a long vacation. |
want like belong know suppose remember
need love see realize mean forget
prefer hate hear believe understand seem
have (meaning "possess") think (meaning "believe"/"have an opinion")