Skip to content
A2ElementaryGrammar18 min

Present simple or present continuous?

Habits or right now? Learn the difference between I work and I'm working, with clear rules, signal words and common mistakes.

In this lesson you will

  • Use the present simple for habits, routines and facts
  • Use the present continuous for actions happening now or around now
  • Recognize signal words like usually, now and these days
  • Know which verbs are rarely used in the continuous form

English has two present tenses that learners often mix up. Compare:

  • I work in a bank. (This is my job. It is a permanent situation.)
  • I'm working from home today. (This is happening now. It is temporary.)

The present simple

Use the present simple for:

  • Habits and routines: She drinks coffee every morning.
  • Facts that are always true: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
  • Permanent situations: They live in Seoul.
  • Timetables: The train leaves at 8:15.

Form

  • Positive: I, you, we, they work; he, she, it works
  • Negative: I don't work; she doesn't work
  • Question: Do you work? Does he work?

Don't forget the -s with he, she and it: My father teaches history.

The present continuous

Use the present continuous for:

  • Actions happening right now: Look! It's raining.
  • Temporary situations around now: I'm reading a great book this week.
  • Changing situations: Your English is getting better.
  • Future plans that are already arranged: We're meeting Sam on Friday.

Form

  • Positive: I'm working, she's working, they're working
  • Negative: I'm not working, he isn't working, we aren't working
  • Question: Are you working? Is she working?

Signal words

  • Present simple: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays, once a week
  • Present continuous: now, right now, at the moment, today, this week, these days, currently, Look!, Listen!

Verbs we rarely use in the continuous

Some verbs describe states, not actions. We usually use them in the present simple, even when we mean “now”.

  • Thinking: know, believe, understand, remember, mean
  • Feelings: like, love, hate, want, need, prefer
  • Possession: have (meaning own), belong, own

Say I know the answer, not I'm knowing the answer. Say I want a coffee, not I'm wanting a coffee.

Watch out: have can be an action too. I have a car is possession, but I'm having lunch is an action (eating).

Habit or now?

  • He plays tennis on Saturdays. (a habit)
  • He's playing tennis, so he can't answer the phone. (happening now)
  • I usually take the bus, but this week I'm biking to work. (a habit, then a temporary change)

Practice

Check your understanding

0 of 4 answered

  1. I ___ to the gym three times a week.
  2. Quiet, please! The baby ___.
  3. Which sentence is correct?
  4. She usually ___ the bus, but this week she ___ to work.