Present Simple vs Present Continuous

1.

2.

Repeated actions (every day, always,
often, sometimes, never)
My friend often draws nice posters.
I never drink orange juice.
We usually go to the Baltic Sea in
summer.

3.

Things in general
The sun rises in the east.
Cats drink milk.

4.

Fixed arrangements, scheduled events
(e.g. timetable)
The plane flies to London at 6pm on
Monday.
We have English on Tuesdays and
Fridays.

5.

Sequence of actions in the present
(first – then, after that)
First I get up, then I have breakfast.
After school I switch on my computer,
then I check my emails and after that I
play my favourite game.

6.

Instructions
Open your books at page 34.
Don't shout at me!

7.

with special verbs – which are normally not used
with the Present Continuous (These verbs express
states, possessions, feelings etc.) be, believe,
belong, forget, hate, have, hear, know, like, love,
mean, need, prefer, remain, remember, realize,
see, seem, smell, think, understand, want, wish
I understand English.
He doesn't like fish.
She believes in life after death.

8.

Repeated actions (every day, always,
often, sometimes, never)
Things in general
Fixed arrangements, scheduled events
(e.g. timetable)
Sequence of actions in the present
(first – then, after that)
Instructions
With special verbs

9.

Actions happening at the moment of
speaking (now, at the moment)
Peter is reading a book now.
They’re listening to the radio.

10.

Fixed plans in the near future
She is going to NY on Saturday.

11.

Temporary actions, things happening
around now
Is his father working in Rome this
month?

12.

Changes happening around now
Their English is getting better.

13.

Repeated actions which are irritating
to the speaker, annoying habits (with
always, constantly, forever)
Andrew is always coming late. (I don't
like this)
Simple Present → Andrew always comes
late. (Here I don't give a comment)

14.

Actions happening at the moment of
speaking (now, at the moment)
Fixed plans in the near future
Temporary actions, things happening
around now
Changes happening around now
Repeated actions which are irritating
to the speaker, annoying habits (with
always, constantly, forever)