SIMPLE
PRESENT versus PRESENT CONTINUOUS
APPLICATIONS
SIMPLE PRESENT |
PRESENT CONTINUOUS |
SIMPLE
PRESENT is used to express general truths and habitual actions which are in
or around the present. |
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
is used to express temporary actions which are in or around the
present. |
KEY WORDS The
frequency adverbs: always,
usually, often, sometimes, occasionally, seldom, rarely, hardly ever,
and never. Every : every week, every day, ... |
KEY WORDS Now, right now, presently, at the moment. |
Note:
Frequency adverbs can be used with tenses other than simple present,
depending on the meaning. For
example, "John Lennon always wore glasses." is a past
habitual action, so it takes past tense.
Key words are helpful, but when in doubt always determine the verb
tense by the meaning. |
EXCEPTIONS:
Certain verbs are rarely used in the continuous tenses. These verbs are: be, seem, need, owe, want, verbs of possession (have, own, possess,
belong), verbs which express thoughts (think, remember, forget, know,
believe), involuntary sense verbs (see, taste, feel, hear, smell). |
Note: There are many examples where an action can be
considered both habitual or temporary.
Your choice of tense will depend on what kind of emphasis you
want. For example: I am studying at UQAM. I study at UQAM. Both
sentences have the same basic meaning, but the first sounds more temporary
than the second. When
we talk about where we work and where we live, the two tenses are used
interchangeably. Thus: I live in Montreal. = I am living in Montreal. He works at Bell. = He is
working at Bell. |
Note: i)
When the verb HAVE does not signify possession, it can be used in the
continuous tenses. For example: They
are having a meeting right now. ii)
Voluntary sense verbs, such as listen, can be used with continuous
tenses. Ex.: At the moment, she is
listening to the news. |
NoNonsense English
© Copyright 2001 by
Eric Squire