Use Present Continuous to talk about what is happening during the conversation or what is happening around, but not necessarily exactly during the conversation.

The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off, please?
  Listen to those people. What language are  they   speaking?
  ‘Where is Tom?’ ‘He’s   playingtennis. ’
  (You saw a stranger in your room) What   are you doing  here?
  Silvia is in Britain for three months. She ‘S learningEnglish

Use Present Continuous for a temporary situation:

I ‘M living  with some friends until I can find a flat.
  That machine   isn’t working.  It broke down this morning.

Use Present Simple to talk about common things or things that happen repeatedly.

Water boils  at 100 degrees Celsius.
  Excuse me do  you speak  English?
  Tom plays  tennis every Saturday.
  What do  you usually   do  at weekends?
  What do  you do? (\u003d What’s your job?)
  Most people learnto swim when they are children.

Use Present Simple for an ongoing situation:

My parents   livein London. They have been there for 20 years.
   That machine doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for years.

be, have

This house is  over 100 years old.

Do you have  a car?

He is being  very silly!

I ‘M having a great time  here.

imagine, suppose, think, expect

I suppose  this is Jim.

I   imagine  you feel the same. What do you think? (\u003d have an opinion)

You ‘Re supposing  he is guilty. (\u003d make an assumption)

Ghosts! No, you ‘Re imagining things!

What are you thinking?

I’m thinking of changing jobs. (\u003d considering)

hope, wonder

I   hope  you haven’t been waiting long.

enjoy, like love

I enjoy / love  going for long walks.

Are you enjoying  the party?

I ‘M loving  every minute of my new job!

Your visa appearsto be out of date.

Present Progressive (Present Continuous) tense  - a real long time. In most cases, this time indicates that the action is happening right now. For us Russians, Present Continuous at first may seem too complicated to understand. This is not surprising, because in Russian there are no similar tenses of the verb. For example, the sentence “I play the balalaika” in Russian may mean that I play now or play in general (I can play). In English, these are two different sentences. However, some verbs are used differently in different situations.

In general terms: if we want to say that the action is happening right now, then we use the Present Continuous (Present Progressive) form. But this is not the only case of the use of this temporary form. But more on that later. First answer the question -   How is Present Progressive (Continuous) formed?

Present Continuous Education: Basic Rules and Examples

Present Progressive is formed quite simply: take the verb to be, put it in the form corresponding to the item (change in accordance with the subject - I am, he is, my mother is   and so on) and add the verb ending with the specific action (in question) ingwhich is “attached” to its base.

Too complicated? Let's look at a diagram illustrating this process.

Still not clear? Ok, let's take a look at examples. To do this, take the verb to think   - to think. Since it ends in a consonant, when adding ing nothing will not be discarded, that is, we will get - thinking. If we want to say “I think” (about something at the moment), then we will succeed - I am thinking  . Now with other persons:

Negative and interrogative forms are formed very simply:

Present Continuous Consumption Guidelines and Examples

Forming a Present Continuous form is quite simple. The most difficult thing is the correct use of this form. The bottom line is that there are several cases where it is necessary to use Present Continuous tense, and not some other time. Briefly, all these cases are indicated by the scheme:

This scheme is not yet entirely clear to us, but it will be useful in order to quickly recall the main cases of using present progressive.

So, Present Continuous in use:

1. A designation of what is happening or not happening now, at the moment (now, at the moment).

• I’m studying the present continuous . “I have been studying the present for a long time.”
• I’m not watching TV at the moment.   - At the moment I do not watch TV.
• I’m sitting now.   - Now I'm sitting.
• I’m using the Internet.   - I use the Internet.
• We’re talking about life.   - We talk about life.
• She’s not listening to me.   - She's not listening to me (now).

2. The designation of what is happening now in the broad sense of the word - today, this month, this year, and so on. Temporary situations that we feel or know will not last long.

• I am studying to become a teacher.   - I study as a teacher (for example, 5 years).
• Are you working on any special projects at work?   - Are you (now) working on some kind of work project?
• I’m living in Moscow for a few months.   - I live in Moscow for several months.
• I’m reading a great book.   - I am reading a wonderful book (Now, these days. Reading a book is a long process).
• He’s living with his mother until he finds an apartment.   “He lives with his mother until he finds an apartment.”

3. Recent or temporary habits that did not always exist.

• My father is smoking too much . (He used to smoke less or not smoke at all).
• My cat’s eating a lot these days . (She used to not eat so much).

4. Repeated, annoying actions, habits using always, constantly, forever:

• I don’t like him because he is always complaining.
• They’re forever being late.
• My sister is always losing her keys.

5. Plans for the near future

• I’m leaving at 5 am.   - I'm leaving at 5 in the morning.
• Are you visiting your parents next weekend?   “Will you visit your parents next weekend?”
• I am not going to the party tonight.   “I won't go to the party today.”

6. Change of situation (usually slow) - little by little, gradually  etc.

• My son is getting better at playing the guitar.
• The weather is improving.

These were all the rules of education and use of the present continuous (the present progressive).

There is one present in Russian, four in English. It is no wonder that confusion often arises, especially among beginners to learn a language. The most common present tenses are Present Simple and Present Continuous. It is they that cause difficulties, since, at first glance, they seem similar. So what is the difference between them?

Educational difference

We will not dwell in detail on the formation of times and, as you can read about this in the relevant articles on the site.

Let me just recall that in Present Simple we use a verb in the form without a to particle, and to form a question or deny, the auxiliary verb do / does comes to our aid:

She often comes here with her children.
  She often comes here with her children.

What time do you usually have lunch?
  What time do you usually have lunch?

And for the formation of Present Continuous, we need one of the forms in the present tense - am, are, is. As well as a semantic verb with the ending - ing:

Now he is taking a shower.
  Now he is taking a shower.

What are you doing tonight?
  What are you doing tonight?

What do you want to say

It is only at first glance that the Present Simple Time and the Present Long Time seem the same. But, if you look, you will see significant differences in their use. First of all, ask yourself the question: what do I want to say? What action are you going to describe? Is it happening at all or right now? Is it ordinary, familiar, happens regularly? Or is it some kind of temporary action that will end soon? What time to use depends on your answer.

Let's compare

PresentSimple: you describe an action that is habitual, ordinary, happened earlier, and in the future will also be repeated:

I read newspapers in the evenings.
  In the evenings, I read newspapers (I usually do this every night).

It often rains in autumn.
  It often rains in the fall (the same thing happens every fall - it rains).

In this case, you will be helped by the indicator words that often accompany Present Simple: always (always), often (often), usually (usually), seldom (rarely), never (never), sometimes (sometimes), occasionally (sometimes, occasionally ), in the morning / afternoon / evening  (morning / afternoon / evening) every day / week / month / year / summer  (every day / week / month / year / summer).

PresentContinuous: you want to say what you (or someone else) are doing now, at this particular moment, at the moment of speech:

I’m eating apple.
  I eat an apple (right now I'm chewing this apple).

She is watching TV.
  She is watching TV (she is currently staring at the screen).

In this case, the sentence may contain the words: now (now), at the moment (at this moment), still (still, still).

PresentSimple:  you describe a constant state, a constant action:

My daughter goes to school.
  My daughter goes to school (this is her main occupation).

We live in Krasnodar.
  We live in Krasnodar (we live here constantly).

PresentContinuous:if the action or condition is temporary, it has begun, but has not yet ended:

I’m repairing my apartment.
  I am repairing an apartment (at a given period of time, not necessarily at the time of speech, repair is a temporary condition, but it is not finished yet).

Now I’m living in my summer house.
  Now I live in the country (this is not a permanent place of residence, I live here temporarily).

PresentSimple:  when you describe what is constant and unchanging - the laws of nature, well-known facts, axioms:

In the summer the sun rises early.
  In summer, the sun rises early.

Cows eat grass.
  Cows are eating grass.

PresentContinuous:when talking about a changing situation, a developing action:

Your English is getting better.
  Your English is getting better (it’s important for you to emphasize the process of improving your language skills).

With each passing day he is driving more confidently.
  Every day he drives a car more confidently (you are talking about the process of changing skills).

PresentSimple:use if you talk about events occurring on a schedule that is not up to you:

The store opens at nine o’clock in the morning.
  The store opens at nine in the morning.

The train leaves in two hours.
  The train leaves in two hours.

PresentContinuous:when you talk about your (or someone else's) plans for the near future:

He is coming tomorrow.
  He is coming tomorrow.

We are going to the lake Baikal this summer.
  We are going to Lake Baikal this summer.

PresentSimple:when you retell the contents of books, movies, tell stories and jokes, list the actions that take place:

Every summer a lot of tourists come to Sochi. They swim, sunbathe and relax on the beach.
  Every summer, many tourists come to Sochi. They swim, sunbathe and relax on the beach.

Lukashin tears Ippolit’s photo and throws it out a window.
  Lukashin tears a photograph of Hippolytus and throws it out the window.

PresentContinuous:  if you express disapproval, annoyance, indignation at any repeated actions. In this case, the adverbs are always used (always), constantly (constantly), never again (never again), too often (too often):

She is constantly talking on the phone.
  She constantly talks on the phone.

He’s always losing his glasses.
  He always loses his points.

PresentSimple:used in various instructions, manuals, directions, recipes, sports comments:

First I fry onions in the pot then I add slices of ham.
  First, I fry the onions in a saucepan, then put slices of ham.

Go straight and take the first left.
  Go straight and take the first left.

PresentSimple:if the action takes place right now, at the moment of speech, but you use verbs that are not used with the tenses of the Continuous group. Such verbs are called state verbs; they express feelings, emotions, opinions, desires, mental activity:

I see a few paintings on the wall.
  I see several paintings on the wall.

I remember you very well.
  I remember you very well.

Understanding the difference in using Present Simple and Present Continuous is not difficult. It is important to bring the skill of using these times to automatism in order to speak without thinking. And for this you will need interlocutors, which can be found on the channel “Enlish - Speak Fluently!” We are waiting for you on the air.