Simple Present vs Present Continuous

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Look! It is snowing.
Listen, Katie is singing in the bathroom.
The water is boiling. Can you turn off the stove?
Let's go out. It isn't raining anymore.
Don't disturb me. I'm busy... Why? What are you doing?'
I'm going to bed, goodnight.
Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?
Maria is in class at the moment. She's taking an exam.


B. We use The Simple Present Tense for habits or general activities.

It snows here every winter.
Sean always sings in the bathroom.
We usually get up at seven o’clock.


C. We normally do not use these verbs in the present continuous.

want	like	love	hate
need	prefer	depend	know
mean	understand	believe	remember

I think you are right.
She wants a new bike.
Matt likes his job.
I don’t understand you. What do you mean?
She hates math.
I like you very much.
Do you know his name? No, I don’t know his name.


D. We use the Present Progressive for a routine or situation that wee see as temporary, for a short period.

I'm living with some friends until I find an apartment.
You're working hard today. Yes, I've got a lot to do.


E. We use the Simple Present for a routine or situation that we see as permanent.

I work at a sports bar. (It is a permanent job.)
They live in a very nice house.


F. When we use the Present Continuous Tense with "always" the sentence has a meaning of "too often/too much" and this annoys the speaker.

John is always inviting his friends over.
He does it all the time and it annoys me.
John always invites his friends over. (neutral)

I’m always making silly mistakes.
I make silly mistakes too often and I hate it.


G. Always with the Present Simple means ‘all the time’

I always take bus to work. (I do it all the time.)
We always play computer games after school.
I always pray before I sleep. ↑▲▲▲▲▲▲▲↑