Talking about the present

English has two main ways of talking about present time: the simple present and the present progressive.

THE SIMPLE PRESENT
You make the simple present by using the verb in its basic form. You add –s or –es to the verb in the third person singular.

The simple present is used in the following ways:
1. You use the simple present to talk about something which is happening now, and which will continue to happen in the future. You often use the simple present in this meaning to talk about things that are true about your life, for example where you live, your job, or the kinds of things you like.

Ex:-Martin lives in Canada.
-I work in a hospital.
-“What kind of music do you like?” “I like all kinds of pop music.”

2. You use the simple present when you talk about something which happens again and again, or when you say that something happens regularly at a particular time. Use words such as always, often, sometimes, occasionally, and never, or phrases such as on Tuesdays or every day with the simple present in this meaning.

Ex:-They often go out to restaurants.
-I travel to London twice a month.
-He gets up at 6 o’clock.
-She goes to church every Sunday.

3. You use the simple present to talk about something which stays the same for ever – such as a scientific fact.

ex:-Oil floats on water.
-Two and two make four.

4. You can use the simple present when you are describing what is happening at the exact moment when you are speaking. The simple present is used like this, for example, in sports commentaries.

Ex:-Shearer gets the ball from Gascoigne. He shoots – and scores!

For descriptions of actions that are happening now, you usually use the present
progressive (see below) rather than the simple present. For example:
“What are you doing?” “I’m making a poster.”NOT “What do you do?” “I make a poster.”

THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
You make the present progressive by using a form of the verb be in the present tense, followed by the main verb with an –ing ending, for example l am waiting, she is coming.

The present progressive is used in the following ways:

1. You use the present progressive to talk about something which is happening now at the time you are speaking or writing. You often use this meaning with words and phrases that express present time, such as now, at the moment, and currently.

Ex:-“What’s Bob doing?” “He’s watching television.”
-It’s raining again.
-I’m looking for my glasses.

2. You use the present progressive to say that something is happening now, but will only continue for a limited period of time. Compare these pairs of sentences:

Ex:-We live in France. (=France is our permanent home)
-We’re living in France. (=we are living there for a limited period of time)
-He cooks his own meals. (=he always does it)
-He’s cooking his own meals. (=he does not usually do it)

If you want to talk about the subjects you are studying at school or university, you usually use the present progressive.

Ex:-She’s studying law at Harvard. NOT She studies law at Harvard.
-I’m studying English. NOT I study English.

Verbs that cannot be used in the progressive
Verbs which express a situation or state, rather than describing a definite action, are not usually used in the progressive. Do not use the progressive with the following verbs:

_be__________________have________________see

_believe_____________like________________agree

_know________________love________________disagree

_recognize___________hate________________mean

_remember____________prefer______________need

_understand__________want________________deserve

_wish________________belong

I know the answer. NOT I am knowing the answer.

She understands me. NOT She is understanding me.