Present simple or continuous
The Present Simple is used for:
• regular actions or events
He plays tennis most weekends.
• facts
The sun rises in the east.
• facts known about the future
We leave at 8.30 next Monday
• thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking
I don't feel very well.
The Present Continuous is used for:
• the time of speaking ('now')
Shh, I'm trying to hear what they are saying .
• things which are true at the moment but not always
We're looking for a new flat.
• present plans for the future
We're having dinner with them next week .
Look at these examples :
• I don't usually have cereals for breakfast but I'm having some this
morning because there is nothing else.
• I often cycle to work but I'm taking the car this morning because it's
raining very hard.
• I'm thinking about having my hair cut short but I don't think my
husband will be very happy about it.
• My parents live in Washington but I'm just visiting.
Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events
which are temporary/limited in time and the present simple to talk about events which
are habits/permanent.
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