Present simple or continuous?
Basic differences in use.
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PRESENT SIMPLE |
PRESENT CONTINUOUS |
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Permanent situations: Janice lives in London with her husband and children. |
Temporary situations, for a limited period of time: But Janice is staying in a hotel this weekend. Time expressions: today, this week, at the moment |
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Regular actions, habits and routines: Janice is a pilot. She flies all over the world. |
Actions that are happening at/around the time we are speaking: Janice is flying to Sydney today. |
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Things we do not expect to change: Pilots usually train for about two years to get their flying licence. |
Something that is changing: More and more women are training to become pilots these days. |
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To describe events in a book, play or film: The story starts in Madrid. The main character lives there. One day, he goes out and… |
To describe what is happening in a photo or picture: That’s my niece in the photo. She’s riding her brother’s bike. |