Present simple and continuous rules (advanced)

I hear you loud and clear.

= I hear

I see him every day at work.

= I see

I see what you mean

= I understand

I hear you're coming to stay.

= I've been told

What do you think of Jill's new hairstyle? X What are you thinking about?

Some verbs can be state or action verbs (e. g. hear, see, apper, think), but with a different meaning. Present simple: think (= opinion) x present continuous (=consider)

If you watch a group of friends bowling, it looks as if they're always smiling.

When we describe an action or an event with the present simple, we use the present continuous to refer to activities, situations and changes happening around the same time.

Mike is still looking for his glasses./I'm reading an interesting book, it's in my bag.

present continuous - activities, situations and changes happening now/around now

Jane is living in Paris at the moment. She is working as an English teacher.

present continuous - situations which we see as temporary

Mike's always losing things. He should be more careful. / You're always leaving the door open!

present continuous - to criticize or express disproval

I'm looking forward to hearing from you soon. We're really hoping you'll be able to come.

present continuous - with verbs "hope, look forward to" - if you want to sound more informal and less direct

Scientists are forever arguing about this question.

present continuous with indefinite adverbs of frequency (e.g. always, constantly, forever) to refer to regular behaviour which is typical, habitual and predicable

Here comes James. / There goes James, looking as happy as usual.

present simple - in the expressions with "Here come(s)..." and "There go(es)...".

First, you peel the potatoes... While the meat's cooking...

present simple - instructions, shorter actions, present continuous - longer situations, background activity

Jill is ill. Maria is doing her work.

present simple - temporary situation

Serena serves./ Beckham heads the ball to Smith - who kicks... and he scores! / The President visits local hospital.

present simple - to describe events shown in a picture,k to make them more immediate and alive; also in news headlines and in television or radio commentaries on sports or other ongoing events

Jane lives in Prague. She works as a nurse.

present simple - to refer to situations which we see as permanent

I believe he is nice./ It consists of two parts.

present simple - with state verbs (think, believe, feel, seem, appear, like, consist, contain, have, belong)

I look forward to hearing from you./We very much hope you will be able to attend.

present simple - with verbs "hope, look forward to" - in more formal situations

I promise I won't be late.

present simple - with verbs like "promise, agree, assure, demand", which are used to perform the act they describe

We usually smile because we feel happy.

present simple to refer to facts and specific routines or habits, and with adverbs of frequency (sometimes, often, never etc.)

She's feeling good after the shot.

state verbs - Although we use the present simple with state verbs, we can use the present continuous if we're talking about an ongoing present process rather than a fact.