Use the present continuous (I am doing) for something happening now, and the present simple (I do) for things in general or that happen regularly. Some verbs, such as like and know, are not normally used in the continuous.
A Two tenses, one person
Chloe is in the kitchen, doing the washing-up. She is not singing.
Chloe is in a choir, however. She sings every Thursday, and she sings very well.
Chloe sings, but she is not singing at the moment.
| Is she singing? | No, she isn't. | present continuous |
| Does she sing? | Yes, she does. | present simple |
- Chloe is doing the washing-up. She isn't singing.
- Chloe sings in a choir every Thursday.
B Present continuous: now
I am doing = now, at the time of speaking.
| past | NOW | future |
|---|---|---|
| I'm doing |
- Shh. I'm reading. (not I read)
- Ali is having breakfast at the moment. (not Ali has)
- Don't forget your coat. It's snowing.
- You can turn the oven off. I'm not using it.
- Why are you standing on that chair? What are you doing?
C Present simple: in general, all the time or sometimes
I do = in general, all the time, or sometimes. It is not about this moment in particular.
| past | NOW | future |
|---|---|---|
| ← | I do | → |
- I work from 8 o'clock until 4 every day.
- Ali has breakfast at 7 every morning.
- It snows a lot in the mountains in winter.
- I don't use the oven very often.
- What do you usually do on Saturday mornings?
D Verbs that are not used in the present continuous
We do not normally use these verbs in the present continuous (I am -ing):
like, love, prefer, hate, want, need, know, mean, understand, believe, remember, forget, depend
Use the present simple with these verbs: I want, do you like? and so on. We say I want a drink (not I'm wanting a drink).
- I'm thirsty. I want a drink of water.
- "Do you know that man?" "Yes, but I don't remember his name."
- I don't understand this word. What does it mean?
Exercises
8.1 Read each scene and answer the questions.
A woman who says "I'm a hairdresser" is sitting on a bench in the park, eating a sandwich.
Does she cut hair? Yes, she does. Is she cutting hair? No, she isn't. What is she doing? She's eating a sandwich.
Does she cut hair? Yes, she does. Is she cutting hair? No, she isn't. What is she doing? She's eating a sandwich.
A man who says "I'm a taxi driver" is in his garden, painting the fence.
Is he driving a taxi? Does he drive a taxi? What is he doing?
Is he driving a taxi? No, he isn't. Does he drive a taxi? Yes, he does. What is he doing? He's painting the fence.
A man who says "I'm a chef" is in a restaurant kitchen, standing at the cooker with a frying pan.
Does he cook? Is he cooking? What is he doing?
Does he cook? Yes, he does. Is he cooking? Yes, he is. What is he doing? He's cooking.
Two women who say "We're nurses" are at home on the sofa, watching a film.
Are they working? Do they work in a hospital? What do they do?
Are they working? No, they aren't. Do they work in a hospital? Yes, they do. What do they do? They're nurses.
8.2 Put in am, is, are or do, don't, does, doesn't.
Excuse me, do you know where the station is?
Excuse me, do you know where the station is?
"Where's Jamal?" "I know."
"Where's Jamal?" "I don't know."
Why you wearing your coat? It's warm in here.
Why are you wearing your coat? It's warm in here.
"What your brother do?" "He's a plumber."
"What does your brother do?" "He's a plumber."
It snowing. I want to go out in the cold.
It is snowing. I don't want to go out in the cold.
"Where you live?" "In Sheffield."
"Where do you live?" "In Sheffield."
How much it cost to park here all day?
How much does it cost to park here all day?
Freya has a lovely piano but she play it very often.
Freya has a lovely piano but she doesn't play it very often.
8.3 Put the verb in the present continuous (I am doing) or the present simple (I do).
Excuse me. Do you know (you / know) the way to the bus station?
Excuse me. Do you know the way to the bus station?
"Where's Mum?" "She's having (she / have) a bath."
"Where's Mum?" "She's having a bath."
I don't eat (I / not / eat) meat very often.
I don't eat meat very often.
Listen! Somebody (shout).
Listen! Somebody is shouting.
Joe is hungry. (he / want) something to eat.
Joe is hungry. He wants something to eat.
How often (you / go) to the cinema?
How often do you go to the cinema?
"Excuse me, but (you / stand) on my bag." "Oh, I'm so sorry."
"Excuse me, but you're standing on my bag." "Oh, I'm so sorry."
Sorry, (I / not / understand). Can you say that again?
Sorry, I don't understand. Can you say that again?
It's getting dark. (I / leave) now. (you / come) with me?
It's getting dark. I'm leaving now. Are you coming with me?
What time (your sister / get) home from work in the evenings?
What time does your sister get home from work in the evenings?
You can switch off the telly. (I / not / watch) it.
You can switch off the telly. I'm not watching it.
"Where's Dev?" "In the garage. (he / fix) his bike."
"Where's Dev?" "In the garage. He's fixing his bike."
Marie (not / usually / take) the bus to work. She (usually / cycle).
Marie doesn't usually take the bus to work. She usually cycles.
Dan (not / like) tea. (he / prefer) coffee.
Dan doesn't like tea. He prefers coffee.