Present and Present Continuous Tense

In this article we will talk about

• Present tense and its uses
• Present Continuous and its uses
• Stative Verbs
• Exceptions
• Special uses of “to be”
• A Quiz

So, let’s start it from Present Tense.

When is present tense used?

The first use is

to say when things happen if they take place regularly or habits that you have.

For Example

Our class finishes at five.

So, when you describe your routine or what someone does regularly, you use this tense. We also use adverbs of frequency, like:

• Usually
• Sometimes
• Often
• Always
• Never

And phrases like

• Every day (or week, month, etc.)
• On Fridays
• Three times a week, etc.

Second use of present tense

To talk about situations that are generally or always true.

For something that’s generally true, you could say:

• It’s always windy in Chicago.
• People in this town are nice.

This is also the tense we use to refer to universal truths.

For example, we say that the sun rises in the east. Another example is she says she plays the guitar.

Third use of present tense

To describe the plots of books and films.

For Example, in the movie Avatar, a soldier travels to another world, where he gets into the body of a blue creature.

Present Continuous

The tense present continuous is used to talk about actions taking place right now.

For Example,

I’m buying some groceries at the supermarket right now.

I’m making tea. Would you like a cup?

With the present simple we talk about actions or situations that always happen or are permanent.

For Example,

I love it. I love this car.

But with the present continuous, we mention an action that is happening right now.

For Example,

What are you doing?

We’re just, you know, moving something upstairs.

Second use of present continuous

We also use this tense to suggest that an action is temporary, often with words like now, at the moment, just, etc.

For Example,

I’m working from home this week.

This suggests you usually work from somewhere else, but this week in particular you’re working from home.

Third use of present continuous

For an action around the time of speaking, which has begun but its not finished.

For example, if you say this:

I’m studying for an exam.

Depending on the context, you could mean that you’re studying at that precise moment, or that that’s an action you are doing for the duration of that week or another period of time.

I’m reading the second Game of Thrones book.

Fourth use of present continuous

For changing or developing situations.

For Example, fortunately, the weather is getting better.

Fifth use of present continuous

When we use this tense with always, we often mean that we’re annoyed at someone or something, or we want to criticize or complain about something.

For Example, you’re always eating my food! It was my sandwich.

Note that you can say this in the present simple:

“You always eat my food.”

Which depending on your tone, could also imply that you’re angry. But if you say it in the present continuous, you’ll sound more emphatic.

Stative Verbs

Have you ever wondered why you can say, for example: I love science fiction movies. But then, saying, “I’m loving science fictions movies” sounds a bit weird?

Stative verbs are verbs that are nearly always used in the simple rather than the continuous tense.

With these verbs, the rules are just as interesting as the exceptions.

We’ll talk about them in just a moment.

Consider the word “Thought”

We have stative verbs of thought.

These include verbs such as know, mean, suppose, think.

For Example, when we say “I know the words of this song.”

Saying “I’m knowing” in this case, would NOT make sense.

The verb think can be used in both ways. We use the present simple when we mean “believe”. When we use the continuous form, we describe what someone is doing.

The verb mean is also interesting. In questions we say…

for Example, I told my mom I would do something with her. Well, what do you mean? The game’s about to start.

Then as a phrase to explain yourself for Example,

This is pretty fun, right? I mean, we’re actually bonding.

…we always using present simple.

In some other cases, we say meaning: for Example, I’ve been meaning to thank you, by the way. You didn’t lose a single customer in the merger, and you still managed to trim the budget. That is nice work.

Now consider the word “Feelings”

Another type of state verbs are those that describe feelings. Some of these are the following:

Look, what do you want me to say?

I want you to say that you like her!

I can’t. its like this chemical thing, you know? Every time she starts laughing, I just wanna pull my are off just so I have something to throw at her.

Another Example

Yeah, I wish we looked as cool dancing in clubs as we do right now.

Don’t worry, this is exactly how you look when you’re dancing in clubs.

Another Example,

Oh, pardon-moi! I prefer the champagne Dijon to the standard yellow.

Love is often the exception to the rule because in a colloquial way, you can say you’re loving something to express that you find something enjoyable.

Native use this quite often to talk about something they are obsessed about right now. For Example,

Well, Alex is your employee. If she’s doing something that’s making Leonard uncomfortable, you should talk to her.

Oh, no, he’s not uncomfortable at all. Now, he’s loving it. Yeah, he’s strutting around like he’s five-foot-six.

What… He’s loving it?

Sheldon, you need to talk to Alex right away.

Now consider the word “Senses”

The next type is senses. These are the verbs smell, taste, hear, see. For Example,

This food tastes great!

We also often use see or hear to show that we understand someone’s point, but we might not agree with it. For this we use these phrases:

I hear what you’re saying, but…

I can see where you’re coming from, but…

Now, which of these two options do you think is the correct one?

1. I can’t see anything.
2. I don’t see anything.

The option A is correct.

Something worth nothing is the use of can together with these verbs.

Can implies your momentary ability to, for example, see or hear something.

For Example,

I can hear someone in the next room. That sounds more natural than saying “I’m hearing someone in the next room.”

Exceptions

Let’s now talk about some exceptions to the rule.

The verb have is a state verb when it means “to possess.”

Clearly, you can see which sentence below is incorrect.

1. I have two brothers.
2. I’m having two brothers.

However, when it’s not used as such (possessions), it can be used in the -ing form. For Example,

Excuse me. We’re having some trouble with our TV.

Or as a synonym of eat or drink. For Example, I’m having a code with lunch. She’s having lunch with him?

To taste and smell  can be continuous when they describe what someone is doing, that is, the action: for Example,

I’m tasting this wine.

She’s smelling a rose.

But they can’t be used in the continuous form when you are describing the presence of a smell or taste. For Example,

Do you smell something burning?

You could probably think it would be okay to say it as “Are you smelling something burning?” but it’s not.

Special uses of “to be”

You often see the verb be conjugated as am, is and are in present tense. But how about when it’s being, as in this example:

Yeah. I do think it’s better this way. Yeah, we’re being smart.

In another lesson, we’ll see why and when we say being when we use passive voice. But in this case, in the active voice we use being to emphasize that a situation is temporary and it often describes a person’s behavior. For Example,

He’s being so impatient!

Oh my God, I’m sorry. I am being so rude.

Perhaps I should sleep here, so you don’t miss Leonard as much, because you’re being kind of a baby about it.

Sheldon’s being reasonable. Yeah, it’s freaking me out. I’m gonna go.

Let’s have a Quiz

Manny, I think we should talk about this Kelly girl.

Isn’t she great? I think she__________?

1. Is really liking me.
2. Really likes me.

Correct answer is option B.

Which of these is not a stative verb?

1. Talk
2. Think
3. Like

Correct option is A.

“NASA is watching” is an action that…

1. Is taking place around the time of speaking.
2. Is still developing or changing.
3. Is taking place right now.

Correct option is C.

I_______ a good job now.

1. Am having
2. Have

Correct option is B.

“I have a good job now” is in the present simple because…

1. It’s an action that takes place regularly.
2. It’s a permanent action.
3. It’s an action taking place right now.

The correct option is B.