Lesson 1 of 6
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Talk about habits, facts and what's happening right now, correctly.
One of the most common errors among South Asian English speakers is using the continuous (-ing) form where native speakers use the simple form: "I am having two brothers", "I am knowing him". This lesson fixes that for good.
LearnThe key ideas
When to use each
| Present simple | Present continuous |
|---|---|
| Habits and routines: I go to the gym on Mondays. | Right now: I'm going to the gym (I'm on my way). |
| Facts: Water boils at 100°C. | Temporary situations: I'm staying with my aunt this month. |
| Schedules: The train leaves at 6. | Changing trends: Prices are going up. |
Stative verbs: no -ing
Some verbs describe states, not actions, and normally don't take -ing: know, understand, believe, have (own), want, need, like, love, hate, prefer, mean, seem, belong.
Say "I know him", not "I'm knowing him". Say "I have a car", not "I'm having a car". But "having" is fine for actions: "I'm having lunch", "We're having a meeting".
ListenListen and repeat
- I work in marketing.A general fact about your life.
- I'm working from home today.Temporary, just today.
- I don't understand the question."Understand" is stative: no -ing.
- We're having dinner, can I call you back?"Have" as an action can take -ing.
AvoidCommon mistakes
SpeakShadowing practice
Press Listen, then repeat straight away, copying the speed, rhythm and tone. Say each sentence three times, then record yourself.
- I usually take the bus, but today I'm driving.
- She doesn't like coffee, she prefers tea.
- What are you working on these days?
CheckQuick quiz
1. Choose the correct sentence:
2. "Look! It ___."
3. Which use of "having" is correct?
PracticeToday's speaking task
Describe your normal weekday in 5 sentences (present simple), then what you're doing this week that's different (present continuous). Say it out loud.