THE PRESENT SIMPLE TENSE The present simple tense is used to describe:   a permanent state or situation: I live in the town where I was born. a fact or something which is always true: The Earth revolves around the Sun. an activity which happens regularly or occasionally: He gets up at six o’clock every day.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE The present continuous tense is used to describe:   a temporary situation: I am living with my uncle while the builders finish decorating my house. an activity happening at the present moment: I’m sorry you can’t talk to her at the moment. She is having a shower. an activity in progress but not exactly at the present moment: I am studying three foreign languages, so I’m quite busy nowadays. a situation which is changing or developing: Lots of people are coming to live here, so the town is growing quickly.

things the speaker finds strange or irritating, with always things the speaker finds strange or irritating, with always. This is the way of complaining: You are always using the telephone. Our phone bill will be enormous! something which happens frequently, with always: My girlfriend is always cooking me special meals.

STATE VERBS Verbs which describe states, not actions, are not usually used in the continuous. These verbs describe:   thoughts: believe, know, remember, think (meaning believe), feel (meaning believe), suppose, etc. feelings: love, like, hate, want, prefer, etc. senses: smell, hear, taste, see possession: have, belong, own, etc. the verb to be