Present simple / continuous

                                                                'I play tennis / I am playing tennis.'

What's the difference between the Present Simple / Present Continuous?

We use the present simple tense when we want to talk about fixed habits or routines – things that don’t change.

We use the present continuous to talk about actions which are happening at the present moment, but will soon finish. It is also used to talk about future arrangements.

Compare these two statements:

• (present simple) I play tennis.

• (present continuous/ progressive) I am playing tennis.

            (present simple) ‘I play tennis’ tells us that playing tennis is something the speaker always does. It is part of a routine or habit. We can call this a permanent situation.

            (present continuous/ progressive) ‘I am playing tennis’ tells us that the speaker is playing tennis right now. Soon the game will be over. We call this a temporary situation.

With the present simple we say:

I play tennis                       You play tennis                He/she/ it plays tennis

We play tennis                     You play tennis              They play tennis  

With the present continuous we say:

I am playing tennis                       You are playing tennis                    He/she/it is playing tennis                   

We are playing tennis                    You are playing tennis                     They are playing

If you want to revise click on the present simple or present continuous.

                     Do these activities. Click on the photos.