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3 Unit |
Present continuous and present simple (1) (I am doing and I do)
Study the explanations and compare the examples:
Present continuous (I am doing) Use the continuous for something that is happening at or around the time of speaking. The action is not finished.
Present simple (I do)
Use the simple for things in general or things
that happen repeatedly.
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• The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?
• Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?
• Let's go out. It isn't raining now.
• 'Don't disturb me. I'm busy.' 'Why? What are you doing?'
• I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!
• Maria is in Britain at the moment. She's learning English.
Use the continuous for a temporary situation:
• I'm living with some friends until I find a flat.
• 'You're working hard today.' 'Yes, I've got a lot to do.'
See Unit 1 for more information.
Water boils at 100 degrees celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English?
It doesn't rain very much in summer. What do you usually do at weekends? What do you do? (= What's your job?) I always go to bed before midnight. Most people learn to swim when they are children.
Use the simple for a permanent situation:
• My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives.
• John isn't lazy. He works very hard most of the time.
See Unit 2 for more information.
I always do and I'm always doing
Usually we say 'I always do something' (= I do it every time):
• I always go to work by car. (not 'I'm always going') You can also say 'I'm always doing something', but this has a different meaning. For example:
[I've lost my key again. I'm always losing things. J
^ 'I'm always losing things' does not mean that I lose
things every time. It means that I lose things too often, more often than normal.
'You're always -ing' means that you do something very often, more often than the speaker thinks is normal or reasonable.
• You're always watching television. You should do something more active.
• John is never satisfied. He's always complaining,