Present simple and present continuous

English has two ways of talking about now, and they mean different things.

Present simple

For things that are generally true, habits, and routines.

```

I work in a hospital.

She takes the bus every morning.

Water boils at 100 degrees.

```

The form. Add -s for he, she and it. Nothing for I, you, we and they.

Notice that the -s moves to does in negatives and questions. It is never in both places.

```

✗ Does she works here?

✓ Does she work here?

```

Present continuous

For things happening at this moment, and for temporary situations.

```

I am working right now, call me later.

She is taking the bus this week because her car is broken.

```

The form. am / is / are plus the -ing form.

The difference in one pair

```

I live in Manchester. (permanently, this is my home)

I am living in Manchester. (for now, it is temporary)

```

Both are correct English. They say different things.

The verbs that resist -ing

Some verbs describe states rather than actions, and they usually stay in the simple form:

like, love, hate, want, need, know, understand, believe, remember, belong, seem, own

```

✗ I am knowing the answer.

✓ I know the answer.

✗ She is wanting a coffee.

✓ She wants a coffee.

```

Think and have belong to both groups, with different meanings:

```

I think it is correct. (opinion, a state)

I am thinking about it. (mental activity, happening now)

I have a car. (possession, a state)

I am having lunch. (an activity)

```

Spelling the -ing form

• Most verbs: just add -ing. work → working
• Ending in a silent -e: drop it. make → making, write → writing
• One vowel between two consonants, stressed: double the last one. run → running, sit → sitting, begin → beginning
• Ending in -ie: becomes -ying. lie → lying, die → dying