MPC English & Study Skills Center

Simple Present Tense vs. Present Progressive

Simple Present:

The simple present tense is used to present events or situations that are habitual or always present or true.  Some groups of verbs are only used in the simple present, not the progressive;  they describe mental states or conditions that exist rather than actions that are in progress. 

For a complete listing and explanation of verb tenses, link to this handout:  "Verbs:  Tenses."

Verbs that show habitual actions--those things that occur over and over:

• Tom works for Macy's.  (Five days a week!)
• I eat lunch in the cafeteria.  (Day after day)
• She drives the freeway to work. (Every time she goes)
• We study in the library. (Day after day)

Verbs that show conditions that are always true:

• The sun rises in the east.
• The sky is overhead.
• Rain feels wet.
• Kasarah lives in New York City.

Verbs that show mental state:

• She knows that I love her.
• Janet understand the problem.
• They need a raise.
• I doubt his answer is true.
• He thinks that he knows the secret to life.

*Note:  "think" can be used in a progressive form, but the meaning is different.

• I am thinking about you.
  • Here, the focus is on the ACT of thinking.

Verbs that show emotional state:

 

• I despise liars.
• Stanley dislikes physics.
• Margarita loves her job.
• He envies her ability to learn things so quickly.

Verbs that show possession:

• Jason possesses the secrets to the universe.
• I own my home.
• Tony belongs to the Elks Club.
• I have a new car.

*Note:  "have" can be used in a progressive form, but the meaning is different.

• Help!  This man is having a heart attack!
  • Here, "is having" focuses on an action rather than possession.

Verbs that show sense perception:

• The dog hears the siren.
• She smells the smoke.
• I feel the sand under my feet.

Note:  some of these verbs also have a meaning not associated with the senses and can be used in the progressive:

• Jonas is feeling quite ill. 
  • Here, "is feeling" does not relate to the sense of touch.

Verbs that show existing states:

• She seems so tired this afternoon.
• The list includes the names of 200 people.

Present Progressive (Be + VERBing:

The present progressive tense gives the idea that an action is in progress or continuing, that someone or something is in the middle of doing something.  It can be used to describe an action taking place at this moment or in general.

• I am studying in the library. (Right now.)
• She is painting the barn.  (She is in the middle of doing it.)
• They are dancing to the waltz.  (They are on the dance floor now.)
• Terra is taking math this semester.  (Generally true--she is in the middle of the semester, but she is not in class at this very moment.)

Note:  "be" and "have" are rarely used in the progressive form.

Verbs with different meaning in different tenses: