Present Simple & Continuous

We can use present continuous with: today / this week / this year (periods around now)

You are working hard today.

The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

We use the p. c. when we talk about changes happening around now, especially with these verbs:

get change become increase rise fall grow improve begin start

Is your English getting better?

The population of the world is increasing very fast.

I swear / I promise / I advise / I insist / I agree / I apologise

Sometimes we do things by saying something.

I promise I won’t be late.

What do you suggest I do?

I always do / I’m always doing

I always go to work by car.

This car is useless, it’s always breaking down.

I’ve lost my pen again. I’m always loosing things.

The following verbs are not usually used in Present Continuous.

like love hate want need prefer

know realise suppose mean understand believe remember

belong fit contain consist seem

Do you understand what I mean?

see/hear/smell/taste

We normally use present simple with these verbs.

This room smells.

We often use can + see/hear/smell/taste.

I can hear a strange noise. Can you hear it?

He is selfish / He’s being selfish. (acting)

He never thinks about other people. He is very selfish.

I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.

I think / I’m thinking

I think you’re right. (believe)

Be quiet. I’m thinking about what happened. (consider)