Present Simple | Present Progressive
A comparison between the Present Simple and the Present Progressive
- The Present Simple and the Present Progressive represent contrasted themes in English grammar. While the Present Simple is used to describe dry information that is true in general and permanently, the Present Progressive describes actions\activities\changes\processes that are happening temporarily in a defined time frame.
The sentences below will help you better comprehend the contrast between the 2 tenses:
Present Progressive Israel is buying weapons from the US this year. (An unusual and temporary activity that’s happening only this year - this is also implied by the grammatical structure itself, irrespective of the time expression.) |
Present Simple Israel buys weapons from the US. (Fact - this information is true in general, it was true yesterday, it is true today and as far as we know will be true tomorrow.) |
Present Progressive They're going swimming this week. (An unusual and temporary activity that’s happening only this week - this is also implied by the grammatical structure itself, irrespective of the time expression.) |
Present Simple They go swimming every Friday. (Habit - this activity happens regularly every Friday. This was true yesterday, it is true today and as far as we know will be true tomorrow.) |
Present Progressive He's working as a substitute Hebrew teacher this week. (An unusual activity that’s happening only this week - this is also implied by the grammatical structure itself, irrespective of the time expression.) |
Present Simple He works as an English teacher. (A permanent situation - this is what he does on a daily basis, consistently. This was true yesterday, it is true today and as far as we know will be true tomorrow.) |
Present Progressive He's talking on the phone, reading the news and having breakfast at the same time. (Simultaneous actions - these actions do not happen regularly or daily, rather actions happening in a specific time frame.) |
Present Simple He gets up at 8:00, washes his face, gets dressed and goes to work. (Chronological actions in the present - this is performed regularly on a daily basis.) |
Present Progressive I'm thinking of buying a new car. (A process of thinking - this is an activity happening in a specific time frame, something I’m considering recently.) |
Present Simple I think you are right. (Opinion - the word “think” in the sentence does not represent a process of thinking but rather a general opinion about a certain subject.) |
Present Progressive You must come to the party, I'm insisting on it. (A dynamic process - in which the other person insists again and again on something. The -ing is used to reflect this process of insistence.) |
Present Simple I insist we go out tonight. (Doing things by saying them - the speaker presents their (general) position about something.) |
Present Progressive I'm arriving to Toronto tomorrow. (Personal schedule - this schedule is true only for me, it is a specific and personal schedule.) |
Present Simple The bus arrives in 5 minutes. (Impersonal schedules - this schedule applies to everyone standing at the bus stop, hence it is not personal.) |
Present Progressive They're staying here for a few days. (A Temporary situation - this is not permanent or factual.) |
Present Simple They are here. (A defining sentence in the present - there are no set time constraints for their stay. This statement provides very general information.) |
- In Summary:
The Present Progressive
temporary
dynamic\in progress
true only in a define time frame
specific\personal
unusual
simultaneous
The Present Simple
permanent\constant
static\dry information
true all the time
general\impersonal
regular (in frequency)
chronological
