Present Simple or Present Progressive

Before you study this post, study Unit 1 and 2.
1. Study this explanation and compare the example:

Present Simple

Present Progressive

Use the present simple to talk about things in general or things which happen repeatedly: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius. Excuse me, do you speak English? What do you do? Most people learn to swim when they are children Use the present simple for a permanent situation: My parents live in London. They have been there for 20 years. The machine doesn’t work. It hasn’t worked for year

Use the present progressive to talk about something which is happening at or around the time of speaking: The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off, please? Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? ‘Where is Tom?’ ‘He is playing tennis.’ Silvia is in Britain for three months. She’s learning English. Use the present progressive for a temporary situation: I’m living with some friends until I can find a flat. That machine isn’t working. It broke down this morning.

2. Some verbs are used only in the simple tenses. For example, you cannot say 'I am knowing'. You can on;y say I know. Here is a list of verbs which are not normally used in continuous tenses (but there are exeptions):

Want	Like	Belong	Know	Suppose	Remember
Need	Love	See	Realize	Mean	Forget
Prefer	Hate	Hear	Believe	Understand	seem

Have (when the meaning is 'possess' - see also unit 24)

Think (when the meaning is 'believe')

• Do you like London? (not' 'are you liking')
• He doesn't understand. (not 'he isn't understanding')
• These shoes belong to me. (not 'are belonging')
• What do you think Tom will do? (= What do you believe he will do?)

But: What are you thinking about? (=What is going on in your mind?)

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