present simple / continuous

Present simple and present continuous (I do / I am doing)

A. Verbs we normally do NOT use in the continuous

We use the present continuous (I’m waiting, it’s raining) for actions that are happening now and are not finished. But some verbs talk about states, not actions. We usually do not use these verbs in the continuous.

Common “state” verbs:

• like, want, need, prefer
• know, realize, understand, recognize
• believe, suppose, remember, mean
• belong, fit, contain, consist, seem

With these verbs, use the present simple, not am / is / are + -ing:

• I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting) (Quiero algo de comer.)
• Do you understand what I mean? (¿Entiendes lo que quiero decir?)
• Anna doesn’t seem very happy right now. (Anna no parece muy feliz ahora.)

B. think

1. think = believe / have an opinion → present simple

• I think Mary is Canadian, but I’m not sure. (not I’m thinking) (Creo que Mary es canadiense, pero no estoy seguro.)
• What do you think of my idea? (¿Qué opinas de mi idea?)

2. think = consider → present continuous is possible

• I’m thinking about what happened. (Estoy pensando en lo que pasó.)
• Nicky is thinking of giving up her job. (Nicky está pensando en dejar su trabajo.)
• I often think about it. (A menudo pienso en eso.)

C. Sense verbs: see, hear, smell, taste, look, feel

1. see / hear / smell / taste → usually present simple

We normally use the present simple, not the continuous, with these verbs:

• Do you see that man over there? (not Are you seeing) (¿Ves a ese hombre allí?)
• The room smells. Let’s open a window. (La habitación huele; abramos una ventana.)
• This soup doesn’t taste very good. (Esta sopa no sabe muy bien.)

2. look / feel → simple or continuous for “now”

To say how somebody looks or feels right now, you can use the present simple or the present continuous:

• You look well today. / You’re looking well today. (Te ves bien hoy.)
• How do you feel now? / How are you feeling now? (¿Cómo te sientes ahora?)

For general or usual feelings, use only the present simple:

• I usually feel tired in the morning. (not I’m usually feeling) (Normalmente me siento cansado por la mañana.)

D. am / is / are being

We use am / is / are being to talk about how someone is behaving now (temporary behavior that they can control):

• I can’t understand why he’s being so selfish. He isn’t usually like that. (No puedo entender por qué está siendo tan egoísta. Normalmente no es así.)
• “The path is icy. Don’t slip.” “Don’t worry. I’m being very careful.” (“El camino está helado. No resbales.” “No te preocupes. Estoy siendo muy cuidadoso.”)

Compare (permanent character → present simple):

• He never thinks about other people. He’s very selfish. (= selfish in general, not only now) (Nunca piensa en los demás. Es muy egoísta.)
• I don’t like to take risks. I’m a very careful person. (No me gusta arriesgarme. Soy una persona muy cuidadosa.)

We do not normally use am / is / are being for physical states or conditions:

• Sam is ill. (not is being ill) (Sam está enfermo.)
• Are you tired? (not Are you being tired) (¿Estás cansado?)