When learning English, the first two verb tenses that students encounter are Present Simple Tense and Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense. In the kabinata.com course, they are studied at the level where I teach—Fast Start 2. When we examine them separately and do the exercises for the corresponding lesson, my students have no problems and quickly handle the assigned tasks. However, at the moment when they need to decide on their own which of the two verb tenses to use and how to formulate their sentences, they often get confused and in most cases mix the two tenses. That is why I am providing a sample comparison of the two verb tenses, which will make it easier to distinguish them and use them correctly.

	Present Progressive (Continuous) Tense	Present Simple Tense
USE	When we talk about something which is happening at the time of speaking (now, at the moment)Examples:Pamela is sleeping in the bedroom now. The telephone is ringing at the moment. They are doing their homework now. When we talk about something which is happening at present, but not necessarily at the moment of speaking Examples: I'm reading an interesting book. Tom is looking for a new job. We are studying English and Spanish. When we talk about temporary actions taking place only for a period of time (today, this week, this semester, this year) Examples: My husband is working hard today. They are spending this week in Paris. She is teaching English this semester.	When we talk about things that happen repeatedly or habitually, permanent or long-lasting situations Examples: I go to school every day.They get up at 6 o'clock every morning.She lives in London. When we talk about people or things in general Examples: Nurses work in clinics and hospitals. Cars run with fuel. A dog barks. to indicate eternal truths, facts, rules and scientific laws Examples: The sun rises in the east. Water freezes at 0°C. The Earth goes around the Sun.
FORMS	Affirmative formsSubject + TO BE + Verb + INGExamples: I am going to work now. You are studying English. He is playing football today. She is looking good this evening. Negative forms Subject + TO BE + NOT + Verb + ING Examples: I'm not going to work now. You are not (aren't) studying English. He is not (isn't) playing football today. She is not (isn't) looking good this evening. Question forms – inversion TO BE + Subject + Verb + ING Examples: Am I going to work now? Are you studying English? Is he playing football today? Is she looking good this evening? Short answers Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. Yes, you are. / No, you aren't. Yes, he is. / No, he isn't. Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.	Affirmative forms Subject + Verb in infinitive formEXCEPTION: 3^rd person/singularSubject + Verb + S/ES Examples: I go to work every day. You study English at school. He playS football after school. She lookS good all the time. Negative forms Subject + DO + NOT + Verb in infinitive EXCEPTION: 3^rd person/singular Subject + DOES + NOT + Verb in infinitive Examples: I do not (don't) go to work every day. You do not (don't) study English at school. He does not (doesn't) play football after school. She does not (doesn't) look good all the time. Question forms – inversion DO + Subject + Verb in infinitive EXCEPTION: 3^rd person/singular DOES + Subject + Verb in infinitive Examples: Do I go to work every day? Do you study English at school? Does he play football after school? Does she look good all the time? Short answers Yes, I do. / No, I don't Yes, you do. / No, you don't. Yes, he does. / No, he doesn't. Yes, she does. / No, she doesn't.

Present Simple and Present Progressive (Continuous) - Simple Present and Present Continuous Tense