THE USE OF THE PRESENT SIMPLE INSTEAD OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We use continuous tenses only for actions and happenings. (They are eating/ It’s raining). The following verbs are not used in continuous tenses, because they are not action verbs. They are used in the Present Simple:

verbs of wish:	want, need, prefer
verbs of feeling and emotion:	love, hate, like
verbs of mental activity:	know, realize, suppose, mean, understand, believe, remember
verbs of sense perception:	see, hear, smell, taste
other verbs:	belong to, contain, consist of, depend on, seem

· Do you understand what I mean?

· Ann doesn’t seem very happy.

· Do you hear the noise?/ Can you hear the noise?

· Your perfume smells so nice.

· The pie tastes sweet.

· I see John in the street now.

Note1: It is possible to use the verb to see in the continuous when it means to have a meeting with somebody:

· I ’m seeing John tomorrow. = I’m meeting John tomorrow.

Note2: With the verbs to look and feel both the present simple or continuous are possible:

· You look well today. = You are looking well today.

· How do you feel now? = How are you feeling now?

Note3:When the verb to think means someone’s opinion it is used only in the present simple:

• What do you think about this hotel?

Что вы думаете/ ваше мнение об этом отеле?

• I think the service is very good.

Я думаю/мое мнение, обслуживание здесь хорошее.

Note4:When the verb to think means some activity (a thinking process) it may be used in the continuous form:

• What are you thinking about?

О чем вы думаете/ над чем размышляете?

• I ’m thinking about my Greek friend.

Я думаю о моем греческом друге.

 

Note5:When the verb to have means to possess it is used only in the present simple:

• I have many friends now.

 

Note6:When the verb to have + a noun means some activity it may be used in the continuous form:

• We are having a great time now!
• They are having a party soon.

Note7:We use am/is/are being + an adjective to say that somebody is behaving in an unusual way at a given moment, but it’s not possible in other types of sentences:

• The director is being angry today. He is usually kind.
• It is hot today. (not it is being hot)