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Grammar

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

The difference between "I work" and "I am working" — habits and facts vs. things happening now. One of the most common CELPIP slips.

6 min read
Key strategies
  • 1.Present simple = habits, routines, and permanent facts: "I work in Calgary." "Water boils at 100C."
  • 2.Present continuous = happening right now or a temporary situation: "I am studying for CELPIP this month."
  • 3.Stative verbs (know, want, believe, like, need) normally do NOT take continuous: say "I know", not "I am knowing".
  • 4.Remember the third-person -s in present simple: "He works", not "He work" — a frequent low-level error.

Two presents, two jobs

  • Present simple — for things that are generally or always true: habits, routines, facts.
    • "I take the bus to work." (routine)
    • "The store opens at nine." (fact)
  • Present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) — for things happening now or around now (temporary).
    • "I am writing an email right now." (this moment)
    • "I am living with my cousin while I look for an apartment." (temporary)

The third-person -s

In the present simple, he / she / it takes an -s:

✓ "She works downtown." ✗ "She work downtown."

Dropping this -s is one of the most common errors for test-takers and it is easy for a rater to spot.

Stative verbs stay simple

Some verbs describe states, not actions, and normally are not used in the continuous: know, understand, want, need, like, love, believe, own, seem.

✓ "I want a coffee." ✗ "I am wanting a coffee."

CELPIP application

You will use the present simple constantly to describe your opinions and routines (Speaking Task 7, Writing surveys), and the present continuous to describe a picture in real time (Speaking Task 3): "A man is crossing the street while two children are playing."

Check yourself

A quick self-check on this lesson — pick an answer, then see the explanation. Not graded.

1. Choose the correct sentence:
2. Describing a photo right now (Speaking Task 3): "A woman ___ a stroller."
3. Which is correct?
4. "The train ___ every morning at 7." (routine)

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