Do you know the difference between I work and I am working in English?
This can be a challenging topic for English learners, especially because many languages just have one present tense.
The Coffee Break English Show is a podcast series of bite-sized, friendly conversations to help you understand some difficult topics in English. In the latest episode, Mark and Josie talk about the difference between the present simple and the present continuous tenses.
They explain the rules for when to use these tenses, so hopefully this will help you understand them better.
So, let’s get started and look at the present simple and present continuous tenses. Keep reading to find out more and why not listen to the podcast as you go?
Present simple
I work is the present simple tense. Here is the verb work conjugated in the present simple:
I work
you work
he/she/it works
we work
they work
I don’t work
you don’t work
he/she/it doesn’t work
we don’t work
they don’t work
When to use the present simple
Now that we know the structure of the present simple, do you know when to use it?
We use the present simple when we talk about habits, routines, and things that are always true. For example, when we are talking about someone’s permanent job or career. Here are some examples:
I work as a teacher.
She works as a bus driver.
They work from home.
Present continuous
I am working is the present continuous tense. Here is the verb work conjugated in the present continuous:
I am working
you are working
he/she/it is working
we are working
they are working
I’m not working
you aren’t working
he/she/it isn’t working
we aren’t working
they aren’t working
When to use the present continuous
We use the present continuous tense when we talk about temporary actions, or actions that are happening as we are speaking or at the present moment. For example:
I’m working, so I can’t talk right now.
= action happening in the present moment
She usually works in the office, but she’s working at home this week.
= temporary action
Let’s compare
Here are some more examples where you can see the difference between the present simple and the present continuous:
I’m drinking coffee now.
I drink coffee every day.
We are speaking English at the moment.
Josie also speaks French.
I go to the cinema once a month.
This podcast is going very well!
The exception: state verbs
So far, so good! However, there are some verbs that we don’t usually use in the present continuous tense. These are called “state verbs”.
State verbs usually describe internal things like senses, emotions, and possession. So, even when we are talking about temporary actions, or actions that are happening at the present moment, we have to use the present simple, not the present continuous. For example:
I am being happy right now.
I am happy right now.
I am knowing the answer.
I know the answer.
He is wanting a coffee.
He wants a coffee.
There are lots of state verbs, so it’s a good idea to do some more research and learn some more.
Let’s review
If you found this post interesting, make sure you listen to the full podcast episode with Mark and Josie on The Coffee Break English Show. We will release more episodes soon, about some more useful topics! Subscribe to our podcast feed and our channel on YouTube to learn when the next episode is available.
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Happy Coffee Breaking!
