Sometimes the simple present and the present continuous can seem very similar, but changing the tense actually changes the meaning of the sentence. This often happens when we are using stative verbs.
What are stative verbs? Stative verbs do not express an action. You use these verbs to talk about conditions and the way things are, like physical descriptions, feelings, relationships, beliefs and knowledge. Here are some examples of sentences with stative verbs.
- I like peanut butter sandwiches.
- Mr. Pradeep has brown hair and brown eyes.
- Do you understand what she's saying?
- My brother thinks all the bedtime stories I tell him are true.
- She wants a dog but her mum doesn't trust her enough to get one.
Notice that all these sentences are in the simple present. When we use stative verbs, we usually use the simple present.
Look at these two sentences. We can use the present continuous and change the meaning of these sentences.
- Simple Present: I like this book. I've read it three times!
- Present Continuous: I am liking this book. So far it's pretty good, I can't wait to finish it!
The first sentence says that I like this book because I have read it before and I know I like it. Here, like is a stative verb because it tells about a way things are.
The second sentence says that I am liking this book so far, because I haven't finished it yet. Here, like is an action verb because it tells about something I am doing right now.
Permanent or Temporary
Another way to think about this is by looking at statements as permanent or temporary.
- Something that is permanent will not change. It is always going to be true. When your sentence is about something permanent, or something that is habitual, use the simple present.
- Something that is temporary will change. It is true right now but may not be true forever. When your sentence is about something temporary, or something that is new, use the present continuous.
| Simple Present | Present Continuous |
|---|---|
| He lives at 221B Baker Street. (He lives there permanently.) |
He is living at 221B Baker Street. (This is true for now. He might move out later.) |
| We go to my grandparents' house on weekends. (We have been doing this for many years.) |
We are going to my grandparents' house on weekends. (This is true for now. Something might change and this will stop.) |
| I keep my boots in the front closet. (That is where I always keep them.) |
I am keeping my boots in the front closet. (That is where I'm keeping them until my bedroom closet gets fixed.) |