Clues to identify each tense

1. PRESENT SIMPLE VS
PRESENT
CONTINUOUS

2. PRESENT SIMPLE
• To talk about habits and routines.
Examples: She usually works at home.
They always walk to school.
I never eat meat.

3. CLUES TO IDENTIFY
PRESENT SIMPLE
• The use of words such as:
Often, always, never, usually, every
weekend/day/Sunday etc.
Examples:
I always go to school.
I clean my room every Sunday.

4. PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• To talk about something that is
happening at the moment, now.
Examples:
I am paying attention to the teacher.
I am talking to my classmate.

5. CLUES TO IDENTIFY
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
• The use of words such as:
at the moment, now, right now, today,
etc.
Example: I am studying English now.

6. IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT
PRESENT CONTINUOUS!
Some verbs are NOT typically used in the present
continuous tense. Instead, we prefer to use these
verbs in the simple present.
These verbs are called STATIVE (or non-action)
verbs. Here are some examples:
want like love hate
know need see hear
believe understand have forget
remember belong