Skip to main content

Present tenses: advanced points

Repeated actions: simple or progressive?​

The present progressive can refer to repeated actions and events, if these are happening around the moment of speaking.

  • Why is he hitting the dog?
  • Jake’s seeing a lot of Felicity these days.

We normally use the simple present for repeated actions and events which are not closely connected to the moment of speaking.

  • Water boils at 100° Celsius. (not Water is boiling at 100° Celsius.)
  • I go to the mountains about twice a year.

But we can use the present progressive for things that are going on around these actions and events.

  • At seven, when the mail comes, I’m usually having breakfast.
  • You look lovely when you’re smiling.

Long-lasting changes​

We use the present progressive for changes and developments, even if these are very long-lasting.

  • The climate is getting warmer. (not The climate gets warmer.)
  • The universe is expanding, and has been since its beginning.

I promise …, etc​

Sometimes we do things by saying special words (e.g. promising, agreeing). We usually use the simple present in these cases.

  • I promise never to smoke again. (not I’m promising …)
  • I swear that I will tell the truth …
  • I agree. (not I am agreeing.)
  • He denies the accusation. (not He is denying …)

I hear, etc​

The simple present is used with a perfect kind of meaning (= ‘I have learnt’) in introductory expressions like I hear, I see, I gather, I understand (see here).

  • I hear you’re getting married. (= ‘I have heard …’)
  • I see there’s been trouble down at the factory.
  • I gather Daniel’s looking for a job.

Other people’s statements, opinons, etc are often introduced with says.

  • It says in the paper that petrol’s going up again.
  • No doubt you all remember what Hamlet says about suicide.

Here comes …, etc​

Note the structures here comes … and there goes …

  • Here comes your husband. (not Here is coming …)
  • There goes our bus.

I feel / I’m feeling​

Verbs that refer to physical feelings (e.g. feel, hurt, ache) can often be used in simple or progressive tenses without much difference of meaning.

  • How do you feel? or How are you feeling?
  • My head aches. or My head is aching.

Formal correspondence​

Some fixed phrases that are used in letters, emails, etc can be expressed either in the simple present (more formal) or in the present progressive (less formal).

  • We write to advise you … (Less formal: We are writing to let you know …)
  • I enclose a recent photograph. (Less formal: I am enclosing …)
  • I look forward to hearing from you. (Less formal: I’m looking forward to hearing …)
note

For progressive forms with always and similar words (e.g. She’s always losing her keys), (see here).

For progressive forms in general, (see here).

For the ‘distancing’ use of progressive forms, (see here).

For simple and progressive forms in older English, (see here).