Day 3: ‘I am doing’ and ‘I do’

To understand quickly see as the timeline:

. ……………………….. (I am doing)…………………………………

< — — — — — — — — —- (I do )— — — — — — — — — — — — — ->

<-past — — — — — — — — now— — — — — — — — — —future->

(A) Present continuous vs Present simple

Present continuous: The water is boiling. Can you turn it off?

Present simple: Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.

ex1

>>>Listen to those people. What language are they speaking?

>>>Excuse me, do you speak English?

ex2

>>>I’m getting hungry. Let’s go and eat.

>>>I always get hungry in the afternoon

ex3

>>>Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.

>>>Most people learn to swim when they are children.

ex4

>>>The population of the world is increasing very fast.

>>>Every day the population of the world increases by about 200,000 people.

Use the continuous for temporary >>> I’m living with some friends until I find a place of my own.

Use the simple for permanent >>> My parents live in London. They have lived there all their lives.

(B) I always do and I’m always doing

I always do (sth)=I do it every time:

>>>I always go to work by car. (not I’m always going)

I’m always doing something’ has a different meaning.

>>>I’ve lost my pen again. I’m always losing things.

I’m always losing things = I lose things very often, perhaps too often, or more often than normal.

Two more examples:

>>>You’re always watching TV. You should do something more active. (=You watch TV often)

>>>Tim is never satisfied. He’s always complaining. (= He complains too much)