The present continuous:further information

Although we usually use the present simple with adverbs of frequency, it is possible to use always and words with a similar meaning with the present continuous. The present simple focuses on how regularly something happens and the present continuous emphasises that it happens a lot. It is a way of exaggerating 'very often'. Compare:

 

            She always smiles when she greets a client. [every time that she greets a client]

            She's always smiling. [she smiles a lot; not all the time of course]

 

We can use it when we think something happens too often or we are unhappy about something:

            

I'm always losing my keys!

You're always talking on the phone when you should be working!

He's constantly playing with his pen during meetings!

She's forever talking about her children - it's so boring!

  My neighbour's always popping in for a coffee, which is nice.

    My children are always fighting; what shall I do?

We usually avoid using the present continuous (and other continuous tenses) with stative verbs. These are different from active verbs because they describe a state, feelings or emotions. They are also used to refer to the senses or to talk about weights and measurements etc.

 

I know a lot of Japanese people. [not 'I'm knowing']

 

He believes in God.                       [not 'He's believing']

 

I'm a teacher.                                 [not 'I'm being']

 

It weighs 3kg.                                 [not 'It's weighing]

 

However, there are exceptions. See stative and active verbs for more detail.

Verbs like taste, see, hear, smell, sound etc. are more commonly used with simple tenses:

 

It tastes delicious.

It smells good.

It sounds lovely.

It feels soft.

It looks wonderful.

 

However we can also use the continuous when talking about current situations:

 

You look nice today.          = You're looking nice today

Do you feel better today?  =  Are you feeling better today?

 

The garden is looking lovely now that spring is here.

It is feeling much softer now I have washed it with Lenor.

 

In informal, spoken English, we sometimes use the present simple and present continuous to tell a joke or relate something that happened in the past because it sounds more interesting or dramatic:

 

You won't believe what happened last night! Well, I'm cooking the dinner when his car screeches to a halt and I stop what I'm doing. He comes in and he's holding a bunch of flowers. Well, I know what he's thinking...

A dog walks into a bar and he's wearing a suit and tie. He's carrying a briefcase and he says to the barman...