1.3.3 Present simple and present continuous contrasted
We use the present simple to describe permanent situations or to refer to regular, habitual actions and the present continuous for temporary or provisional actions, e.g.:
 | Dover lies on the coast.
(Dover està situat a la costa.) |
| Dogs eat bones.
(El gossos mengen ossos.) |
| Look. That dog's eating a bone.
(Mira! Aquell gos menja un os.) |
| It rains a lot in the north.
(Plou molt al nord.) |
| We won't take the dog for a walk today because it's raining.
(No traiem a passejar el gos avui perquè plou.) |
| I usually go to work by car but this week I'm going by bus because my car's being repaired.
(Normalment vaig a la feina amb cotxe però aquest setmana hi vaig amb autobús perquè em reparen el cotxe.) |
| Jane reads a great deal. At the moment she's reading a novel by Chekhov.
(La Jane llegeix molt. Actualment llegeix una novel·la de Txèkhov.) |
We also use the present continuous for changing situations, often with more and more, e.g.:
| More and more people are becoming vegetarian.
(Cada vegada més gent es torna vegetariana.) |
| These days house prices are going up all the time.
(Actualment els preus de l'habitatge no paren de pujar.) |
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Notice that adverbs of frequency (always, usually, often, sometimes, seldom, never, etc.) typically go with the present simple, but contrast, e.g.:
| Jeremy always phones me after 6 o'clock.
(En Jeremy sempre em truca a partir de les 6.) |
| Johnny is always phoning me late at night.
(En Johnny sempre em truca tard al vespre.) |
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The first is a statement of fact; the second suggests criticism (because Johnny phones too late.), e.g.:
| Johnny phones too late. |
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