GRAMMAR NO. 1: Simple Present vs. Present Continuous

EXPLANATION

Simple Present

The simple present takes the infinitive without "to" and adds -s/-es in the third person singular. The negative form is done with don't/doesn't and the interrogative form is done by altering the auxiliary-verb position: Auxiliary Do/Does + subject + infinitive

I like waffles. My son likes waffles
I don't like waffles. My husband doesn't like waffles.
Do you like waffles. Does he like waffles?

The simple Present tense is used for 2 types of actions:

HABITS: To express a regular action in the present (but not only at the precise moment of speaking)

STATES: To express an action that never changes (as in an opinion, or condition)

Examples:

Habits:
1. My young son eats chocolate cookies every day ("every day" is a habit)
2. The midwest has an extreme climate (it is like that every year)
3. I always start my dishwasher after dinner ("always" expresses this habit)

States:
1. Spain is in Europe (that is a reality that can not be changed easily)
2. Ada has red hair (she might have it dyed, but her natural color will always be red)
3. Anna doesn't believe in god (that is her opinion, and is a constant throughout time)

In short, we could say that the simple present expresses a habit/state that is constant over a period of time.

Present Continuous

The present continuous tense has different uses, but, generally speaking, it is used to express something that "is happening at the moment of speaking". The main 2 functions are the following:

AN ACTION HAPPENING NOW: Something that is happening right now, while we are speaking
A PLAN FOR THE FUTURE: Something that we intend to do in the near future. In this case, it is very similar to "going to".

Examples:
Present action:
1. I am typing on my computer (that is what I am doing right now)
2. You are reading this sentence
Future plan:
1. I am playing softball on the weekend
2. John is visiting his folks next spring
3. Sarah is leaving for Baltimore in April


PRACTICE

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presentforms.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presentforms2.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presforms.htm

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/presfut.htm

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbs1.htm

http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/present_simple_continuous_quiz_1.shtml

http://a4esl.org/q/h/vm/sp_or_pc.html

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentsimpleorcontinuous/exercise1.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentsimpleorcontinuous/exercise2.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentsimpleorcontinuous/exercise3.swf

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/presentsimpleorcontinuous/exercise4.swf