This year is difficult for him.

[George22]

Hello!

Could you please hint to me, which tense was used in an every sentence:

1. This year is difficult for him (it's present continuous because we talk about temporary situation, right?)

2. The Sun is the largest star in the Solar System (it's present simple because we talk about permanent situation, right?)

I am always a little confused, when I need to use different tenses.

Thanks!

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

1. is incorrect. It is simple present. A continuous structure requires an -ing form.

 

[George22]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

So, even if talk about current moment, but don't use -ing form, it will be present simple?

For example: 1. It is early hour now. 2. I am tired at the moment.

Thanks!

 

[MikeNewYork]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Yes.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

So, even if talk about current moment, but don't use -ing form, it will be present simple?

I think the -ing form could be used in some contexts like 'He is being deliberately obtuse'.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

"It is early hour now" is not a grammatical sentence.

It is early now.

 

[Raymott]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

2. The Sun is the largest star in the Solar System.

That's a strange sentence. The sun is the only star in the Solar System.

 

[George22]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

That's a strange sentence. The sun is the only star in the Solar System.

Yes, indeed. I didn't think about it at that moment. Thanks for your comment!

 

[Rover_KE]

Re: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

George, I have changed your original thread title.

Extract from the Posting Guidelines:

'Thread titles should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.'

 

[kilroy65]

1. This year is difficult for him (it's present continuous because we talk about temporary situation, right?)


I am always a little confused, when I need to use different tenses.

George, you are certainly right that we often use the present continuous tense when we talk about actions which are still in progress (incomplete), or actions/situations which are temporary.

However, perhaps you know that certain verbs cannot be used in the continuous form, e.g. "want", "know", "understand", etc. The verb "be" is rarely used in the continuous form, except in some contexts as pointed out by Matthew Wai in response #6.