[Grammar] Present simple/Present continuous

[Will17]

Hello!!

I understand the difference between these two tenses but sometimes I'm confused:

Which is correct, the PS or the PC?

- If someone drives/ is driving you crazy, will you say: "you drive or are driving me crazy"?

-I think he suspects/ is suspecting something.

-I'm not the one you describe/are describing (or talk/are talking about) in your article!

-I have /am having many problems.

-I have /am having a meeting tonight.

-Do you plan/Are you planning to go on holiday?

-I intend/am intending to go on holiday.

-I plan/am planning to go on holiday.

-I always need to translate what I say/am saying.

-Do you ever listen to me when I talk/am talking?

-Now I wonder/am wondering if that's the truth.

Thank you very much!! your help is very valuable.
W

 

[Atchan]

What you wrote are all right, but there are only differences between their tenses.

The simple present is used:

1. to express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging
situations, emotions and wishes: I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)

2. to give instructions or directions: You walk for two hundred metres, then you turn left.

3. to express fixed arrangements, present or future: Your exam starts at 09.00

4. to express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when,
before, as soon as, until: He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

BE CAREFUL! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now. See Present Continuous.

 

[Atchan]

Present continuous, function:

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the
time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous,
they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete.

The present continuous is used:

to describe an action that is going on at this moment e.g. You are using the
Internet. You are studying English grammar.

to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend, e.g. Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.

to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared (See also 'Ways of expressing the future) e.g. We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?

to describe a temporary event or situation, e.g. He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

with 'always, forever, constantly', to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions, e.g. Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're forever complaining about your mother-in-law!

 

[sarat_106]

Hello!!

I understand the difference between these two tenses but sometimes I'm confused:

Which is correct, the PS or the PC?

- If someone drives/ is driving you crazy, will you say: "you drive or are driving me crazy"? (Use present continuous)

-I think he suspects/ is suspecting something.(Both can be used)

-I'm not the one you describe/are describing (or talk/are talking about) in your article!. (use present simple but present perfect is preferable)

-I have /am having many problems. (Both can be used)

-I have /am having a meeting tonight. (use continuous tense)

Thank you very much!! your help is very valuable.
W

Here are some tips on the specific use of present continuous.

• We use the Present Continuous tense to speak about things which are happening now or things which are temporary.

You are driving me crazy.( A temporary action happening now)

• We use the Present Continuous Tense for plans and arrangements

I am having a meeting tonight. (A definite plan for the future)

 

[Will17]

Thank you very much for your answers.

Could I have the opinion of a native speaker, please? :-D

CHeers