Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

At the Advanced level, Present Simple and Present Continuous do not just tell us about time, they also show us how the person speaking thinks about what is happening.

1. The Present Simple

We have seen in Elementary and Intermediate that Present Simple tenses show timeless truths (e.g. 'The sun rises in the east') and habitual actions (e.g.' I get up at 6 a.m.'). We also use it for:

• Contrasting an enduring state against a temporary one (e.g., "Adam lives in London, but he is staying in Paris for the summer").
• Stage Directions, Plot Summaries and jokes: Describing the action as if it is now happening. (e.g., "An Irishman, a Scot and an Englishman walk into a bar ...").
• Performative Utterances: Verbs that execute the action simply by being spoken (e.g., "I hereby declare this session open", "I object", "I deny the allegations").

2. The Present Continuous (Progressive Aspect)

The Present Continuous can be used for more than things happening at the same time as the present:

• Neutral : "Alex practices the drums every day."
• Annoyance: "Alex is constantly banging those drums; it's driving the neighbours mad."
• Politeness: "I am hoping you might have a spare moment."

Statives

"Feeling" Statives

Verbs about physical sensations (feel, ache, hurt) often are statives (which stay in the 'present' tense) or Continuous without changing the meaning. E.g.

"My back aches" and "My back is aching"

However verbs of emotion (love, hate, value) are usually statives

"I hate rap music"

However in modern English you can use 'loving' to describe something happening now that you really love.

"I am loving this lesson".

What's the difference?

Consider the subtle difference in meaning between these two sentences:

1. I am considering your proposal.
2. I consider your proposal unreasonable

What does the change in tense say about the speaker's state of mind?

Sentence 1: "I am considering your proposal."

The speaker deliberately shifts consider to considering to show the process is still happening and no decision has been made

Sentence 2: "I consider your proposal unreasonable."

Here, the speaker is using a 'stative' (see below) to show that this is a fixed and permanent opinion. For example a judge giving a verdict will often use this form of construction.

• "I find this testimony highly credible."
• "I rule that the case cannot continue."

Performative Declaration: Declare, Pronounce, & Deem

These are Present because by being said they establish what the speaker thnks is a permanent truth (permanent truths, remember are present simple)

• "I declare this new business is now open."
• "I judge that this is completely unnecessary."
• "I pronounce the patient dead."

The declaration is absolute and instantaneous.

You cannot say, "The doctor is declaring the patient deceased" unless you are describing a slow-motion video