Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND PROGRESSIVE: SUMMARY

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The present simple sees time in terms of facts, truths, generalities and permanent

states of affairs. The present progressive sees time more in terms of its unfolding at

the moment of speaking, and observes actions and events from within, as ongoing,

in progress:

I 

love Dublin.

604 | Present time

Cambridge Grammar of English

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This is a wonderful plant. It 

flowers all summer.

It’s 

raining now.

We’re 

making progress.

Sometimes the differences may not be great, and may only suggest more of a sense

or possibility of permanence in the case of the simple form and a sense or

possibility of being only temporary in the progressive:

We 

live in a small village.

I 

feel more confident these days.

(focus is on facts, suggesting the possibility of greater permanence)

We

’re living in a small village.

I

’m feeling more confident these days.

(focus is on present situation, with less focus on permanence)