Simple Present x Present Continuous

The Simple Present is used for:

• regular actions or events 

  
  

  He plays tennis most weekends.
• facts 

  
  

  The sun rises in the east.
• facts known about the future 

  
  

  We leave at 8.30 next Monday 
• thoughts and feelings about the time of speaking

  
  

  I don't feel very well.

The Present Continuous is used for:

• the time of speaking ('now')

  
  

  Shh, I'm trying to hear what they are saying .
• things which are true at the moment but not always

  
  

  We're looking for a new flat.
• present plans for the future

  
  

  We're having dinner with them next week .

Look at these examples :

• I don't usually have cereals for breakfast but I'm having some this morning because there is nothing else.
• I often cycle to work but I'm taking the car this morning because it's raining very hard.
• I'm thinking about having my hair cut short but I don't think my husband will be very happy about it.
• My parents live in Washington but I'm just visiting.

Note how, in all these examples, we use the present continuous to talk about events which are temporary/limited in time and the simple present to talk about events which are habits/permanent.