Let's review when you use the simple present tense and when you use the present continuous. The simple present is commonly used with ser and estar to identify or describe people, places, and things. The simple present is also used to describe habitual actions and to express what someone does. It is sometimes used as a mild present continuous or future to say what someone is doing or what someone is going to do. The present continuous with estar can only describe actions that are taking place at a particular time. These uses are summarized in the following chart.

Simple Present and Present Continuous

It's pretty simple, especially if you remember that the present continuous can only describe actions in progress at a specific moment in time. All other present tense statements use the simple present.

Practice: Simple Present or Present Continuous?

Translate these ideas from English to Spanish. Then check your work with the sample answers in Appendix D. There may be some differences, but focus on the use of simple present or present continuous.

• My grandmother is a nice person.

• O ur town is in Chile.

• The children are leaving tomorrow.

• I eat a lot, but I'm not fat.

• Your friends are playing soccer right now.

• José is cooking dinner tonight.

• Raquel is calling her mother.

• I don't live in Miami, but my sister does.

Simple Present and Present Continuous in Your Life

The best way to get comfortable with ser and estar and all these verbs in the two present tenses is to practice. Look around you and identify and describe what you see. Then say what people are doing so you can practice the present continuous. List your daily activities to practice the simple present. Try thinking in Spanish while you're working out at the gym or going for a walk. There are lots of people and things to describe as well as lots of activities to talk about in your daily life.