Many languages have one present tense. English has two, and they mean different things. "I live here" and "I'm living here" are both correct, but they tell the listener different stories. In this episode: • Present simple: habits, routines and facts • Present continuous: now and temporary • State verbs • Always with -ing for complaints • Dialogue: a busy evening • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: I take the kids to school. — every weekday The bus comes at eight. — a fixed routine Mum works from home on Fridays. — a regular habit We usually have pasta on Mondays. — a family routine He never eats breakfast. — always true for him Water boils at a hundred degrees. — a fact I live in a flat near the station. — a permanent situation I'm making tea. — right now Hang on, I'm on the phone. — right now (casual) Shh, the baby's sleeping. — at this moment We're staying with my nan this week. — temporary I'm living with my parents at the moment. — not permanent He's growing so fast. — a change happening now Prices are going up. — a trend around now I live here. — this is my home I'm living here. — for now, it is temporary Dad cooks on Sundays. — a habit Dad's cooking tonight. — a single event, now or arranged I know. — not I am knowing I want a biscuit. — not I am wanting That bag belongs to me. — it is mine I need a hand with this. — I need help Do you understand? — not are you understanding This soup tastes amazing. — the flavour, a state I'm loving this weather! — I really enjoy it right now (casual) I'm thinking about it. — I'm considering it, not decided yet Real British English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — modern British accent, everyday grammar, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang, he/she/it for things, and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.