YouTube: present simple (simple present) versus present continuous (present progressive)

Second language learners may have some difficulty knowing when to use the simple present or the present continuous verb tenses. These verb tenses can also be called the present simple and the present progressive.

As English Grammar Online notes, perhaps the easiest way to differentiate between these two tenses is to know whether your sentence refers to something that happens in general (the simple present) or whether the sentence refers to something that is happening right now (the present progressive).

Consult the following explanatory table from English Grammar Online and then, if you still have questions, visit the resources that I have curated for you, further below.

Simple Present (Present Simple)	Present Continuous (Present Progressive)
Refers to things that happen:  in general (regularly, often, never) Example:  Colin plays football every Tuesday. Also refers to:  present actions happening one after another Example:  First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.	Refers to things that are happening:  right now Example:  Look! Colin is playing football now. Also refers to:  several actions happening at the same time Example:  Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.

TIP:  to test whether or not your sentences work, insert one of the keywords discussed above. For example:
I regularly swim in the morning. In general, I swim in the morning. I often swim in the morning. I never swim in the morning. I swim in the morning and then I eat lunch.	I am swimming right now. I am swimming and eating a sandwich at the same time.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Website	Comments
English Grammar Online: Simple Present – Present Progressive ★★★★★	Be sure to look for the hyperlinks that lead to the theoretical explanations entitled "See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive." This site also offers students the ability to do exercises and tests to confirm they know the material.
YouTube: Present Simple [Holmwood's Online Learning] ★★★★☆
YouTube: Using the Present Simple tense [Holmwood's Online Learning] ★★★★☆
YouTube: Learn the English Present Simple with Mr Shorty [Holmwood's Online Learning] ★★★★☆