Present Simple, Present Continuous, and State Verbs

• We use the present simple for habits and permanent facts, and the present continuous for temporary actions happening now. State verbs describe states, not actions, and usually do not take the continuous form.
• Tense / Category
• Usage
• Example
• Present Simple
• Habits, routines, and permanent situations
• Mark works in Seattle.
• Present Continuous
• Actions happening right now or temporarily
• Sarah is reviewing wireframes today.
• State Verbs
• Things like thoughts, feelings, and possession
• David knows the new design system.
• Remember
• Use present simple for permanent team structures and standard company workflows.
• Use present continuous for what a designer is doing at this exact moment.
• Do not use state verbs (know, belong, seem, need) in the continuous form.
• Use subject and object questions to ask about who did what or what happened.
• Examples
• I need a new laptop for my work in Boston.
• This design belongs to the mobile squad in Chicago.
• Emily is updating the UI components right now.
• Do you know the timeline for the Miami project?
• Common mistakes
• I am knowing how to use Figma.
• I know how to use Figma.
• This file is belonging to the London office.
• This file belongs to the London office.

Complete the sentences

• Right now, Tyler (work) ____ on the onboarding flow in Denver.
• We always (need) ____ more user feedback before Friday.
• Lisa (know) ____ how to configure the new tooling in Austin.
• Look! Kevin (share) ____ his screen during the meeting.
• This tablet (belong) ____ to the creative agency in New York.
• Why (they / build) ____ a new component library today?

Sources: photo by Mary Taylor on Pexels