We do not use the present progressive to talk about 'general time'. For this, we use the simple present. Compare:

• My sister's living at home for the moment, (around now) You live in North London, don't you? (general time)
  
• Why is that girl standing on the table? Chetford Castle stands on a hill outside the town.
  
• The leaves are going brown.
  
• I go to the mountains about twice a year.
  

We often use the present progressive to talk about the future.

• What are you doing tomorrow evening?

Some verbs are not used in progressive forms.

• I like this wine. (NOT I'm liking . . .)

Verbs that refer to physical feelings (for example feel, hurt, ache) can be used in the simple present or present progressive without much difference of meaning.

• How do you feel? OR How are you feeling?

• My head aches OR My head is aching

а)            Образование:

Рассмотрим такую ситуацию:

Tom is in his car. He is on his way to work.
He is driving to work.

Это означает, что он едет именно сейчас, в момент разговора. Такое время является настоящим продолженным временем глагола. Когда же оно употребляется?

In this lesson the teacher focuses on differences in meaning when the verb "think" is used in the simple present and present progressive. Level: intermediate.

We use the present simple to describe things that are always true, or situations that exist now and, as far as we know, will go on indefinitely:

Present simple

The present simple is used to describe facts in science, and geographical description.

Краткая сравнительная таблица времен аглийского глагола.