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

Употребляется:

1. Для выражения повторяющегося действия или признака.

• We often play chess in the evening.

2. Описывает действие как факт безотносительно к его длительности или результату.

• The Sun rises in the East.
• We translate this text every week.
• Who translates this text every week?
• Do you translate this text every week?
  Yes, we do. No, we don't.
• What text do you translate every week?
• You translate this text every week, don't you?
• You do not translate this text, do you?

Да, если бы каждый день с нами происходило что-нибудь волнующее (exciting), интересное (interesting), удивительное (amazing). Но у нас, в основном, обыденные дела: утром встаем и - кто в школу, кто на работу...
Для передачи всяких обычных действий, повседневных, повторяющихся событий, англичане используют простое настоящее время (simple present).
Вспомним, как ведут себя английские глаголы в простом настоящем. Они ведут себя очень даже просто: у них всего две формы. Одна форма совпадает с основой, а для третьего лица, то есть для he, she и it, требуется окончание -s.

The Present Indefinite Tense in the narration of past events gives the sentence some extra expression. It is usually used informally.

• Two days ago I go through the forest and see those dark figures hidden behind jasmine bush.
• Last Sunday I play the piano and suddenly some huge bug falls on my head.
• A week ago he watches a concert of Michael Jackson and what does he realize!
• Yesterday night she receives that message and gets into a flat spin about it. She begins crying and nothing is to stop her.

Present Simple is used in stage directions to show actions taking place in a relative moment of speech.

• The reporter stands gazing fervently at Perkin for a second, then grasps his hand and shakes it vigorously.
• They go out.
• The curtain drops.
• The servant and the master enter the chamber.

Present Simple is used in complex sentences in subordinate clause after WHILE, BEFORE, AFTER, AS SOON AS, TILL, UNTIL.

• I’ll stay there until they come.
• He’ll have a party after he passes all his exams.
• Millie will definitely read all those books while she is on holiday.
• Before I leave you we’ll drink one for the road.
• I’ll get hold of this mansion as soon as she dies.

In a complex sentence we use the Present Simple Tense in the if- and when-clause if the Future Tense was used in the main clause.

• If she comes it will be a big scandal.
• When I go shopping I shall buy some food.
• We’ll be late if we don’t hurry up.
• I’ll invite Jill to the party when I send her an e-mail message tomorrow morning. 

The Present Simple Tense is used to show the near future.

• She arrives tomorrow morning.
• Only two days more. Audrey goes on Wednesday.
• We play a duet on the piano in two days.
• The plane lands in 3 hours.

Those questions, which begin with “who” and ask for a subject of action, have the right word order and don’t need any auxiliary. The verb in such questions stands in the 3^rd person singular.

• Who stands under that huge tree?
• Who dresses like you?
• Who wants to live forever?
• Who dares to love forever?