Present Continuous vs Present Simple

In informal speech, continuous and simple are often used when telling stories and jokes.

Özkan goes up to this woman and looks straight into his eyes.

Some verbs have different meanings depending on the tense in which they are used.

simple when reporting a state, continuous when reporting an action.

expect
feel
fit
have
imagine
look
measure
see
think
weigh

Example;

The app doesn't appear to work on my pc. (state = seem)
Özkan is currently appearing in a play. (action = take part)

We can use continuous in mood verbs to emphasize that we are just starting to think about something or that we are not sure about something.

Example;

I regret that the server will have to shutdown. (Meaning: We have made the choice and we are sorry for this situation.)
I'm regretting my decision to give up my job. (Meaning: We are becoming increasingly aware that this was the wrong decision.)

The verb consider is used with continuous when it means carefully think about.

Behzat is considering moving to another counrty. (NOT Considers moving.)

The following verbs are not usually used with continuous.

Believe
Agree
Conclude
Know
Prefer

Verbs that perform the actions they describe are usually used with simple.

I suggest you park outside the city.
He request that you leave the room.

acknowledge, admit, advise, apologise, beg, confess, congratulate, declare, deny, forbid, guarantee, name, order, permit, predict, promise, refuse, remind, request, thank, warn

Modals can be made more polite by using them together with performatives.

I must beg you to keep this a secret.
He would advise you to take the next train.

Taken from UCH Wiki. https://wiki.ulascemh.com/doku.php?id=en:en:grammar:continuousvssimple