What should I choose? Present simple or present continuous.

1. I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do

you do/are you doing in the afternoons?

2. That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is

happening now?

Normally, the present simple. But it all depends ...

Sentence 1:

Talking to a new friend, asking about their life ... "But what do you do in the afternoons?"

But, talking to a new Italki friend, who you just asked to make a time to have a language exchange ...

Then, "But what are you doing in the afternoons?" is then correct.

Sentence 2:

The curtain has just come down. Nothing is happening. Maybe it is time for a coffee or a glass of champagne during the break, but you don't know this theatre.

Then: What happens now?

But, the curtain has just come down. It is obviously break time. But, there are some props left on stage, in front of the curtain. And two actors scamper across the stage, and pick up the props. They are playing a little game too, the boy is chasing the girl. (I saw this once in a play.) Then: What is happening now?

What should I choose? Present simple or present continuous.

1. I can see from what you say that your mornings are very busy! But what do

you do/are you doing in the afternoons?

2. That must be the end of the first part of the performance. What happens/is

happening now?

Use present simple in both instances.