M.swan PEU says "we often use present tenses to give instructions." Other grammar books say "the simple present is used to give instructions".
My question is, Can we use present progressive to give an instruction?
for example,
'You are waiting outside the bank until the manager arrives. Then you're speaking to him….
Best Answer
It is possible to use the present progressive (present continuous) tense to give instructions, but not in the ordinary sense.
Instead, when we use the present continuous to give instructions, we do so only to give a very strong command or order--or a humorous parody of such. (However, it is also possible, and more common, to issue strong commands or orders with the simple present.)
The logic with the present continuous goes something like: It is so certain you will do this, (or since you have no choice but to do this) I am going to describe it as an arranged act of the future.
You are walking in there and you are telling her that she's fired! Is that clear?
We commonly use the present continuous to refer to future time, and we especially use what we can consider a special instance of the present continuous form--be going + [full infinitive]--for this "strong command or order" purpose, with the logic being something like: I am so certain you will do this, that it is the arranged future. You are going (to march) up those stairs immediately, young lady, and clean your room like I told you to do yesterday!