Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Introduction
The simple present tense is often confused with the present continuous tense. This page will explain when to use each one.

1. The simple present tense

The simple present tense is used for two main types of action: Habits States Actions which happen regularly (for example, every day or every week) Things which do not often change (for example, opinions and conditions)

Some examples will help to make this clearer: Type of action

Examples oung!"i goes to class every day. 't rains a lot in (ancouver.

Explanations

#$very day% is a ha&it. This means that it rains often. #Always% means this is a ha&it. This implies that he spends *hristmas with his parents every year. This is a state, &ecause it doesn-t change. Someone-s hair colour doesn-t usually change. /hen we like something, usually we will always like it.

Habit

Santos always talks a&out his family. )erry spends *hristmas with his parents.

State

+ianca lives in ,lorida. )ean!.aul has red hair. "artin likes chocolate.

Anna &elieves in 0od.

+eliefs and opinions are states. They don-t often change.

2. The present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is used for two main types of action: temporary action happenin! no" definite plan for the future 1ere are some examples: Type of action Examples )ohn is winning the game. 't-s raining outside. Temporary action happenin! ri!ht no" Soraya-s working in the li&rary. Sihol is spending *hristmas with his family. #efinite plan for the future '-m playing soccer tomorrow. Sarah-s leaving for San ,rancisco on ,riday. The 3lympics are taking place here next year. '-m having a party Explanations 2ight now, )ohn is winning, &ut the game isn-t finished yet. 't-s raining right now (&ut it may stop soon). She-s working there right now. 1e-s spending *hristmas with his family right now, this year. ("ay&e next year he won-t.) This plan is already arranged and definite. She has pro&a&ly already &ought her ticket. Something which is !oin! on ri!ht no" (&ut it will stop in the future) Something we intend to do, usually in the near future

This is already certain.

All the plans have &een made.

next week. /hen you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercises.

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Choose the correct form for each $erb.
*lick on the &utton &eside the correct answer. Show one at a time 4. 3nce a week, ' 55555555 to an art class at the college. 4. 6 go 7. 6 am going 7. ' 55555555 to Toronto next Thursday. 8o you want to come6 4. 6 go 7. 6 am going 9. "arie!*laude isn-t a *anadian. ' 55555555 she comes from ,rance. 4. 6 &elieve 7. 6 am &elieving :. ;ook< )unko 55555555 into the water. 4. 6 =umps 7. 6 is =umping >. ' 55555555 lunch in the cafeteria every day. 4. 6 have 7. 6 am having ?. Salman is rich @ he 55555555 a "ercedes. 4. 6 drives 7. 6 is driving A. ' 55555555 you-re craBy< 4. 6 think 7. 6 am thinking C. 8on-t give )an any cheese. She 55555555 it< 4. 6 hates 7. 6 is hating D. ou won-t find )erry at home right now. 1e 55555555 in the li&rary. 4. 6 studies 7. 6 is studying 4E. 't 55555555 Fuite hard @ perhaps we shouldn-t go out tonight. 4. 6 snows 7. 6 is snowing

Present Simple or Present Continuous?

Put the $erb in brac%ets in the correct form &present simple or present continuous'.
Type all of your answers and click on G*heckG.

Hext week, my friends and ' (organiBe) the food, &ecause ' a &ig car with a trailer, so he (&ring) the tent @ he and lots of other eFuipment. "y wife holidays in comforta&le hotels, so she

(go) camping in the woods. ' (like) cooking. 8ave (have)

(plan) the transportation. Sam (go) camping every year, so he (have) a great tent (like) (think) we-re craBy. She (take) a trip to .aris instead.

(erb Tense Exercise 1

Simple Present ) Present Continuous
Ising the words in parentheses, complete the text &elow with the appropriate tenses, then click the G*heckG &utton to check your answers. 4. $very "onday, Sally (drive) 7. Isually, ' (work) her kids to foot&all practice. as a secretary at A+T, &ut this summer ' (study)

,rench at a language school in .aris. That is why ' am in .aris. 9. Shhhhh< +e Fuiet< )ohn (sleep) :. 8on-t forget to take your um&rella. 't (rain) >. ' hate living in Seattle &ecause it (rain, always) ?. '-m sorry ' can-t hear what you (say) so loudly. A. )ustin (write, currently) a &ook a&out his adventures in Ti&et. ' hope he can find a good pu&lisher when he is finished. C. )im: 8o you want to come over for dinner tonight6 . . . &ecause every&ody (talk)

8enise: 3h, '-m sorry, ' can-t. ' (go) D. The &usiness cards (&e, normally ) Their prices (&e)

to a movie tonight with some friends. printed &y a company in Hew ork.

inexpensive, yet the Fuality of their work is Fuite good. made &y a small chocolatier in Jurich,

4E. This delicious chocolate (&e) SwitBerland.

PRESENT SIMPLE 1. Write the HE/SHE/IT forms catch read come run cook smoke drink stand fetch start fix touch live watch miss wish rush write buy carry copy enjoy fry marry play study try 2. Write the verb in the right form 1. Children ................................ (ask) a lot of questions. 2. he .................................. (!o) to colle!e on her bike. ". # lot of birds .............................. (fly) south in the winter. $. he ..................................... (study) very hard at the weekends. %. &y father .............................. (watch) television most evenin!s. '. (e ................................... (understand) #rabic. ). (e ........................................ (fi!ht) with his brother. *. +i! do!s............................ (like) a lot of exercise. ,. (e-s very nau!hty . he ............................ (push) other children. 1/. 0essons ................................. (start) at *."% every mornin!. 3. Choose one verb to m !e e "h senten"e neg tive e.!. 1t doesn-t snow very often in an 2rancisco (snow3 sin!3 play) 1. 1 like football3 but 1 ............................................ cricket at all. (think3 like3 remember) 2. he lives in 4apan3 but she ...................................... a word of 4apanese (sin!3 work3 speak) ". 1-m sorry . 1 ................................. your name. (eat3 remember3 work) $. (e works in 5ew 6ork3 but 1 .................................... what he does. (know3 use3 come) %. &ary-s really tired3 but she ...................................... to !o to bed. (help3 want3 walk) '. 7e .......................................... a bi! flat . just one bedroom. (work3 play3 want) ). 8hil ..................................... very hard3 but he makes a lot of money. (work3 stand3 stop) *. #nn-s parents ................................... 1-m the ri!ht man for their dau!hter. (write3 read3 think) #. $ M !e %&estions 1. (ow 9 you pronounce 9 this word: 2. (ow 9 you spell 9 that: ". 7hat 9 this word 9 mean: $. (ow much 9 they cost: %. 7here 9 you live: '. 7hat 9 you do: ). (ow 9 you do: *. 7hat time 9 the plane 9 leave: ,. 7hat time9 the class 9 start: 1/. 7hat time 9 the train 9 arrive:

b$ M !e %&estions. Write the short ns'er ( ) n* +$ 1. he 9 live 9 with her parents: 2. 6ou 9 like 9 your new job: ". 1 9speak 9 !ood 1talian: $. ;hey 9work 9 hard 9 at university: %. 7e 9usually !ive9 her a birthday present: '. 6our sister 9 help 9 you 9 very much: ). #lan 9smoke: PRESENT C,NTIN-,-S 1. Write the .IN/ 0,RM of these verbs. +reak clean wash Come die enjoy &ake play sin! 7rite start !et +e!in put hit <ob shop dream hout sit stand ;urn open visit 2. 0i11 in the b1 n!s 'ith the verbs in the 2resent "ontin&o&s tense 1. 4ohn and 1 ...................................... (stay) in a beautiful hotel. 2. =evin .......................................... (work) at home today. ". 1 ...................................... (wait) for a very important letter. $. 6ou ...................................... (walk) too fast. %. 7e ........................................... (plan) our next holiday. '. ;he !irls ............................................ (visit) their !randmother today. ). he ....................................... (read) in her bedroom at the moment. *. ;he baby ...................................... (learn) how to walk. 3. Re'rite the senten"es in the neg tive. -se the 2resent "ontin&o&s 1. ;hey .......................................... (buy) a new car. 2. (e ............................................... (learn) to read. ". 1 .................................................. ( look) for your keys. $. 7e ............................................... (sell) the house. %. ;hey ........................................ (drink) tea. '. 6ou ....................................... (work) very hard. ). 4ack and 4ill ....................................... (run) downhill. *. 1 ....................................... (!o) home now. #. 3$ Write the %&estions. -se the 2resent "ontin&o&s 1. 7hat 94essica 9 do: 2. 7hy 9 4ohn and 8atrick 9 lau!h: ". 7hat book 9 you 9 read: $. 7hat 9 we 9 watch: %. 7here 9 they 9 stay: '. 7hy 9 we 9 sit in the dark: ). 7here 9 they 9 wait: *. 7hat 9 you 9 sell: b$ M !e %&estions. Write the short ns'er ( ) n* +$ 1. 1t 9 rain:

live !o jump feel rain sleep talk for!et

2. ". $. %. '. ). *.

6ou 9 learn 9 2rench 9 at school: 1 9speak 9 clearly: #n!ela and 2red 9 dance 9 to!ether: ;he plane 9 land9 now: ;he miths 9 plan 9 a party: ;he children 9 study 9 in their bedroon: Chris 9 wave9 at us:

14 PRESENT SIMPLE M !e P,SITI5E4 INTERR,/3TI5E n* NE/3TI5E senten"es. 3** SH,RT 3NSWERS ( ) 3N6 . 3NSWERS$ 1. ;hey (smoke) 2. #nn (teach) chemistry. ". ;he >xford bus (stop) here. $. ;he teachers (know) her. %. 6ou (play) the piano. '. 4ohn (work) in a restaurant. ). 7e (need) more e!!s. *. &ary (like) parties. ,. 8eter (speak) ?n!lish well. 1/. ;he ticket (cost) @%. 11. 6ou (speak) #rabic. 12. 7e (a!ree) about most thin!s. 1". #lan and 4ohn (live) near me. 1$. &y father (write) novels. 1%. 4ohn (fly) to 56 every &onday. 1'. ;hat child (never 9say) ;hank you. 1). #ndy (always9wash) his clothes at the weekend. 1*. &y father (teach) ?n!lish. 1,. &y boss (think) you-re wonderful. 2/. he (try) to !o skiin! every winter. 2. PRESENT C,NTIN-,-S M !e P,SITI5E4 INTERR,/3TI5E n* NE/3TI5E senten"es. 3** SH,RT 3NSWERS ( ) 3N6 . 3NSWERS$ 1. #nn (read) the newspaper. 2. ;he baby (cry). ". 1t (snow). $. 6ou (look) very beautiful today. %. 1 (play) a lot of football this year. '. 7e (wait) for a phone call. ). (e (listen) to me. *. he (wear) a coat. ,. ;hey (learn) very much. 1/. 6ou (eat) bread these days.

11. 6our boyfriend (enjoy) the concert. 12. 7e (!o) too fast. 1". ;he children (make) somethin!. 1$. +ill (write) somethin! on the wall. 1%. 1 (cook) rice toni!ht. 3. M !e %&estions for the ns'ers 2rovi*e* 1. ;he 8resident and his wife live in &adrid. 2. 8eter and #nn-s children play football on aturdays. ". ;he film about skiin! in 5ew Aealand starts at *.//. $. ;he second word in the first sentence means Bkind-. %. ;he man in the flat downstairs wants to chan!e his job. '. # ticket for aturday-s concert costs C 1%.

#. Com21ete the "onvers tion 2&tting the verbs into the 2resent "ontin&o&s n* "om21eting the short ns'ers 'ith 3M4 IS 4 3RE (N,T$ #D o what ........................................ (happen): ........................................... (they9have) a party: +D 6es3 they ...................... #D #nd what ................................................................ (they9do): +D 7ell3 a few of them .............................................. (dance) #D ........................................................................ (&um and Ead) dance: +D 6es3 &um ............................ but Ead ........................ (e .......................................(talk) to Fncle 4ack and they ..............................................(lau!h) a lot. #D 1s #unty 0inda there: +D 6es3 she ...................... he ......................................(dance) with +rian from next door. >h3 and Ead ......................................(!ive) everyone a drink. #D ...............................................(they9eat): +D >nly crisps and nuts and some cheese. #D and we..................................................(not9eat) anythin!. 1t-s not fair.

7.

W,R6 ,R6ER. $ Re'rite these senten"es in"1&*ing the 'or* in br "!ets 1. &y brother speaks to me (never) 2. usan is polite. (always) ". Eo you finish work at % o-clock: (usually) $. 1 !o to bed before midni!ht. (rarely) %. ;he bus isn-t late. (usually) '. 1 don-t eat fish. (often) ). 7hat do you have for breakfast: (usually) *. 1s ;ina here: (already) ,. ;hey stay in the same hotel. (always) 1/. Eoes 4anet work in the same place: (still) b$ Write the fo11o'ing senten"es in the "orre"t or*er 1. (to work 9 every day9 walks 9 0iG) 2. (!oes 9 every year 9 to 1taly 9 4ulia)

". $. %. '. ). *. ,. 1/. 11.

(#nn 9 very well 9 2rench 9 doesn-t speak) (every day9 do 9 the same thin! 9 we) ( football 9 don-t like 9 very much 9 1) (watch9 when 9 you 9 ;H9 do): ( hun!ry91 9 the 9in 9 am 9 mornin! 9 always) ( Eave 9 in 9 4ane 9 that 9 never 9 restaurant 9 and 9 eat) ( weekend 9 tennis 9 do 9 play 9 the 9 you 9 at 9 ever): (sometimes 9 park 9 unday 9 the 9 we 9 on 9 to 9 !o) (usually 9 the 9 Claire 9 bus 9 !ets 9 to 9 school)