Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple -

The form you see here applies to all verbs, except the
irregular verb “to be”, which must be memorized.

Don’t forget the “s” or “es” with he/she/it!!

Affirmative Statements

Subject Verb (-s/-es)

I eat vegetables.

You eat breakfast at 8:00.

He/she/it eats very slowly.

We eat what we like.

They/you (plural) eat healthy food.

Negative Statements

Subject Do/Does not V. Infinitive

I do not (don’t) like spiders.

You do not (don’t) cook on the weekends.

He/she/it does not (doesn’t) live in Tokyo.

We do not (don’t) travel in the winter.

They/you (plural) do not (don’t) walk to school.

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Yes/No Questions

Do/Does Subject V. Infinitive
Do
Does you play baseball?
Do the piano?
he/she play well?

they/you (plural) play

Information Questions

Wh-Question Do/Does Subject V. Infinitive

Who do you teach on Mondays?

What does he study at university?

When does she travel to Europe?

Where does the bus (it) go?

Why do they yell at their kids?

How do they make baby carrots?

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NO Short Answers. Do not or Does not
No, Subject do not (don’t).
No, do not (don’t).
No, I does not (doesn’t).
No, you do not (don’t).
No, he/she/it do not (don’t).
we
they/you (plural)

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Present Simple -

The Present Simple (also
called the Simple Present) verb
tense is very common in the English
language, so it’s important to
understand it well.

There are 8 different ways to use the Present Simple

1. Present Simple is used to talk about activities that happen
repeatedly and things that we do regularly, such as habits and

routines. Adverbs of frequency are often used with the
Present Simple.

 I play golf every Monday.
 They often travel to China.
 She gets up at 8:00 every day.
 I don’t walk to school.
 She doesn’t love him.
 Do you smoke?
 How often do you study?

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2. Secondly, we use the Present Simple to talk about factual
information, such as general truths, scientific facts, or
definitions.

 My teacher always arrives early.
 Water boils at 100 celsius.
 Doctors study for many years.
 The sky isn’t green.
 The word smart means “intelligent”.

3. We also use the Present Simple with stative verbs (non-
action verbs) to talk about states or conditions, such as

physical descriptions, feelings, relationships, knowledge, beliefs
or possession.

 She is short and has long hair.
 They like strawberries.
 We want a new car.
 I promise I will help you.
 You look fantastic.
 They belong to the yacht club.

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4. We use the Present Simple to describe situations that are
more or less permanent. (If a situation is new or temporary, use

the Present Continuous)

 They work at a bank.
 I travel every summer.
 She has two daughters.
 Where do you live?
 He is married.
 I’m not American, I’m Canadian.

5. The Present Simple is also used with the Zero conditional.

6. We use the Present Simple to talk about what happens in
books, movies, and plays.

 A young woman travels through Europe, where she
meets different people, and finally falls in love.

 In this book, the hero saves the princess and
marries her.

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7. Future schedules, timetables, and fixed plans are expressed
with the Present Simple, usually when they are set by an
organization, not by us.

 School begins at 9:00 and ends at 3:00.
 The plane doesn’t arrive at 3:00, it arrives at 3:30.
 When does the movie start?
 The bus leaves every 15 minutes.

8. And lastly, we also use it to talk about the future after words
such as “when”, “until”, “before”, “after”, and “as soon as”.

 He will call you when he has time. (Not ‘will have’)
 I won’t go out until it stops raining.
 I’ll give you the book before you go.
 I’m going to make dinner after I watch the news.
 She’ll come as soon as her babysitter arrives.

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EXERCISE 1: Present Simple

1. My sister (not read) a book.

2. Frank (like) dogs.

3. My parents (do) the shopping.

4. We sometimes (meet) in front of the cinema.

5. Uncle George (go) to the doctor's.

6. Our friends (play) football in the park.

7. She (go) to the park every Friday.

8. He (ride) his bike every day.

9. We (have) the best ideas.

10. Carol (say) goodbye.

11. She (be) the best singer in our class.

12. My sister (live) in a big house.

13. The children (eat) hamburgers.

14. Bill (have) got two notebooks.

15. I (be) at home.

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EXERCISE 2: Present Simple

1. They (talk) about his iPod.

2. Mary (collect) stamps.

3. Tom and Sue (buy) two T-shirts.

4. We (hide) behind a tree.

5. The children (play) in the garden.

6. She (borrow) my pencil.

7. My mother (go) shopping every Friday.

8. He (not call) my name.

9. They always (sit) in the first row.

10. Ken and Sam (collect) stamps.

11. Carol (say) goodbye.

12. She usually (help) Tom with the homework.

13. He (not live) in a big house.

14. The girls (stand) up.

15. Bill (like) going shopping.

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Present Continuous -

The present continuous is formed using am/is/are+present
participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and
am/is/are. Negatives are made with not.

Positive Negative Question

I am speaking. I am not speaking. Am I speaking?

You are speaking. You are not speaking. Are you speaking?

We are speaking. We are not speaking. Are we speaking?

They are speaking. They are not speaking. Are they speaking?

He is speaking. He is not speaking. Is he speaking?

She is speaking. She is not speaking. Is she speaking?

It is speaking. It is not speaking. Is it speaking?

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Present Continuous -

The present continuous (also called present progressive) is a
verb tense which is used to show that an ongoing action is
happening now, either at the moment of speech or now in a larger
sense. The present continuous can also be used to show that an
action is going to take place in the near future.

There are 7 different ways to use the Present Continuous

1. The Present Progressive is used for activities in progress at
the exact moment of speaking. Time expressions such as now,

right now, and at the moment often occur with the Present
Progressive tense.

 Shhh!! I’m trying to concentrate!
 Look, it’s raining, again!!
 They’re playing basketball now.
 You’re studying the Present

Progressive right now.

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2. The Present Progressive can also express the extended
present, actions that are in progress but not happening at the
exact moment of speaking. You can use time expressions such

as this week or these days to show when the action is
happening. The action may be ongoing, or may start and stop

repeatedly.

 She’s taking a computer course this semester.
 I’m looking for a cheap car, do you have any

ideas?
 They’re renovating their kitchen this month,

it’s taking a long time.

3. Temporary situations can be expressed with the Present
Progressive, if we feel that the situation is not permanent and

won’t continue for a long time.

 I’m staying with a friend this week.
 She’s living in Seoul for a few months.
 Jack’s working at a cafe until he finds a job in his field.

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4. Temporary or new habits can also be expressed with the
Present Progressive. (for regular habits that have continued
for a long time, and are permanent, choose the Present Simple)

 I’m drinking a lot of coffee this week!
 You’re smoking too much.
 They’re working late every night.

5. The Present Progressive is used to describe a situation
which is slowly changing.

 My grades are improving this year.
 Technology is getting cheaper all the time.
 Global warming is becoming an important issue.
 My English is getting better!

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6. The next use is for definite future plans, used with a future
time expression.

 I’m having lunch with Jackie tomorrow.
 We’re going to France next week!
 She’s leaving at three.
 They’re going to the movies on the weekend.

7. And lastly, we use the Present Progressive to complain about
a situation, usually with adverbs of frequency, such as always,

constantly, continually, and forever.

 You’re constantly missing the train.
 James is always losing his keys.
 She’s forever talking on the phone.

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EXERCISE 1: Present Continuous

1. (talk) on the phone right now.

2. (you / sleep)?

3. Jason (do) his homework at the moment.

4. Tom (work) on a project nowadays.

5. My kids (play) in the garden now.

6. Some people (wait) to talk to you.

7. My wife (not cook) today.

8. (Lucas / study) for his exam right now?

9. (Ryan / play) the piano now?

10. Lea and I (paint) the fences today.

11. Andrea (help) me at present.

12. My children (not listen) to the radio now.

13. Selena (not drink) tea now.

14. I (vacuum) the carpet right now.

15. My father (watch) TV now.

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EXERCISE 2: Present Continuous

1. _____ (they/come) over for dinner?
2. Maxwell _____ (sleep) on our sofa.
3. My mother-in-law _____ (stay) at our house this week.
4. I _____ (eat) my dinner right now.
5. My sister _____ (learn) Spanish.
6. I _____ (work) at the hair salon until September.
7. We _____ (eat) at a fancy restaurant tonight. Jason decided
this yesterday.
8. Why he ________ (not play) football tomorrow?
9. They _____ (open) a new shopping mall downtown.
10. Melissa is _____ (lie) down on her bed.
11. What _____ (she / eat) right now?
12. _____ (your dog / hide) from me?
13. What book _____ (you / read) nowadays?
14. Thomas _____ (drive) me home now.
15. I _____ (wash) my face at the moment.

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Present Simple VS Present Continuous

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EXERCISE: Present Simple and Present Continuous

1. The Earth _____ round the Sun. (is moving/moves)
2. Can I have some milk before I _____ to bed? (am going/go)
3. He _____ a mill in the town. (is having/has)
4. Don't disturb me. I _____ my homework. (am doing/do)
5. Anu _____ to be a doctor. (is wanting/wants)
6. She _____ Veena in the concert tomorrow. (is playing/plays)
7. The headmaster _____ to speak to you. (is wanting/wants)
8. I _____ something burning. (am smelling/smell)
9. The boys are always _____ among themselves. (fighting/fight)
10. The doctor _____ the patient now. (is examining/examines)
11. I _____ French these days. (am learning/learn)
12. The doctor _____ (is examining/examines) the patient
thoroughly and _____ (is prescribing/prescribes) some
medicines.
13. We _____ a rich crop this year. (are expecting/expect)
14. Trained dogs _____ the ball as soon as it is thrown. (are
fetching/fetch)

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Bibliography

English Language Learning. (n.d.). Present Simple - Exercise 2. https://www.english-
4u.de/en/tenses-exercises/present-simple2.htm

English Language Learning. (n.d.). Present Simple - Exercise. https://www.english-
4u.de/en/tenses-exercises/present-simple.htm

EnglishClub. (2020). Present Continuous Quiz.
https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verb-tenses_present-continuous_quiz.htm

Englishpage. (2020). Present Continuous.
https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentcontinuous.html

GrammarBank. (2011). Present Continuous Tense Exercise.
https://www.grammarbank.com/present-continuous-tense-exercises.html

Present Simple ESL. (2013, January 14). Present Progressive – Verb Meaning and Use.
https://presentsimpleesl.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/present-progressive-verb-
meaning-and-use/

Present Simple ESL. (2013, January 8). Present Simple–Verb Forms.
https://presentsimpleesl.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/present-simple-verb-forms/

Present Simple ESL. (2013, January 8). Present Simple–Verb Meaning and Use.
https://presentsimpleesl.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/present-simple-verb-
meaning-and-use/

Pressbooks. (n.d.). Simple Present and Present Continuous.
https://kpu.pressbooks.pub/effectiveenglish/chapter/simple-present-and-present-
continuous/

Test-english. (2016). Present simple or present continuous. https://test-
english.com/explanation/b1/present-simple-present-continuous/

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