Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present Simple

Let's take it slow!

We use the present simple to talk about things in general. We use it to say that something happens all the

time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general:

• Nurses look after patients in hospitals.

• I usually go away at weekends.

• The earth goes round the sun.

• The cafe opens at 7.30 in the morning.

Remember to add -s in the third person singular (she, he, it). We say:

• I work .... but .... he works

• you go .... but .... it goes

• they teach .... but .... my sister teaches

• I have .... but .... he has

Adding -s can sometimes be a bit difficult!

1. For most verbs, add -s to the infinitive.

draw --> draws , cook --> cooks

2. For verbs that end in -s, -sh, -ss, -ch, -x, or -o add -es.

do --> does , watch --> watches

3. For verbs that end in consonant + -y, omit the -y and add -ies.

fly --> flies , study --> studies

4. Irregular verbs don't follow the rules!

have --> has , be --> is

We use do/does to make questions and negative sentences:

• I come from Canada. Where do you come from?

• I don’t go away very often.

• What does this word mean? (not What means this word?)

• Rice doesn’t grow in cold climates.

In the following examples, do is also the main verb (do you do / doesn’t do)

• ‘What do you do?’ ‘I work in a shop.’

• He’s always so lazy. He doesn’t do anything to help.

• They don't do test on Fridays, it's a safe day.

• 'How do you do?' 'I'm fine, thank you.'

If you are wondering about short forms:

• I do not drive ---> I don't drive

• She does not like me ---> She doesn't like me

• I am happy ---> I'm happy

• You are great! ---> You're great!

• She is a scientist ---> She's a scientist.

• They are not worried ---> They aren't worried.

• It is not a problem ---> It isn't a problem.

We use the present simple to say how often we do things

• I get up at 8 o’clock every morning.

• How often do you go to the dentist?

• Julie doesn’t drink tea very often.

• Robert usually goes away two or three times a year.

• She never listens to her mother's advice!

• I always check the door twice before I leave.

We use Present Simple to talk about timetables and scheduled events

• Our train leaves at 7pm.

• English classes start at 4am Warsaw time.

• What time does the exam begin?

• The museum opens at 9am every day except Monday.

• null

• 
  

And finally, we use Present Simple when we talk about our beliefs, opinions, promises

• I promise I won't be late.

• I suggest you try this one.

• I believe this is the correct answer.

• I don't know that to do.

• What do you suggest I do?

Multiple Choice

Why__________ Sally__________( work) so hard?

• do/work

• do/works

• does/ work

• does/works

Multiple Choice

.............. Sam like English?

• Does

• Do

Multiple Choice

 Yes, he .............. .

• do

• does

Multiple Choice

Ron often _____________( try) his best.

• try

• trys

• tries

• trying

Multiple Choice

I_________(not like) ice cream.

• don't like

• doesn't like

• doesn't likes

• doesn't like

Multiple Choice

_________she_______(have) many friends?

• Does/has

• Does/have

• Do/have

• Do/has

Multiple Choice

We_________(not read) newspapers every day.

• doesn't read
• doesn't reads
• don't read
• not read

Multiple Choice

My grandmother..................... (cook)

tasty dishes for us.

• cooks

• cook

• cooking

• cooked

Multiple Choice

My friends_________(study) English on Sundays.

• studies
• study
• studied
• studie

Multiple Choice

Some elephants.................... (live)

for over 70 years.

• lives

• live

• living

• lived

Multiple Choice

He _________(go) to school every day.

• goes

• go

• went

• gos

Multiple Choice

Lee............... (play) volleyball

after school every afternoon.

• play

• played

• plays

• playing

Multiple Choice

Alex and I often................... (read)

comic books.

• reading

• reads

• read

• red

Multiple Choice

My cousins never..........(go)

to bed early.

• goes

• go

• went

• going

Multiple Choice

My best friend...............(tell)

great jokes. He’s very funny.

• telling

• tells

• tell

• told

Multiple Choice

Sue and Bill always.................... (visit)

their aunt at the weekend.

• visited

• visiting

• visits

• visit

Multiple Choice

She.........(be) our teacher. I don't like her.

• are

• is

• am

Multiple Choice

They........(be) our neighbours

• am

• is

• are

It's enough! Lets move to Present Continuous!

Multiple Choice

Mandy often..............(wash) her car on Friday.

• wash

• washes

• washs

• washies

Multiple Choice

Samantha............ (brush) her hair

every day.

• brush

• brushes

• brushies

• brushs

We use the Present Continuous to talk about things that are happening right now or they haven't finished yet.

• Please don’t make so much noise. I’m trying to work. (not I try)

• ‘Where’s Mark?’ ‘He’s having a shower.’ (not He has a shower)

• Let’s go out now. It isn’t raining any more. (not It doesn’t rain)

• How’s your new job? Are you enjoying it?

• What’s all that noise? What’s going on? or What’s happening?

Multiple Choice

She.........(have) a lot of friends at her school.

• have

• has

• haves

• havies

It's very important to remember that the action isn't always NOW. It simply must be different that a routine or it is temporary.

• Kate wants to work in Italy, so she’s learning Italian.

  (but perhaps she isn’t learning Italian at the time of speaking)

• I live in Lodz, but this week I'm living in Warsaw because I came for a conference.

• I'm reading a really good book. It's about war! (but she isn't reading it NOW)

You can use the present continuous with today / this week / this year to show that it is a temporary situation, it's not always like that.

• You’re working hard today. That's strange! (not You work hard today)

• The company I work for isn’t doing so well this year.

• This week we are studying only grammar. Usually we also learn vocabulary.

We use the present continuous when we talk about a change that has started to happen. We often use these verbs in this way:

getting, becoming changing, improving, starting, beginning, increasing, rising, falling, growing

• Is your English getting better? (not Does your English get better)

• The population of the world is increasing very fast. (not increases)

• At first I didn’t like my job, but I’m starting to enjoy it now. (not I start)

Present Continuous can also be used to talk about future arrangements, but let's talk about it different time.

• I'm flying to Rome next Monday.

• They are getting married on the 6th of June.

• I'm seeing a doctor tomorrow.

Multiple Choice

Where ____ the students ____ the exam this morning?

• is, take

• are, take

• is, taking

• are, taking

Ok. That's all. Let's practice Present Continuous.

Multiple Choice

Why ____ your sister ____? She looks very sad.

• is, cry

• is, crying

• are, cry

• are, crying

Multiple Choice

Question: ....................................

Answer: "It's sleeping."

• What are you doing?

• What's he doing?

• What's your mum doing?

• What's the dog doing?

Multiple Choice

We ............... (have) very good time on holidays.

• have

• has

• are having

• is having

Multiple Choice

My sister ............... (watch) TV and I ............... (read) a great novel.

• is watching / am reading

• am watching / is reading

• isn't reading / isn't watching

• are watching / is reading

Multiple Choice

The children ...................... (not swim) at the moment.

• is swimming

• are swimming

• am swimming

• aren't swimming

Multiple Choice

They ...................... (drive) to work right now.

• is driving

• aren't driving

• are driving

• driving

Multiple Choice

The boys ...................... (not play) tennis today.

• isn't playing

• are playing

• are'nt playing

• aren't playing

Multiple Choice

My sister ...................... (watch) TV right now.

• is watching

• are watching

• am watching

• is watched

Multiple Choice

I’ve got a parrot! His name’s Paco. Paco is very cute and

funny. He........ (not sing) but he.............. (talk) a lot!

• doesn't/talks

• don't/talks

• doesn't/ talk

• don't/ talk

Multiple Choice

Paco........... (like) apples, bananas and peaches but he ............(not like) oranges. What Paco really .........(love) is ice cream!

• likes, like, love

• likes, like, love

• like, likes, love

• likes, doesn't like, loves

Let's compare Present Simple and Present Continuous

Multiple Choice

I sometimes ........(give) him

some, but not very often because sugar is bad for a bird’s

health, you know.

• gives

• give

• giveies

• givees

Multiple Choice

His favourite toys are my CDs but I .......(not let) him play with them

because he ................(eat) them, too! What about your pet? What does it eat?

• don't, eats

• doesn't, eats

• don't eat

• doesn't eats

Please remember that there are some verbs that are NOT normally used in Present Continuous

like, want, need, prefer, know, realise, understand, recognise, believe, suppose, remember, mean, belong, fit, contain, consist, seem

• I’m hungry. I want something to eat. (not I’m wanting)

• Do you understand what I mean? (not Are you understanding?)

• This book belongs to me.

• I need a drink now!

What's more, some verbs change thier meaning if they are used in Simple or Continuous

• I think you are wrong (my opinion) / I'm thinking about changing a job (I'm considering it)

• I see an ocean (I can look at it) / I'm seeing a girl (I'm meeting her)

• I have a car (I own it) / I'm having lunch (I'm eating)

That's all for now!

Let's practice!

Multiple Choice

What time ............the film ................. (start)?

• do ... start
• is... starting
• does ... start

Multiple Select

How are you? ______________ a good time?

• Do you have

• Are you having

Multiple Select

______________________ the answer?

• Do you know

• Are you knowing

Multiple Choice

She usually ......... a car but she ................ a bike today

• Drives   -   is riding
• Drive   -   is riding
• Is driving  -  rides

Multiple Choice

A: Where’s Luke?
B: He _____________ (see) the doctor now. 

• is seeing
• sees
• see
• saw

Multiple Choice

Are you hungry? Do you ___________ a sandwich?  

• are you wanting
• wants
• want
• wanting

Multiple Choice

My grandmother .... for a walk every day.

• goes
• go
• is going

Multiple Choice

A: Why _________ ? (smile)
B: Because I’m happy. 

• do you smile
• are you not smiling
• are you smiling
• don't you smile

Multiple Choice

Sandra and her husband are vegetarian. They ________ (eat meat)

• are not eating meat
• don't eat meat
• eat meat
• eating meat

And now, the last exercise. Put the verbs in correct form, present simple or present continuous.

Present Simple and Present Continuous

Poll

Do you remember the FORM of Present Simple and Present Continuous?

• Yes, I do

• No, I don't

Multiple Choice

What's the structure of present simple (affirmative)?

• Subject + verb to be + v.ing

• Subject + do/does not + v.1

• Subject + V.1 (-s/-es)

• Subject + verb to be + not + v.ing

Multiple Choice

What's the structure of present continuous (wh- question)?

• Question word + verb to be + subject + v.ing?

• Question word + do/does + subject + v.1?

• Question word + verb to be + noun/pronoun?

• Question word + verb to be + v.1?

Multiple Choice

What's the structure of present continuous (affirmative)?

• Subject + verb to be + v.1

• Subject + v.1 (-s/-es)

• Subject + verb to be + v.ing

• Subject + do/does not + v.1

Multiple Choice

What's the structure of present simple (wh- question)?

• Question word + do/does + subject + v.1?

• Question word + verb to be + subject + v.ing?

• Question word + have/has + subject + v.3?

• Question word + will + subject + v.1?

​Rules and Uses

Multiple Choice

Which one is the time expression for present simple?

• right now

• next week

• tonight

• twice a week

Multiple Choice

Which one is the time expression for present continuous?

• right now

• always

• never

• twice a week

Let's Practice!

Multiple Choice

Right now my brother _________ chess.

• plays

• is playing

Multiple Choice

I __________ tennis every Friday.

• play

• am playing

Multiple Choice

You _______ money to buy things.

• need

• are needing

Multiple Select

Water ______ into ice at 0ºC.

• is changing

• changes

Fill in the Blanks

Multiple Select

______________________ the answer?

• Do you know

• Are you knowing

Multiple Select

How are you? ______________ a good time?

• Do you have

• Are you having

Multiple Choice

Is this sentence correct?

She’s looking like her aunt, in my opinion.

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Select

That cat is looking at me. It won’t stop!

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

This food is tasting absolutely delicious!

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Choice

They’re just coming out now. Here they are!

• correct

• incorrect

Multiple Select

We use the _________ for:

a routines and habits

b things that are always or generally true

c scientific facts

• Present Continuous

• Present Simple

Multiple Choice

We use the _______ for:

d actions that are happening now or near the moment

of speaking

e actions that are temporary or not a normal routine

f actions that happen very often and annoy the

speaker

g changing situations

• Present Simple

• Present Continuous

Multiple Choice

What time ............the film ................. (start)?

• do ... start
• is... starting
• does ... start

Multiple Choice

It ................... (charge) at the moment

• is charging
• is chargeing 
• charges

Multiple Choice

Why ...............(you / laugh) in this photo?

• is you laughing

• do you laugh

• are you laughing

Multiple Choice

School ............(finish) at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.

• finish

• finishes

• is finishing

Multiple Choice

We .........(play) our first match next Saturday.

• plays

• are playing

• play

Multiple Choice

I often .......... (surf) the internet to find some information. 

• surf

• surfs

• am surfing

Multiple Choice

I ..........(send) you an email right now.

• are sending

• send

• am sending

Multiple Choice

He ........... (score) a goal in this photo.

• scores

• is scoreing

• is scoring

Multiple Choice

How often .......................... (you / go) shopping?

• do you go

• you go

• are you going

Multiple Choice

Jamie ..................... (chat) online at the moment.

• chats

• chatting

• is chatting

Multiple Choice

She  ................................(not play) guitar on Fridays.

• don't play

• isn't play

• doesn't play

Multiple Choice

Right now I..................... (study) for the Maths test.

• study

• studying

• am studying

Multiple Choice

Mum ............................ (not work) every day. She's at home on Wednesdays.

• doesn't work

• isn't working

• doesn't works

Multiple Choice

Look! That man ....................... (take) photos of our car!

• are taking

• is taking

• takes

Multiple Choice

David always ..................... (wash) his car on Saturdays.

• wash

• is washing

• washes

Multiple Choice

What ____________ for dinner tonight?

• are we having

• are we have

• having we

• we have

Multiple Choice

My brother ______ a daughter and a son.

• have

• has

• is having

• are having

Multiple Choice

I ________________ some math problems at the moment.

• am not solveing

• are not solving

• am not solving

• don't solve

Multiple Choice

My grandfather often _________ over for dinner at the weekends

• come

• comes

• is coming

• are coming

Multiple Choice

My school _________ at nine every day.

• begin

• begins

• is beginning

Multiple Choice

I usually ____________ on Sundays but today I ____________.

• don't work/ am working

• don't work/ work

• am not working/ am working

Multiple Choice

She __________ now, she __________

• doesn't sleep/ studies

• isn't sleeping/ is studying

• isn't sleeping/ is studing

Multiple Choice

I __________ this film is great

• think

• thinks

• am thinking

• thinking

Multiple Choice

Be quiet, please! I ____________

• think

• thinks

• ’m thinking

• am think

Multiple Choice

She ____________ a great time!

• having

• is having

• are having

• have

Multiple Choice

Hurry up! The bus ___________ for us.

• is waiting

• are waiting

• waits

• wait

Multiple Choice

Where _____________? This is the wrong way!!

• are you going

• you going

• do you go

• is you going

Multiple Choice

He ____________ in two shows every week

• appears

• is appearing

• appear

Multiple Choice

Shops ___________ late on Monday nights.

• close

• are closing

• is closing

• closes

Multiple Choice

Don’t disturb him. He ____________ to sleep.

• tries

• is trying

• try

• are trying

Multiple Choice

Tony usually ____ (sit) in the front of during class.

• are sitting

• is sitting

• sits

• sit

Multiple Choice

Laura ____ (work) the night shift on weekends.

• work

• works

• is working

• are working

Multiple Choice

Every morning the sun _____ (shine) in my bedroom window and _____ (wake) me up.

• is shining - is waking

• is shining - wakes

• shines - wakes

• shines - is waking

Multiple Choice

You ___________that waiters are rude!

• is always complaining

• always complain

• are always complaining

• always complains

Multiple Choice

Teachers and students _________________ to use different digital resources now.

• learn

• is learning

• learns

• are learning

Multiple Choice

Mum usually _______ milk in the morning, but today she _________ orange juice. 

• drinks, is drinking

• is drinking, drinks

• drinking, drinking

• drinks, drinks

Multiple Choice

I usually _______ to work, but today I ___________ the train. 

• walk, am taking

• walking, taking

• am walking, am taking

• walk, take

Multiple Select

The sun (1)__________ , and you (2) ___________ in the right place to take the photo.

• (1) shine ... (2) do not stand

• (1) is shineing ... (2) is not standing

• (1) is shining ... (2) are not standing

• (1) shines ... (2) are not standing