Topic: SIMPLE PRESENT OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE? 1

level: Intermediate (B1/B2)

Choose the best, most natural-sounding response (present simple or present progressive) to complete each sentence.

1. I always ________ my best.
a. try
b. am trying

2. ________ to me?
a. Are you talking
b. Do you talk

3. I ________ to the mountains this weekend.
a. go
b. am going

4. What time ________ lunch?
a. do you normally eat
b. are you normally eating

5. I have to go to bed early tonight because my train ________ at 6 AM tomorrow morning.
a. is leaving
b. leaves

6. We normally eat lunch at noon, but today ________ at 1.
a. we're eating
b. we eat

7. I ________ the flu.
a. have
b. am having

8. P1: ________ a good time? P2: Yes, I'm really enjoying this.
a. Are you having
b. Do you have

9. We normally ________ breakfast at 7:00 AM.
a. have
b. are having

10. Don't talk so loudly. Brian ________ to sleep.
a. tries
b. is trying

11. I ________ my teeth twice a day.
a. brush
b. am brushing

12. I ________ tennis twice a week.
a. play
b. am playing

13. Look! ________.
a. It rains
b. It's raining

14. I have to go home. ________ dark.
a. It gets
b. It's getting

15. I normally ________ breakfast very early.
a. am eating
b. eat

16. This is such a great party! ________ so much fun!
a. I have
b. I'm having

17. I ________ to tell the truth.
a. always try
b. am always trying

18. PERSON 1: Would you like some candy? PERSON 2: No thanks, I ________ candy.
a. don't like
b. am not liking

19. PERSON 1: What are you doing here? PERSON 2: I ________ for my friend.
a. wait
b. am waiting

20. How often ________ basketball?
a. do you play
b. are you playing

BACK TO LIST OF EXERCISES

GRAMMAR REVIEW! Simple present & present continuous

SIMPLE PRESENT

Use it for:
• Habits & routines:
I wake up at 7 AM.
She goes to the gym every day.
• General truths & facts:
Water boils at 100°C.
The sun sets in the west.
• States (feelings, thoughts, possession):
He likes pizza.
They have two dogs.
• Schedules & timetables (especially for future events):
The train leaves at 6 PM.
School starts on Monday.

PRESENT CONTINUOUS (am/is/are + -ing)

Use it for:
• Actions happening right now:
I am studying at the moment.
She is talking on the phone.
• Temporary actions:
He is working in London this week.
They are staying at a hotel.
• Changes and trends:
The weather is getting colder.
More people are using electric cars.
• Future plans (with time reference):
We are meeting them tomorrow.
I am flying to Paris next week.

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