SIMPLE PRESENT OR PRESENT CONTINUOUS? EXERCISE 1 (ESL)
level: Intermediate (B1/B2)
The simple present and the present continuous both describe the present, but they are used in very different situations. The simple present describes habits, routines, and general truths; the present continuous describes actions happening right now or around the current period. This is exercise 1 of 2 in this series.
Grammar review
Simple present or present continuous — when to use each
Both tenses refer to the present, but they focus on very different things.
SIMPLE PRESENT — for habits, routines, facts, and general truths
Use when something happens regularly or is always true.
“She works in a hospital.” (her job — a fact)
“I drink coffee every morning.” (routine)
“Water boils at 100°C.” (general truth)
Signal words: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week, on Mondays
PRESENT CONTINUOUS — for actions happening right now or around now
Use when something is in progress at this moment, or is a temporary situation.
“She is talking on the phone.” (right now)
“I’m staying with my parents this week.” (temporary)
“They’re building a new bridge nearby.” (ongoing project)
Signal words: now, right now, at the moment, currently, this week/month, today
Future use of present continuous:
The present continuous is also used for fixed future arrangements:
“We’re meeting them tomorrow.”
Both tenses refer to the present, but they focus on very different things.
SIMPLE PRESENT — for habits, routines, facts, and general truths
Use when something happens regularly or is always true.
“She works in a hospital.” (her job — a fact)
“I drink coffee every morning.” (routine)
“Water boils at 100°C.” (general truth)
Signal words: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day/week, on Mondays
PRESENT CONTINUOUS — for actions happening right now or around now
Use when something is in progress at this moment, or is a temporary situation.
“She is talking on the phone.” (right now)
“I’m staying with my parents this week.” (temporary)
“They’re building a new bridge nearby.” (ongoing project)
Signal words: now, right now, at the moment, currently, this week/month, today
Future use of present continuous:
The present continuous is also used for fixed future arrangements:
“We’re meeting them tomorrow.”
Choose the correct form — simple present or present continuous — to complete each sentence. Click on "ANSWER" to see the correct response.
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
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER PRESENT TENSE EXERCISES:
Simple present or present continuous? 1 (I)
Simple present or present continuous? 2 (I)
Present continuous 1 (B)
Present continuous 2 (B)
Simple past or present perfect? 1 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 1 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (I)
More grammar exercises
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Simple present or present continuous? 1 (I)
Simple present or present continuous? 2 (I)
Present continuous 1 (B)
Present continuous 2 (B)
Simple past or present perfect? 1 (I)
Simple past or present perfect? 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 1 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 2 (I)
Mixed verb tenses 3 (I)
More grammar exercises
Tired of ads? Sign up for our ad-free PREMIUM EDITION for lots of great content!
