The simple present tense is used to talk about your daily activities and routines. The present continuous tense is used to talk about things that are happening at the moment of speaking. The continuous tense is also used to talk about pre-planned future events.
Complete the following sentences using the simple present or present continuous tense form of the verb given in the brackets.
1Every morning, my dad ............... for a walk in the park.
Wrong!
We use the simple present for a routine, so "goes" is correct.
2I ............... some old friends this week.
Wrong!
We use the present continuous for a temporary arrangement this week, so "am visiting" is correct.
3Don't make a noise. The baby ...............
Wrong!
We use the present continuous for an action happening now, so "is sleeping" is correct.
4The kettle ................ Shall I make tea?
Wrong!
We use the present continuous for something happening now, so "is boiling" is correct.
5I ............... this wine very much.
Wrong!
With the state verb "like", we normally use the simple present, so "like" is correct.
6Don't forget to take your umbrella. It ...............
Wrong!
We use the present continuous for weather happening now, so "is raining" is correct.
7She doesn't like to be disturbed if she ...............
Wrong!
Here the meaning is an action in progress at that time, so "is working" is correct.
8My brother ............... in Paris at the moment.
Wrong!
The phrase "at the moment" shows a temporary situation now, so "is working" is correct.
9He ............... his grandparents about twice a year.
Wrong!
We use the simple present for a repeated habit, so "visits" is correct.
10I ............... what he says.
Wrong!
With the state verb "believe", we normally use the simple present, so "don't believe" is correct.
Answers
- Every morning, my dad goes for a walk in the park.
- I am visiting some old friends this week.
- Don’t make a noise. The baby is sleeping.
- The kettle is boiling . Shall I make tea?
- I like this wine very much.
- Don’t forget to take your umbrella. It is raining.
- She doesn’t like to be disturbed if she is working.
- My brother is working in Paris at the moment.
- He visits his grandparents about twice a year.
- I don’t believe what he says.
