Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive
(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')
I speak
you speak
he / she / it speaks
we speak
they speak
form of 'be' and verb + ing

I am speaking
you are speaking
he / she / it is speaking
we are speaking
they are speaking
Use
In general or right now?
Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?
Simple Present Present Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
always
every ...
often
normally
usually
sometimes
seldom
never
first
then
at the moment
at this moment
today
now
right now
Listen!
Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?
Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable or
schedule?
Simple Present Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule
The film starts at 8 pm.
arrangement for the near future
I am going to the cinema tonight.
Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?
Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited
(rather short) period of time?
Simple Present Present Progressive
daily routine
Bob works in a restaurant.
only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly
at the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

Exercise on Simple Present - Present Progressive
Exercise 1
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).
1. Look! He (leave) . the house.
2. Quiet please! I (write) ................... a test.
3. She usually (walk) to school.
4. But look! Today she (go) .. by bike.
5. Every Sunday we (go) to see my grandparents.
6. He often (go) . to the cinema.
7. We (play) ............................................................ Monopoly at the moment.
8. The child seldom (cry) .........................................
9. I (not / do) anything at the moment.
10. (watch / he) .. the news regularly?

Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).
1. This (be) .. Caroline.
2. Caroline (have) long blond hair.
3. She usually (wear) glasses, but now she (wear) .. contact lenses.
4. Caroline (like) .. sports.
5. She (play) . handball every Monday and Thursday.
Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).
1. Joe and Dennis (be) .. best friends.
2. They often (meet) .. in the afternoon.
3. What (do / they) .. at the moment?
4. They (play) football.
5. They (love) .......................................................................... football.
6. Joe (practise) . with his father every weekend, but Dennis (not /
play) football very ofte


Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or Present Progressive).
1. These (be) . Linda and Jeff.
2. Linda (be) . Jeff's little sister.
3. At the moment, the two kids (sit) .. on the floor.
4. Jeff (hold) .. a book right now, he (read) .. a story to Linda.
5. Look! Linda (listen) . carefully and she (look) .. at the beautiful
pictures.
6. Linda (love) Jeff's stories.
7. He (read) .. a story to her every day.
8. Jeff sometimes even (write) .. his own stories.


Complete the story. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1. It (be) early in the morning.
2. Sally (get) .. out of bed, (open) the window and (go) into
the bathroom.
3. Then she (have) .. breakfast.
4. After breakfast, Sally usually (cycle) . to school.
5. After school, she (go) . back home.
6. Sally usually (eat) . her lunch at home.
7. In the afternoons, she first (do) her homework and then she (meet) .. her friends in
the park.
8. What (do / she) now?
9. She (play) .. the guitar.
10. Her friends (listen) . and some of them (sing) along.
11. When Sally (come) . home in the evening, she (have) . dinner
and then she (watch) .. TV.
12. She (go) to bed at about 8 o'clock every day.


http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/conditional-sentences


Fill the blanks with the correct form of the highlighted words. Look at the example:
Bob: Is it a good time to visit you?
Linda: Not right now. I _________ a paper. Come over later. write (Click for feedback)
Correct Answer: am writing

Click here for pop-up that explains the differences between present simple and present
progressive.



Marco: Hi Julie. Is Don there?
check
hint
answers

Julie: He can't come to the phone. He's in the garden. He __________ some
flowers. plant (Click for feedback)



Marco: But it ____________! rain (Click for feedback on all highlighted verbs)
check
hint
answers



Julie: So what? Don always ____________ flowers on rainy days. It's perfect
weather for planting. plant
check
hint
answers


Marco: I suppose you're right. Maybe you can help me. I'm sure you
____________ a lot about cars. know
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hint
answers


Julie: Well, that _________ . Why? Are you going to buy a car? depend
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answers



Marco: Yes, I am. I _________ much money, so it has to be a used car. Any
suggestions? have (negative)
check
hint
answers


Julie: You have to be more precise. First of all, tell me how much money you
____________ to spend. want
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hint
answers


Marco: About three thousand dollars. I want a small, economical car that
____________ little maintenance. require
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hint
answers


Julie: Three thousand dollars! It's not much, but you can probably find a used
Honda Civic for that price. It's a very dependable car. My friend Natasha
___________ an old Honda Civic and she's very happy with it. have
check
hint
answers



Marco: Ok. I don't suppose she __________ to sell it. want
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hint
answers



Julie: No, but you can find one very easily. But maybe you should speak to
Don. He _________ into the house now. Hey, Don, Marco's on the
phone. He wants to buy a used car. come
check
hint
answers



Don: Hey, Marco. How's it going? Is it true that you _________ for a used
car? look
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answers


Marco: Sure is. I _________ a car to get a job. Any suggestions? need
check
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answers



Don: My brother Bill _________ his car. It's a 94 Honda Civic. sell
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answers



Marco: Sounds interesting. I suppose he _________ a new car? buy
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answers



Don: No. Lucky him! He __________ jobs and with his new job he gets a
company car. change
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answers


Marco: Do you know how much he _________ for his Civic. ask
check
hint
answers



Don: No, but I can ask him this evening. Julie and I _________ out to dinner
with him and his wife. go
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hint
answers


Marco: Perfect. One other thing. I ___________ a party next Friday to celebrate
Aki's 21st. (birthday). Can you and Julie come? organize
check
hint
answers


Don: I'm free, but I think Julie ____________ to a show with friends. Let me
talk to her about it and I'll call you back. OK. go
check
hint
answers

Marco: Ok. Talk to you later.


http://ww2.college-em.qc.ca/prof/epritchard/presconf.htm