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Joy English · Level A2 · Present tensesjoy-english.com

Present simple or present continuous

Name:Date:

Choose between the present simple for habits and facts and the present continuous for actions happening now.

Choose the correct tense

Choose the present simple or the present continuous.

  1. Please be quiet. The baby ___.
    • a) sleeps
    • b) is sleeping
    • c) sleep
  2. Kofi ___ football every Saturday morning.
    • a) plays
    • b) is playing
    • c) play
  3. I ___ what you mean.
    • a) am understanding
    • b) understanding
    • c) understand
  4. Where's Mina? — She ___ a shower.
    • a) has
    • b) is having
    • c) have
  5. The sun always ___ in the east.
    • a) rises
    • b) is rising
    • c) rise
  6. This week my parents ___ in Rome, so I am looking after their plants.
    • a) are staying
    • b) stay
    • c) stays
  7. ___ you usually cook dinner, or does your sister do it?
    • a) Are
    • b) Is
    • c) Do
  8. My phone is very old. I ___ a new one.
    • a) am needing
    • b) need
    • c) needing

Write the verb

Type the verb in the present simple or the present continuous. Use the words in brackets.

  1. Shh! Jamal ___ (talk) on the phone.
  2. My grandmother ___ (visit) us every summer.
  3. Sofia ___ (not / like) spicy food.
  4. We ___ (wait) for the bus at the moment.
  5. Lena ___ (know) the way to the museum.
  6. ___ (you / listen) to me? I'm asking you a question!
  7. My brother usually wears jeans, but today he ___ (wear) a suit.
  8. I ___ (not / watch) TV now. I'm doing my homework.

Answer key

Choose the correct tense

  1. b) is sleepingThe baby is sleeping at this moment, so we use the present continuous.
  2. a) playsEvery Saturday shows a routine, so we use the present simple.
  3. c) understandUnderstand is a state verb, so we use the present simple.
  4. b) is havingMina is in the shower right now, so we use the present continuous.
  5. a) risesThis is a fact that is always true, so we use the present simple.
  6. a) are stayingThis is a temporary situation (this week), so we use the present continuous.
  7. c) DoUsually shows a habit, so the question uses do.
  8. b) needNeed is a state verb, so we use the present simple.

Write the verb

  1. is talking / 's talkingShh! tells us that it is happening now, so we use the present continuous.
  2. visitsEvery summer is a regular habit, so we use the present simple.
  3. doesn't like / does not likeLike is a state verb, so we use the present simple.
  4. are waiting / 're waitingAt the moment tells us it is happening now, so we use the present continuous.
  5. knowsKnow is a state verb, so we use the present simple, even when we talk about now.
  6. Are you listeningThe speaker means right now, so we use the present continuous: Are you listening?
  7. is wearing / 's wearingToday is different from his habit, so we use the present continuous.
  8. 'm not watching / am not watchingNow tells us we need the present continuous. The negative is am not + verb-ing.

Joy English · free English practice · https://joy-english.com/grammar/present-simple-or-continuous