Present
Simple vs. Present Continuous
Student’s Worksheet – Introduction
Jack is on holiday now. He isn’t working in his office in front of his desk - he is playing golf. He doesn’t look tired - he is smiling. The weather is great so he is enjoying himself.
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Jack is a busy businessman. He always looks tired. He works 10 hours every day. He spends the time in his office, in front of his desk. He writes important reports for his company. He wakes up at 6 and doesn’t go to bed until midnight. He doesn’t rest at the weekends – he goes on business trips then. He doesn’t like his job.
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Present simple
AFFIRMATIVE |
NEGATIVE |
INTERROGATIVE |
|
Long form |
Short form |
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I work |
I do not work |
I don’t work |
Do I work? |
You work |
You do not work |
You don’t work |
Do you work? |
He works |
He does not work |
He doesn’t work |
Does he work? |
She works |
She does not work |
She doesn’t work |
Does she work? |
It works |
It does not work |
It doesn’t work |
Does it work? |
We work |
We do not work |
We don’t work |
Do we work? |
You work |
You do not work |
You don’t work |
Do you work? |
They work |
They do not work |
They don’t work |
Do they work? |
Is used for actions we do all the time or repeat regularly, and states.
with time expressions: every day/week/month/year, never, rarely, sometimes, often, usually, always, every morning/afternoon/evening/night, in the morning/afternoon/evening, at night, on Mondays/Tuesdays, etc.
Present continuous
AFFIRMATIVE |
NEGATIVE |
INTERROGATIVE |
|
Long form |
Short form |
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I am working |
I am not working |
I’m not working |
Am I working? |
You are working |
You are not working |
You aren’t working |
Are you working? |
He is working |
He is not working |
He isn’t working |
Is he working? |
She is working |
She is not working |
She isn’t working |
Is she working? |
It is working |
It is not working |
It isn’t working |
Is it working? |
We are working |
We are not working |
We aren’t working |
Are we working? |
You are working |
You are not working |
You aren’t working |
Are you working? |
They are working |
They are not working |
They aren’t working |
Are they working? |
is used for actions we are doing at or around the moment of speaking.
with time expressions: now, at the moment, at present, these days, etc.
These verbs do not usually have continuous form: believe, belong, forget, hate, hear, know, like, love, need, remember, smell, see, understand, want.