2.4. Present Simple versus Present Continuous.

Present Simple	Present Continuous
Habitual repeated actions or daily routines E.g. She usually gets up at 7 o’clock.	Actions in process at the moment of speaking. E.g. You are reading now.
General truths or laws of nature. E.g. The sun goes around the Earth.	Actions happening around the moment of speaking. E.g. She is working for a company
Permanent states E.g. He works in the office.	Temporary actions. E.g. This time we are staying at this hotel.
	Future planned action. E.g. We are going to the cinema tonight.
Time expressions
Every day / week/ month/ year, usually, always, never, sometimes, often, rarely.	Now, at the moment, at present These days, nowadays, still Today, tonight

Rule.

There are some verbs which we never use in Present Continuous.

like love hate enjoy prefer believe understand know remember forget see, hear, feel, taste, look, smell, sound be, contain, fit, include, need, matter, cost, belong, mean, want

E.g. Do you know the answer? (not are you knowing)

I don’t understand (not I am not understanding).

But:

I think she is a good person. (believe)

I am thinking about you. (dreaming, at the moment)

I can see a plane in the sky.

I am seeing my doctor today. (meeting).

She has a brother.

She is having a shower at the moment.

1. Fill in am / is / are / do / don't / does / doesn't.

1. Excuse me, …. do…..you speak English?

2. “Have a cigarette.” “No, thank you, I ……………….. smoke.”

3. Why ……………….. you laughing at me?

4. “What ……………….. she do?” “She's a dentist.”

5. I ……………….. want to go out. It ……………….. raining.

6. “Where ……………….. you come from?” “From Canada.”

7. How much ……………….. it cost to send a letter to Canada?

8. I can't talk to you at the moment. I ……………….. working.

9. George is a good tennis player but he ……………….. play very often.

2. Put the verb in the Present Continuous or Present Simple.

1. Excuse me, …… do you speak English ….. (you / speak) English?

2. Tom ………………………… (have) a shower at the moment.

3. They ………………………... (not / watch) television very often.

4. Listen! Somebody ………………………… (sing).

5. She's tired. She ………………………… (want) to go home now.

6. How often ………………………… (you / read) a newspaper?

7. “Excuse me, but you ………………………… (sit) in my place.” “ Oh, I’m sorry.”

8. I'm sorry. I ………………………… (not / understand). Please speak more slowly.

9. “Where are you, Roy?” “I'm in the sitting-room. I ………………………… (read).”

10. What time ………………………… (she / finish) work every day?

11. You can turn off she radio, I ………………………… (not / listen) to it.

12. He ………………………… (not / usually / drive) to work. He usually

………………………… (walk).

3. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. The twins ….are watching... (watch) TV at the moment.

2. Simon usually ………………………… (spend) the weekends at home.

3. Why ………………………… (you / cry)? Is anything wrong?

4. Tim ………………………… (study) hard these days. He wants to pass his exams.

5. How often ………………………… (Helen / go) shopping?

6. I'm sorry, but I ………………………… (not / remember) your name.

7. Our neighbours ………………………… (have) a party and they ………………………… (make) a lot of noise.

8. This new perfume ………………………… (smell) very nice.

9. Fiona ………………………… (stay) with her aunt at present, but she ………………………… (want) to move somewhere else soon. 10. I ………………………… (think) you're right. I must get a job soon.

4. Choose a time expression from the box to complete the sentences.

every day, in the evening, now, often, at the moment, rarely, in the morning, today, at present, on Saturdays, usually, never

1. Mother does her shopping …….. on Saturdays….. .

2. We go to school ………………………… .

3. He can't talk to you. He is talking on the phone …………………………

4. They………………………… go to work on Sundays. They stay at home.

5. We can't go out. It is raining ………………………… .

6. She ………………………… walks her dog but ………………………… her mother is walking the dog.

7. We eat breakfast ………………………… .

8. She's eating lunch ………………………… .

9. Father and Mother watch TV ………………………… .

10. He ………………………… eats sweets. He doesn't like them very much.

11. He likes sports He………………………… plays tennis.

5. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. Sarah usually …. goes …… (go) swimming every Saturday but this Saturday it ……………….. (be) her birthday. She ……………….. (like) chocolate cake so her sister ……………….. (make) one for her now. Her mother ……………….. (cook) food at the moment and her lather ……………….. (do) the shopping. Sarah ……………….. (want) everything to be nice for her party. Now she and her brother……………….. (make) hats for the children. They always ……………….. (have) a good time at parties. They ……………….. (sing) and ……………….. (dance) a lot and ……………….. (play) their favourite games.

6. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

1. ….. Do you know …. (you / know) that man over there? Actually, I do. He’s my husband.

2. ………………… (you / do) anything tomorrow evening ? Yes,…………………

(see) Jack at nine o’clock.

3. What ………………… (you / look) at? Some pictures I took during my holidays.

4. You ………………… (look) very pretty today.

5. I’m sorry. I ………………… (not / understand) what you mean.