English Exercises: Present Continuous or Present Simple

A. When do you use these time expressions?

Choose the correct option, PS (present simple) or PC (present continuous).

1. always PS PC

2. every day PS PC

3. now (or right now) PS PC

4. today PS PC

5. sometimes PS PC

6. once a week PS PC

7. at the moment PS PC

8. this month PS PC

9. often (frequently) PS PC

10. on Mondays/ Tuesdays... PS PC

11. twice a day PS PC

12. never PS PC

13. hardly ever (rarely) PS PC

14. usually (normally) PS PC

15. three times a year PS PC

16. at weekends PS PC

B. Write the verbs in the Present Simple for the subjects: he/ she/ it.

1. Tom (work) 5. John (watch) 9. Paul (study)

2. Susan (live) 6. Helena (wash) 19. Laura (play)

3. The dog (run) 7. The cat (pass) 20. The car (carry)

4. My mother (go) 8. The computer (do) 21. The baby (stay)

C. Complete the sentences with the verbs in the Present Continuous.

1. Today, Jennifer (study) very hard.

2. The students (do) good work.

3. I (learn) French at school.

4. At the moment, the radio (play) classical music.

5. This week, we (work) a lot at school.

6. This year, my friends and I (enjoy) our English lessons very much.

7. You (not/ listen) to music right now.

8. Robert and Jeremy (not/ go) to the concert.

9. (they/ go) to the recital?

10. (she/ stay) at home today?

11. (I/ learn) English well?

12. (you/ speak) on the telephone now?

D. Choose the correct option to complete the sentences (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

1. The band ... an interview right now.

a) gives b) is giving c) give

2. The musicians ... to play for their fans.

a) are loving b) loves c) love

3. The Corrs ... a musical band.

a) is being b) are being c) are

4. The student ... the trumpet every day.

a) is playing b) plays c) play

5. Daniela ... to the teacher at the moment.

a) isn't listening b) aren't listening c) doesn't listen

6. She ... her email once a day.

a) check b) is checking c) checks

7. We ... to work this week, because it's our holidays.

a) don't go b) aren't go c) aren't going

8. ... classical music?

a) You like b) Are you liking c) Do you like

9. ... English now? Yes, she is.

a) Is Mafalda studying b) Does Mafalda study c) Mafalda studying

10. What ... ? She's sleeping.

a) Josephine does b) does Josephine do c) is Josephine doing

11. What ... ? He's a singer.

a) Mark does b) does Mark do c) is Mark doing

12. Liliana always ... her homework.

a) is doing b) does c) do

13. These students ... very often.

a) don't study b) aren't studying c) not study

E. Finally, complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs (Present Simple or Present Continuous).

1. My father (give) me €2,00 to eat at school every day.

2. I usually (have) a sandwish and some milk.

3. Today, I (eat) something different: an orange juice and a cake.

4. My best friend (talk) on the phone at the moment.

5. My class (wait) for the Geography teacher right now.

6. We never (like) to wait for the teachers.

7. (Carmen/ listen) to music on her mp3? No, she's checking her voicemail.

10. " (Frederic/ go) to the beach every summer?" "No, he . He (go) camping."

11. At weekends, Camila (watch) a film at the cinema.

12. Patrícia (not/ work) this month. She's on holidays.

13. " (you/ listening) to me right now?" "No, I (not/ listen). I'm sorry.!

14. John (not/ sit) in classes every day. He's a bad student.

15. They (not/ travel) on their holidays. They usually (stay) at home.

16. " (you/ like) chocolate?" "Yes, I (love) it!"

17. The Amazon river (be) bigger than the Nile.

18. The Alentejo and the Algarve (be) in the south.