PRESENT SIMPLE

AND CONTINUOUS
USES, USEFUL WORDS AND EXAMPLES

PRESENT SIMPLE
WE USE THE PRESENT SIMPLE TO TALK ABOUT
ACTIVITIES THAT ARE A ROUTINE, ACTIVITIES
THAT WE DO EVERY DAY; OR ACTIONS THAT ARE
USE

ALWAYS TRUE.

"I GET UP AT 7:00 A.M. EVERY DAY."

"THE ICE MELTS UNDER THE SUN."
USEFUL WORDS

WE USE ADVERBS OF FREQUENCY AS CLUES TO

RECOGNIZE THE PRESENT SIMPLE. THESE ARE:

ALWAYS USUALLY
NEVER OFTEN
SOMETIMES SELDOM

"I USUALLY GO SHOPPING WITH MY MUM."

WHEN A THE SUBJECT OF A SENTENCE IS "HE / SHE

/ IT" WE HAVE TO ADD AN "-S" OR "-ES" TO THE
VERB.
THIRD PERSON

"SHE OFTEN PLAYS TENNIS."

"HE LISTENS TO MUSIC EVERY EVENING."
"THE CAT SLEEPS ON THE SOFA EVERY DAY."

THE RULES ARE THE FOLLOWING: WHEN THE VERB

ENDS IN -SS, -SH, -CH, -X, OR -O.

"SHE GOES TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY."

"HE FINISHES ENGLISH LESSONS AT 3 P.M."

1
 REMEMBER THAT THE AUXILIARIES FOR THE
PRESENT SIMPLE ARE "DO" (FOR I/YOU/WE/THEY)
AUXILIARIES (QUESTIONS AND NEGATIVES)

AND "DOES" (FOR HE/SHE/IT). WE USE THEM WHEN

WE WANT TO FORM NEGATIVE SENTENCES (ADDING
"NOT") OR QUESTIONS.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES: SUBJECT + DO/DOES NOT

+ VERB IN INFINITIVE + REST OF THE SENTENCE.

"I DON'T WATCH TV AT NIGHT."

"SHE DOESN'T GO SWIMMING ON FRIDAY."

QUESTIONS:
1) AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + VERB IN INFINITIVE +
REST OF THE SENTENCE?

"DO YOU STUDY ITALIAN?"

"DOES SHE KNOW YOUR BROTHER?"

2) WH-WORD + AUXILIARY + SUBJECT + VERB IN

THE INFINITIVE + REST OF THE SENTENCE?

"WHAT DOES YOUR MOTHER LOOK LIKE?"

"WHERE DO YOU LIVE?"

1. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the
present simple tense.

1. My brother __________ (play) football every weekend.

2. The sun __________ (rise) in the east.
3. They __________ (drink) coffee in the morning.
4. She __________ (study) English at the university.
5. We __________ (live) in this city for ten years.
6. Cats __________ (meow) when they want something.
7. He __________ (work) as a teacher.
8. The train __________ (arrive) at 9 o'clock.
9. I __________ (like) to read books in my free time.
10. The Earth __________ (revolve) around the sun.
2
2. Rewrite the following sentences as questions using the present
simple tense.

Example:
Statement: She speaks Spanish.
Question: Does she speak Spanish?

1. They live in London.

2. He works as an engineer.
3. The bus arrives at 7:30 a.m.
4. We eat breakfast at 8 o'clock.
5. She likes to read books.
6. The students study French.
7. He plays the guitar.
8. They visit their grandparents every weekend.
9. The movie starts at 7 p.m.
10. I play tennis on Saturdays.

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the
present simple tense.

1. Sarah __________ (play/plays) the piano every evening.

2. They __________ (go/goes) to the beach on weekends.
3. The sun __________ (shine/shines) brightly in the sky.
4. We __________ (watch/watches) movies on Friday
nights.
5. My parents __________ (work/works) in a hospital.
6. He __________ (read/reads) books in his free time.
7. The cat __________ (sleep/sleeps) on the couch.
8. I __________ (eat/eats) breakfast every morning.
9. The train __________ (arrive/arrives) at 6 p.m.
10. They __________ (study/studies) Spanish at school.
3
4. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate verbs in the present
simple tense.

Hello everyone! My name is Sarah and I __________ (live) in a

small town called Greenville. I __________ (go) to Greenfield
High School and I __________ (enjoy) my classes there.
On weekdays, I usually __________ (wake up) at 7 a.m. and
__________ (get) ready for school. My mom __________
(make) breakfast for me and my siblings. After breakfast, I
__________ (take) the bus to school.
At school, we __________ (have) different subjects like math,
science, and English. I __________ (like) math the most
because it __________ (challenge) my problem-solving skills.
My friends and I __________ (sit) together during lunch break
and we __________ (chat) about our day.
In the afternoon, I __________ (participate) in extracurricular
activities. I __________ (play) basketball on the school team,
and we __________ (practice) every day after school. It
__________ (help) me stay active and make new friends.
After sports practice, I __________ (return) home and
__________ (start) working on my homework. My mom
__________ (prepare) dinner while I __________ (study). We
__________ (have) dinner together as a family and
__________ (talk) about our day.
In the evenings, I __________ (relax) by reading books or
watching my favorite TV shows. Before going to bed, I
__________ (brush) my teeth and __________ (go) to sleep
around 10 p.m.

Click here to see the answers!

4
 PRESENT SIMPLE
AND CONTINUOUS
USES, USEFUL WORDS AND EXAMPLES

PRESENT CONTINUOUS
WE USE THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS TO TALK
ABOUT ACTIVITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW,
AND FOR FIXED ARRANGEMENTS.
USE

"HE IS STAYING AT HIS FRIEND'S HOUSE."

"THEY ARE FLYING TO LONDON TOMORROW."

AS IN THE PRESENT SIMPLE, WE HAVE SOME WORDS

USEFUL WORDS

THAT HELP US RECOGNIZE A PRESENT CONTINUOUS

SENTENCE.
NOW RIGHT NOW
AT THE THIS
MOMENT MORNING

"I'M STUDYING ENGLISH AT THE MOMENT."

KEEP IN MIND THE STRUCTURE OF THE PRESENT

CONTINUOUS SENTENCES. WE NEED TO USE THE
VERB TO BE AND A VERB WITH -ING. REMEMBER:

SUBJECT + VERB "TO BE" + VERB WITH -ING.

STRUCTURE

I AM/'M

HE

SHE IS/'S TALKING

IT

YOU
WE
ARE/'RE
THEY

CLICK HERE FOR THE SPELLING RULES OF VERBS

WITH -ING. 5
 THE VERB "TO BE" ACTS AS THE AUXILIARY IN THE
PRESENT CONTINUOUS, THAT MEANS WE ADD "NOT"
TO AM/IS/ARE TO FORM THE NEGATIVE.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES: SUBJECT + VERB TO BE +

NOT + VERB WITH -ING + REST OF THE SENTENCE.

"I'M NOT PLAYING VIDEOGAMES RIGHT NOW."

STRUCTURE

"SHE IS NOT GOING TO SCHOOL TOMORROW."

QUESTIONS:
1. VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + VERB WITH -ING +
REST OF THE SENTENCE?

"ARE YOU DOING HOMEWORK NOW?"

"IS SHE PLAYING TENNIS?"

2. WH-WORD + VERB TO BE + SUBJECT + VERB

WITH -ING + REST OF THE SENTENCE?

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TOMORROW?"

"HOW IS SHE TALKING TO?"

5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in the
present continuous tense.

1. Sorry, I can't talk right now. I __________ (study) for my

exams.
2. They __________ (play) soccer in the park at the moment.
3. Look! The kids __________ (swim) in the pool.
4. She __________ (read) a book in the living room.
5. We __________ (have) dinner with our friends tonight.
6. The dog __________ (chase) its tail in the backyard.
7. He __________ (paint) a beautiful picture in his art class.
8. It __________ (rain) outside, so don't forget your umbrella.
9. They __________ (travel) to Europe next week.
10. I __________ (wait) for the bus at the bus stop.
6
6. Rewrite the following sentences as questions using the present
continuous tense.

Example:
Statement: She is watching a movie.
Question: Is she watching a movie?

1. They are playing soccer in the park.

2. The dog is barking loudly.
3. We are studying for the exam.
4. He is cooking dinner in the kitchen.
5. The children are playing in the backyard.
6. She is typing an email on her computer.
7. It is raining outside.
8. They are traveling to Europe for vacation.
9. The teacher is explaining a new lesson.
10. I am working on a project.

7. Rewrite the following sentences, changing the verb into the

present continuous tense.

Example:
Statement: She reads a book.
Present Continuous: She is reading a book.

1. They go for a walk in the park.

2. He eats lunch at his desk.
3. We study English in the evening.
4. I listen to music on my headphones.
5. She writes a letter to her friend.
6. The cat sleeps on the windowsill.
7. He plays basketball in the backyard.
8. They clean their room every weekend.
9. The children watch cartoons on TV.
10. We have dinner at the restaurant.
7
8. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate verbs in the present
continuous tense.

Hello everyone! I __________ (sit) in my favorite café right

now. I __________ (enjoy) a cup of coffee while
__________ (work) on my laptop. The barista __________
(prepare) delicious drinks behind the counter, and the
aroma of freshly brewed coffee __________ (fill) the air.
Outside, people __________ (walk) on the busy streets, and
cars __________ (drive) by. The sun __________ (shine)
brightly, and birds __________ (sing) in the trees. A group
of friends __________ (laugh) at a nearby table, and a
musician __________ (play) a soothing melody on his
guitar.
I __________ (meet) my friend Lisa here later. She
__________ (come) to the café straight from work. We
__________ (plan) to catch up and chat about our recent
adventures. Lisa __________ (text) me to say she
__________ (be) on her way.
In the meantime, I __________ (watch) people come and go,
and I __________ (listen) to the chatter around me. The
atmosphere __________ (buzz) with energy, and I
__________ (feel) relaxed in this cozy environment.

Click here to see the answers!

8
Key
1. 1. My brother plays football every weekend.
2. The sun rises in the east.
3. They drink coffee in the morning.
4. She studies English at the university.
5. We have lived in this city for ten years.
6. Cats meow when they want something.
7. He works as a teacher.
8. The train arrives at 9 o'clock.
9. I like to read books in my free time.
10. The Earth revolves around the sun.

2. 1. Do they live in London?

2. Does he work as an engineer?
3. Does the bus arrive at 7:30 a.m.?
4. Do we eat breakfast at 8 o'clock?
5. Does she like to read books?
6. Do the students study French?
7. Does he play the guitar?
8. Do they visit their grandparents every weekend?
9. Does the movie start at 7 p.m.?
10. Do I play tennis on Saturdays?

9
3. 1. Sarah plays the piano every evening.
2. They go to the beach on weekends.
3. The sun shines brightly in the sky.
4. We watch movies on Friday nights.
5. My parents work in a hospital.
6. He reads books in his free time.
7. The cat sleeps on the couch.
8. I eat breakfast every morning.
9. The train arrives at 6 p.m.
10. They study Spanish at school.
4. Hello everyone! My name is Sarah and I live in a small town
called Greenville. I go to Greenfield High School and I enjoy
my classes there.
On weekdays, I usually wake up at 7 a.m. and get ready for
school. My mom makes breakfast for me and my siblings.
After breakfast, I take the bus to school.
At school, we have different subjects like math, science, and
English. I like math the most because it challenges my
problem-solving skills. My friends and I sit together during
lunch break and we chat about our day.
In the afternoon, I participate in extracurricular activities. I
play basketball on the school team, and we practice every day
after school. It helps me stay active and make new friends.
After sports practice, I return home and start working on my
homework. My mom prepares dinner while I study. We have
dinner together as a family and talk about our day.
In the evenings, I relax by reading books or watching my
favorite TV shows. Before going to bed, I brush my teeth and
go to sleep around 10 p.m.

10
5. 1. Sorry, I can't talk right now. I am studying for my
exams.
2. They are playing soccer in the park at the moment.
3. Look! The kids are swimming in the pool.
4. She is reading a book in the living room.
5. We are having dinner with our friends tonight.
6. The dog is chasing its tail in the backyard.
7. He is painting a beautiful picture in his art class.
8. It is raining outside, so don't forget your umbrella.
9. They are traveling to Europe next week.
10. I am waiting for the bus at the bus stop.
6. 1. Are they playing soccer in the park?
2. Is the dog barking loudly?
3. Are we studying for the exam?
4. Is he cooking dinner in the kitchen?
5. Are the children playing in the backyard?
6. Is she typing an email on her computer?
7. Is it raining outside?
8. Are they traveling to Europe for vacation?
9. Is the teacher explaining a new lesson?
10. Am I working on a project?
7. 1. They are going for a walk in the park.
2. He is eating lunch at his desk.
3. We are studying English in the evening.
4. I am listening to music on my headphones.
5. She is writing a letter to her friend.
6. The cat is sleeping on the windowsill.
7. He is playing basketball in the backyard.
8. They are cleaning their room every weekend.
9. The children are watching cartoons on TV.
10. We are having dinner at the restaurant.
11
8. Hello everyone! I am sitting in my favorite café right now. I
am enjoying a cup of coffee while working on my laptop. The
barista is preparing delicious drinks behind the counter, and
the aroma of freshly brewed coffee is filling the air.
Outside, people are walking on the busy streets, and cars are
driving by. The sun is shining brightly, and birds are singing
in the trees. A group of friends is laughing at a nearby table,
and a musician is playing a soothing melody on his guitar.
I am meeting my friend Lisa here later. She is coming to the
café straight from work. We are planning to catch up and
chat about our recent adventures. Lisa texted me to say she is
on her way.
In the meantime, I am watching people come and go, and I am
listening to the chatter around me. The atmosphere is
buzzing with energy, and I am feeling relaxed in this cozy
environment.

12