Have practice in using Present Simple and Present Continuous

Exam in Mind  Level B1 / B2

In general or right now? Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Let’s revise Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple is used to describe:

• habitual actions or  permanent states:  She works in a bank.He sometimes goes swimming. I never do anything I feel is against my principles. I always complain if the service is bad in restaurants.
• universal truths,  generalizations, laws of nature, scientific facts: Ice melts when heated. Stress causes high blood pressure.
• instructions, sports  commentaries, stage directions: First you chop the meat, then you fry it. First you take the photos and sort them into categories.
• in exclamatory sentences with There goes… and Here comes… : There goes the bus! Here comes trouble!
• dramatic narration in summaries of historic events; plots of films, etc.; informal story-telling; headlines:  1789. George Washington becomes the first president of the USA
• arranged future actions (timetables, schedules, programmes): The match begins at 8.30 next Monday evening. The bus for Brighton departs in an hour.
• in subordinate clauses of time and condition after conjunctions when, after, before, as soon as, until, till, if, in case, unless, on condition that, suppose, supposed, the moment, provided, providing, etc.:  If it keeps on raining we’ll have to stay at home.

Time expressions of Present Simple Tense are:

always, usually, generally, seldom, rarely, sometimes, often, frequently, occasionally, twice a year, once a week, every day, once in a while, from time to time, hardly ever, every other day, etc. 

Present Continuous is used to describe:

• actions in progress  happening at/ around the moment of speaking: They are looking for a flat at the moment.
• two simultaneous  parallel actions in progress: While she’s looking for accommodation, she’s staying with us.
• temporary actions: He is sleeping at the moment. Prices are rising nowadays.
• repeated actions with always, constantly, all the time,  always, continually, forever, again to show annoyance, irritation, criticism: He’s always biting his nails. I am forever having problems with this computer. You are continually interrupting.
• situations which are changing during the present time: The weather is getting hotter and hotter.This area is changing a lot. Oil prices are rising at present.
• definite arrangement or personal plans: They are going on an excursion tomorrow. We are having a party on Friday.

Time expressions of Present Continuous Tense are: 

at the moment, now, at present, just now, right now, still, these days, nowadays, for the time being, tonight, etc

Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Exercise 1. Read the answers and then complete the questions.

1. Where _________________________________? – Sue? She lives at the end of Axwell Road.

2. Do ___________________________________? – Jim? No, I don’t know him.

3. What _________________________________? – At the moment? I’m doing my homework.

4. Are ___________________________________? – Here? No, we are sitting over there.

5. Why ___________________________________? – I’m wearing two pullovers because I feel cold.

6. When ___________________________________? – Kate? She comes home at 6.30.

7. What ___________________________________? – Italian bread? It tastes of garlic.

8. When __________________________________? – My roommate? She goes to bed at midnight on Saturdays.

9. Where ____________________________________? – Nick goes to Greece every year to visit his family.

10. Who ___________________________________? – Mary? She is dancing with his brother.

11. What ___________________________________? – Well, I am thinking of buying a new car.

12. When _________________________________? – Who? My father? I think he retires at the end of next month.

13. Where ___________________________________? – On Saturday night? She is staying with her parents.

14. Who ___________________________________? – The blue one? The car belongs to Jerry.

15. How much _______________________________? – This one or that one? That piece of meat weighs about three pounds.

16. What ___________________________________? – Let me see. The bottle contains water.

17. How ___________________________________? – I am feeling much better today.

18. When __________________________________? – The calendar says the sun rises at 5.50 tomorrow morning.

19. What ___________________________________? – It seems she is crying.

20. Who ___________________________________? – Bill and John are watching TV.