Grammar Exercise: Present Simple or Present Continuous

Grammar Exercise – Present Simple or Present Continuous

Do the exercises below on the present simple and the present continuous and click the button to check your answers.

(Before doing the exercises, you may want to read the lesson about the present simple, the present continuous, and the present continuous for future plans)

If you need to review the form and use of the present simple and present continuous, jump to the recap at the end of this post!

Present Continuous and Present Simple Exercises with Answers

Quiz Time For English Learners: Present Simple or Present Continuous
Quiz Time For English Learners: Present Simple or Present Continuous

Instructions

Complete the following exercises by deciding whether to use the Present Simple or the Present Continuous. Carefully read each sentence, consider the context and time expressions, and choose the correct tense. Once you’ve made your choice, click the button to check your answers.

1. Present Simple vs. Present Continuous Quiz

  1. The Present Simple is used to talk about actions happening at the moment of speaking.
    • True or False?
  2. The Present Continuous is used to describe temporary actions that are happening right now.
    • True or False?
  3. Which sentence is correct for an action that happens regularly?
    • a) She is playing tennis every weekend.
    • b) She plays tennis every weekend.
  4. Fill in the blank: “Right now, the children ________ (watch) TV.”
  5. Choose the correct sentence for a general truth:
    • a) The sun is rising in the east.
    • b) The sun rises in the east.

1. → False
2. → True
3. → (b) She plays tennis every weekend.
4. → are watching
5. → (b) The sun rises in the east.

2. Select the right answers: Present Simple or Present Continuous

Choose the correct answer (simple present or present continuous)

  1. It cats and dogs. We'd better stay at home.
  2. I TV every day in the morning.
  3. to the party tonight?
  4. The children are at the stadium. They a football match.
  5. I to the cinema.
  6. She usually late to school.
  7. He regularly .
  8. John is busy. He at the moment.
  9. Be quiet! The baby .
  10. She to New York next weekend.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous (Recap)

The Present Simple describes habits, routines, general truths, and permanent states, while the Present Continuous focuses on temporary actions happening now or around the present moment.

TenseFormUseExample
Present SimpleSubject + base verb (+s for he/she/it)– Regular actions or routines
– General truths
– Permanent states		– I walk to school every day.
– The sun rises in the east.
– She works as a teacher.
Present ContinuousSubject + am/is/are + verb + -ing– Actions happening now
– Temporary actions
– Future arrangements		– She is studying right now.
– They are living in London for a month.
– We are meeting tomorrow.
Tags: Exercises on English TensesExercises on Present Tenses
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