Present Simple and Present Continuous - A2 Exercises
Six tasks on the difference between the two present tenses. The Present Simple is for what happens regularly or is always true, the Present Continuous for what is going on right now - and the words next to the verb usually give it away: every day against at the moment.
Two tasks are about stative verbs - the ones that describe a state and not an action, so they stay in the Simple even when we speak about this very moment: I like, not I am liking.
Rule: Present Simple and Present Continuous ShowHide
Present Simple
- Habits and routines: He eats fish every day.
- Facts and permanent situations: She lives in Spain. Lucy doesn't eat meat.
- Timetables: The train leaves at six.
always · usually · often · normally · never · every day · on Saturdays
Present Continuous
- Now, as you speak: The train is arriving right now.
- Temporary situations: At the moment she is living in China.
- Arrangements for the near future: What are you doing this afternoon?
now · right now · at the moment · today · this week · tonight · Look!
State verbs
They describe a state, not an action, and are rarely used in the Continuous: She likes cold weather, not is liking.
- likes and dislikes: like, love, hate, dislike, prefer, enjoy
- the mind: know, remember, understand, forget, think, realise, suppose
- the senses: see, hear, smell, feel, taste
- others: want, need, cost, own, weigh, appear, include, have got
Some of these verbs can also mean an action, and then the Continuous is fine: I think it's great (opinion) – I'm thinking about the trip; I have got a car – we're having lunch; the soup tastes good – the cook is tasting the soup.
Tasks
Categories
Present Simple
- Habits and routines: He eats fish every day.
- Facts and permanent situations: She lives in Spain. Lucy doesn't eat meat.
- Timetables: The train leaves at six.
always · usually · often · normally · never · every day · on Saturdays
Present Continuous
- Now, as you speak: The train is arriving right now.
- Temporary situations: At the moment she is living in China.
- Arrangements for the near future: What are you doing this afternoon?
now · right now · at the moment · today · this week · tonight · Look!
State verbs
They describe a state, not an action, and are rarely used in the Continuous: She likes cold weather, not is liking.
- likes and dislikes: like, love, hate, dislike, prefer, enjoy
- the mind: know, remember, understand, forget, think, realise, suppose
- the senses: see, hear, smell, feel, taste
- others: want, need, cost, own, weigh, appear, include, have got
Some of these verbs can also mean an action, and then the Continuous is fine: I think it's great (opinion) – I'm thinking about the trip; I have got a car – we're having lunch; the soup tastes good – the cook is tasting the soup.