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.

Games on Present Simple and Present Continuous

Ready-made games on this topic. Open one on the board and play in teams.

Open the Box · 15 boxesPresent Simple and Present Continuous team game (A2)A team game for A2: open a box and answer – Present Simple and Present Continuous.Play

Flashcards · 24 cardsPresent Simple and Present Continuous practice (A2)Cards for A2: answer, then flip the card to check – Present Simple and Present Continuous.Play

Play this exercise

The sentences of this exercise as a game – nothing to set up.

Open the BoxTeam gameOpen a box, answer, win points.Play

FlashcardsFlip and checkSay the answer, then flip the card.Play