1.1.

PRESENT SIMPLE AND PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Present Simple Present Continuous
 We use the present simple to talk about:  We use the present continuous to talk
 something that is generally true; about actions
 a habit;  we are doing at the moment of
 apermanent state. speaking;
 we are doing around this moment;
 + S+V(s)  we see as temporary and
unfinished;
 We live above the shop.
 changing situation;
She runs her own company.
 annoying habit (with always).
 - don’t/doesn't + infinitive (without to).  + be + Ving
 I don't really mind the travelling.
 She's working in Canada this month.
He doesn't really get on with his boss. They're building a new sports stadium.
 ? do/does + the subject + the infinitive  - am/ is / are + not + Ving
(without to).  I'm not working at the moment.
 Where do they work? He's unemployed, but he isn't/he's not
What does she do? looking for a job.
 used with adverbs such as usually,  ? am / is / are + subject+-ing
generally, normally, often, sometimes,  What are you studying?
never, etc. Where's she going?
 We often use the present continuous
with at the moment, this month, this
week, etc.

DID YOU KNOW?

These verbs are not generally used in a continuous form. They are used in the present simple,
even to describe unfinished or temporary states.
agree depend like own suppose believe hate need seem taste belong know
owe sound want

PRACTICE
1. Put the verb into the correct tense:
1. Water boil at 100 degrees Celcius.
2. The water boil. Can you turn it off?
3. Look! That man try to open the door of your car.
4. Can you hear those people? What they talk about?
5. The moon go round the earth in about 27 days.
6. Hurry up! It’s time to leave. – OK. I come.
7. I hear you’ve got a new job. How you get on?
8. Paul is never late. He always get to work on time.
9. They don’t get on well. They always argue.
10. I think my English improve slowly.
2. Complete the sentences about a student, Antonio Lopes. Use Present Simple or
Continuous:
1. It’s 8.00 a.m. Antonio _________________ (drive) to school.
2. He _______________________________ (drive) to school every day.
3. The trip usually ___________________________ (take) 25 minutes.
4. Today it __________________________________ (not take) 25 minutes.
5. It ______________________________________ (take) much longer.
6. Workers ________________________ (repair) the highway this morning.
7. That’s why Antonio __________________________ (use) Parson Road.
8. He ______________ usually __________________ (not use) Parson Road.
9. Normally, he _______________________ (take) Route 23.
10. Traffic always _________________________ (move) faster on Route 23.
3. Complete the postcard with the Present Simple or Continuous.
get have seem rain stand start take travel
Dear Carlos,
Ana and I 1) are travelling through England. Right now I 2) _________ in front of Big Ben. It’s a
cloudy day. The sky 3) ___________________________ darker. It 4) _____________ like it’s going
to rain. (It 5) ________________________ here a lot!) Anna 6) _________________________ her
camera, and she 7)____________ pictures. Oh, no! It 8) ____________________________ to rain.

See you in a few weeks!

Marcos

4. Choose the right form of the verb.

1. Jim and his father aren’t watching TV/don’t watch TV. They are asleep.
2. Tony is upstairs. He is having a shower/ has a shower in the bathroom.
3. Can you hear that sound? – What does Tom do/is Tom doing?
4. What time does John get up/is John getting up every morning?
5. Fred and I are good dancers but we aren’t going/don’t go to clubs very often.
6. Are you coming/do you come from Spain? – No, I am Italian.
7. I always stay/I’m always staying in the same hotel in New York.
8. Joanna isn’t cooking/doesn’t cook dinner at the moment. She talks/is talking on the phone.
9. Does it snow/is it snowing in your country in winter?
10. Why do we run/are we running? Are we late?
5. Complete the sentences using Present Simple or Present Continuous, positive or
negative or question.
1. Have a chocolate. – No, thanks. I don`t like chocolate. (like)
2. Let’s have lunch in the garden. – No, we can’t. It`s raining (rain).
3. What does she do? – Pam? She is a doctor. (do)
4. Tony working at the moment. He’s on holiday. (work)
5. Why are you smiling? – Because I’m happy. (smile)
6. Sandra and her husband are vegetarian. They don`t eat meat. (eat)
7. What do you reading? – A letter from my sister. (read)
8. What time do you get up? – Me. About 7 a.m. (get up)
9. Where’s Kevin? – He’s in the kitchen. He`s making the coffee. (make)
10.I think Shaun and David are asleep. – Yes. Turn the TV off. They don`t wathing it.
(watch)
11.John and I want to go to Greece for our holidays, so we are learning Greek. (learn).
6. Put the verbs in the PRESENT SIMPLE or the PRESENT CONTINUOUS
1. Vegetarians are people who don`t eat (not / eat ) meat.
2. Wait for me! I am coming (come).
3. Some people still think (think) the sun goes (go) round the earth.
4. I play (play) tennis every weekend.
5. Who are sitting (sit) in my chair?
6. What happens in golf if you lose the ball?
7. Look! She`s wearing (wear) the same shoes as me.
8. A: What do you looking(you/look) at? B: A strange bird!
9. I stay (stay) with John for a few weeks until my flat is ready.
10. We usually stay (usually/stay) with Peggy when we go to Chicago.
11. What time do you go (you/go) to bed on Saturdays?
12. Why are you waiting (you/wait) outside the door.
13. Don’t ask Tim. He doesn`t know (not/know) the answer.
14. I have (have) lunch at the moment.
15. When he leaves (he / leave) the house?
16. I don`t understand (not/understand). What happened (happen)?
17. Excuse me, do you know (you/know) the time?
18. This is a great party. I have (have) a great time.
19. We can’t use the lift because it doesn`t working (not/work)
20. A:What do you doing (you/do) here? B: Nothing.
21. A:does Penny like (Penny/like) cheese sandwiches? No, she doesn`t
22. A: What time does the sun rise (the sun/rise)? B: It rises (rise) at 7.30.
23. We don`t watch (not/watch) videos at school.
24. Look out of the window! It`s snowing (snow).
25. A:Do u wear(you/wear) a uniform at your school? B: Yes, i do
7. Complete the information from a website. Use Present Simple or Progressive of the
verbs from the box.
gain go on learn offer organize perform remain take
This year the International School for Languages has about 100 part-time students who 1)
take evening classes and a further 300 who 2) study full-time. Many of them 3)
learn a new language to improve their job prospects or to prepare for university. The
European languages 4) remain very popular but Chinese and Japanese 5) go on in
popularity. The school 6) organize an excellent range of learning facilities and 7)
offer social activities like excursions to local areas of interest. Every year our
students 8) perform extremely well in their examinations and many 9)
gain to study at top universities in the country.
8. Complete the fact sheet. Use the Present Simple or Continuous of the verbs in
brackets.
The landscape 1) rises from the lowlands in the east to the Hymalayas in the
west. High plateau and mountains 2) occupy one third of the area. The coastline
on the Yellow Sea is flat at the mouths of China’s two major rivers, the Yangtze and the Huanghe.
Unfortunately, rapid industrialization 3) destroy much of the plant and animal
life in the country.
Most people 4) living in rural regions. Rice production 5) providing
enough food for the local population and surpluses are exported. However, the economy
6)develop rapidly and as a result, China 7) opens up to world
markets. China 8) exports many inexpensive processed goods, including
machinery and textiles, and income from foreign trade and tourism 9) increase.