ESL CONNECT | Present Simple and Present Continuous

Present simple vs present continuous

What is the difference?
The present simple talks about routines, habits and things that are usually true. The present continuous talks about actions happening now or around now.

Present simple
I study English every Monday.
She works in an office.
They don’t live here.

Present continuous
I am studying English now.
She is working at the moment.
They aren’t living here this month.

1. Present simple form

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	I / you / we / they + verb he / she / it + verb + s	I work. She works.
Negative	don’t / doesn’t + base verb	They don’t work. He doesn’t work.
Question	Do / Does + subject + base verb?	Do you work? Does she work?

2. Present continuous form

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative	am / is / are + verb-ing	I am working. She is working.
Negative	am not / isn’t / aren’t + verb-ing	I am not working. They aren’t working.
Question	Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing?	Are you working? Is she working?

Time expressions

Present simple	Present continuous
alwaysusuallyoftensometimesneverevery dayon Mondays	nowright nowat the momenttodaythis weekthese days

Important: Say She doesn’t work, not She doesn’t works. Say She is working, not She working.

Present simple practice

Choose the correct present simple form.

1. Emma __________ in a hotel.

work works working

2. We __________ school at 10. We start at 8.

doesn’t start don’t starts don’t start

3. __________ near the station?

Do he live Does he live Does he lives

4. They usually __________ TV after dinner.

watches watch are watching

Write the sentence

Rewrite with “she”: I go to school by bus.

Answer: She goes to school by bus.

Present continuous practice

Choose the correct present continuous form.

1. She __________ a book now.

reads is reading read

2. We __________ English at the moment.

study are studying studies

3. Tom __________ today. He is at home.

doesn’t working isn’t working isn’t work

4. __________ lunch now?

Do they having Are they having Are they have

Write the sentence

Rewrite with present continuous: They / watch / a film.

Answer: They are watching a film.

Choose the correct tense

Look at the time expression and choose present simple or present continuous.

1. Anna __________ to the gym every Friday.

is going goes go

2. Anna __________ to the gym now.

goes go is going

3. He __________ meat. He is vegetarian.

isn’t eating doesn’t eats doesn’t eat

4. He __________ lunch at the moment.

doesn’t eat isn’t eating don’t eat

5. __________ in the evening?

Are you usually studying Do you usually study Does you usually study

6. __________ right now?

Do you study Are you studying Does you study

Questions: present simple or continuous?

Choose the correct question.

1. Ask about a routine.

What are you doing after school usually? What do you do after school? What does you do after school?

2. Ask about this moment.

What do you do now? What are you doing now? What you are doing now?

3. Choose the correct present simple question.

Does your sister works here? Is your sister work here? Does your sister work here?

4. Choose the correct present continuous question.

Does your sister working today? Is your sister working today? Is your sister work today?

Mixed practice

Complete the sentences with the correct form.

1. My dad __________ in a hospital.

is working works work

2. My dad __________ late tonight.

works is working work

3. We __________ breakfast at school.

aren’t usually having don’t usually have doesn’t usually have

4. We __________ breakfast now.

have are having has

Correct the mistake

1. Correct: She doesn’t plays tennis.

Answer: She doesn’t play tennis.

2. Correct: They studying now.

Answer: They are studying now.