. The simple present tense .

The simple present tense is used for two main types of action:
Habits

Actions which happen regularly (for example, every day or every week)

States

Things which do not often change (for example, opinions and conditions)

Some examples will help to make this clearer:

Type of
action

Habit

Examples

Explanations

Young-Mi goes to class

every day.

Every day is a habit.

It rains a lot in Vancouver.

This means that it rains often.

Santos always talks about

his family.

Always means this is a habit.

Jerry spends Christmas

with his parents.

This implies that he spends Christmas

with his parents every year.

Bianca lives in Florida.

This is a state, because it doesn't

change.

Jean-Paul has red hair.

Someone's hair colour doesn't usually

change.

Martin likes chocolate.

When we like something, usually we will

always like it.

Anna believes in God.

Beliefs and opinions are states. They

don't often change.

State

2. The present continuous tense

The present continuous tense is used for two main types of action:
A temporary action
happening now

Something which is going on right now (but it will

stop in the future)

A definite plan for the

future

Something we intend to do, usually in the near

future

Here are some examples:

Type of action

Temporary action
happening right
now

Definite plan for

the future

Examples

Explanations

John is winning the

game.

Right now, John is winning, but the

game isn't finished yet.

It's raining outside.

It's raining right now (but it may stop

soon).

Soraya's working in
the library.

She's working there right now.

Sihol is spending
Christmas with his
family.

He's spending Christmas with his

family right now, this year. (Maybe
next year he won't.)

I'm playing soccer

tomorrow.

This plan is already arranged and

definite.

Sarah's leaving for

San Francisco on
Friday.

She has probably already bought her

ticket.

The Olympics are

taking place here
next year.

This is already certain.

I'm having a party

next week.

All the plans have been made.

Present Tense Adverbs

PRESENT (MORE) PERMANENT

PRESENT PROGRESSIVE TEMPORARY

Adverbs for the present tense indicate a more

permanent state and tell howoften an activity occurs or
is repeated. Adverbs are rarely used with present tense
statements: "general truths" or "states of being" .

Adverbs for the present progressive emphasize the moment

of speaking as the time of the activity. The adverb may also
indicate a temporary change. With a larger range of time,
this month, the focus is still on the present time period not
any amount of time that has passed.

GENERAL TRUTH

FREQUENCY

NOW

THIS ...

at the moment
general truth (Adverbs are rarely
used.)

EVERY ...

every day

(night, week,
month, year, etc.)

each day

(night, week, month,

always / routinely /
customarily
most of the time / usually / for now
normally
in general / often / as a
just now
rule
half of the time / frequently for a little while

today

occasionally / sometimes

currently

this month

rarely / seldom / hardly

ever
never

presently

this semester

as we speak

this year

tonight
this morning
this week

year, etc.)

every other day

(night, week,

year, etc.)

most weekends (nights,

weeks, months, etc.)
Related Page: Adverbs of Time

COMPLETE THE EXERCISES USING SIMPLE PRESENT

TENSE
Directions: Fill in the blanks with the correct verb.
1. We always __________ (walk) home from school.
2. She never __________ (drink) diet sodas.
3. Do you __________ (like) to watch T.V.?
4. I __________ (play) tennis every Saturday.
5. He doesnt __________ (dance) very well.
6. My neighbor __________ (work) at the hospital.
7. When do you __________ (eat) dinner?
8. The students always _________ (study) for their tests.
9. Does he __________ (live) in California?
10. The store usually __________ (close) at 10 p.m.
11. She __________ (know) the story by heart.
12. He _________ (call) his mother every Sunday.
13. Do you __________ (talk) to your brother every day?
14. When does she __________ (leave) for work?

15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

My friend __________ (speak) five languages.

I __________ (cook) dinner every night.
He __________ (take) vitamins every day.
Do they __________ (travel) together?
They __________ (go) to the park often.
What does this word _______ (mean)?

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS or SIMPLE PRESENT tense? Part 2

Choose whether the verb should be in the PRESENT CONTINUOUS or the SIMPLE
PRESENT tense:

1. I always ________ before I go to sleep.

a) am reading b) read
2. She ________ French, but she doesn't speak Italian.
a) speaks b) is speaking
3. She ________ right now.
a) speaks b) is speaking
4. Next week we ________ to the theater.
a) go b) are going
5. (Generally) I ________ Mexican food.
a) love b) am loving
6. How do you feel? I ________ great!
a) am feeling b) feel
7. Listen - I ________ to explain this to you.
a) am trying b) try
8. Tomorrow I ________ to see my friend.

a) am going b) go
9. Where is she now? She ________ home.
a) walks b) is walking
10. How does she usually get to work? She ________.
a) is walking b) walks
EXERCISES Complete using present or present continuous
I (not/like)

politics.

How many languages (you/speak)

Where (you/live)

What (you/do)

at the moment?

I (not/believe)

that you are a millionaire.

He (not/wear)

a tie today.

He often (travel)

abroad on business.

David is in Paris this week. He (stay)

1) Andy sometimes
2) We never

comics. (to read)

TV in the morning. (to watch)

3) Listen! Sandy

in the bathroom. (to sing)

4) My sister usually
5) My mother

in the kitchen. (to help)

breakfast now. (to make)

6) Look! The boys

7) Every day his grandfather
8) I

at the Hilton.

home. (to come)

for a walk. (to go)

with my friend at the moment. (to chat)

Look! It ___ (snow). We are going to have a white Christmas.

1. They ___
the beach.
2. Bob ___

(usually/travel) to the mountains, but this summer they ___

(travel) to

(watch) the news on TV every morning.

3. I have to go now. It ___

4. Online courses ___

(get) dark.

(require) self-discipline.

5. How often _____ (you/eat out)? Not very often. Once a month.
6. Would you like some chocolate? No, thanks. I ___ (hate) chocolate.
7. Who ___ (do) the dishes every day in your house? My sister.
Complete with Simple present or present continuous

1. Every Monday, Sally (drive)

2. Usually, I (work)

her kids to football practice.

as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I (study)

French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John (sleep)

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It (rain)

5. I hate living in Seattle because it (rain, always)

6. I'm sorry I can't hear what you (say)

because everybody (talk)

so loudly.

7. The business cards (be, normally )

8Their prices (be)

printed by a company in New York.

inexpensive, yet the quality of their work is quite good.

=>
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).
is leaving

1.

Look! He (leave)

2.

Quiet please! I (write)

3.

She usually (walk)

4.

But look! Today she (go)

5.

Every Sunday we (go)

6.

I (not / do)

the house.
a test.
to school.
by bike.
to see my grandparents.
anything at the moment.

COMPLETE WITH PRESENT CONTINUOUS OR SIMPLE PRESENT

How many languages

does he speak?

Please don't make so much noise....I

concentrate!

is he speaking

try

am trying

to

What time
Aires?

do the banks close

How many cigarettes

are the banks closing

do you smoke

are you smoking

John plays the piano, but he

well.

doesn't play

Every week-end he

goes

is going

This river

flows

is flowing

am having

have

'What
are you doing
reading a book...'

is not playing

in Buenos

every day?

very

to the pub and drinks a lot.

into the Pacific Ocean.

dinner in the evening.

do you do

right now?' 'You see, I am