Present simple or present continuous

Grammar / B1 Grammar lessons and exercises \ Present simple or present continuous

✏️ Exercises

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous: Form and Use

Grammar chart comparing present simple and present continuous: I work / I am working, with uses for habits, facts, current actions, and future plans. Designed for A2 English learners.

🟦Short Forms (Spoken English)

We often use short forms in speaking:

Present Simple

  • do not → don't
  • does not → doesn't

Present Continuous

  • am not → 'm not
  • is not → isn't / 's not
  • are not → aren't / 're not

🟩Present Simple: When to Use

✅ Habits & Routines

I wash my hair every day.
She never drinks coffee.

✅ Permanent Situations & General Truths

Water boils at 100°C.
I have two brothers.
He likes soup.

✅ Adverbs of Frequency

Go before the main verb or after "be":

He usually gets up early.
I am never late.

Expressions of frequency go at the end:

We go to the cinema once a month.
I buy clothes twice a year.

✅ Scheduled Future Events

The train leaves at 4.
My yoga class is tomorrow at 10.

🟪Present Continuous: When to Use

✅ Actions Happening Now or 'Around Now'

I can't talk — I'm brushing my teeth.
I'm reading a new book this week.

✅ Temporary Situations

I'm going by bus this week (my car's broken).
I'm living with my cousins until I find a flat.

✅ Changing or Developing Situations

The climate is changing quickly.
Your English is improving.

✅ Future Arrangements (Planned)

I'm meeting John tonight.
We're leaving tomorrow at 7.

✅ With Time Expressions

now, at the moment, this week, these days

He's studying a lot this week.
I'm not feeling well these days.

🟥⚠️ Stative (Non-Action) Verbs

These verbs describe states, not actions — so they're NOT used in continuous tenses.

Verbs of Senses

  • see, hear, smell, taste, look, seem, sound

Verbs of Opinion

  • believe, think (opinion), like, love, hate, prefer

Verbs of Possession

  • have, own, belong

Other Common Statives

  • be, need, want, remember, know, understand, agree

✅ I need money now. (NOT: I'm needing)
✅ She seems sad. (NOT: She's seeming)
✅ I think he's great. (opinion)
❌ I'm thinking he's great. ← Wrong for opinion

💡 Some Verbs Have Both Meanings!

✅ I have a car. (possession → stative)
✅ I'm having lunch. (action → continuous OK)

✅ I think he's funny. (opinion → stative)
✅ What are you thinking? (mental activity → continuous OK)

✅ I see a bird. (visual perception → stative)
✅ I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow. (appointment → continuous OK)

📌 Remember:
Present Simple = habits, facts, schedules | Present Continuous = now, temporary, changing, future plans
⚠️ Stative verbs → use present simple only (no -ing!)
🔁 Some verbs (have, think, see) can be both — meaning changes!