Small Word Exercise

Small Word Exercise

Small Word Exercise

Small Word Exercise | Sprachschule Münster

Simple vs Continuous – Clear Explanation

Simple vs Continuous (Progressive) – Clear Explanation

Core idea

Simple = routine / fact / finished action

Continuous = happening now / in progress / temporary

1) Simple Tenses = Facts, Habits, Finished Actions

We use the simple form when something is:

  • a routine or habit
  • a general fact
  • a completed action (past)
  • something permanent or repeated

Present Simple

Dyckhoff usually offers a 70/30 blend.
([Dyckhoff bietet normalerweise ein 70/30 Mischgewebe an.])
→ This is a regular business fact.

Past Simple

Dyckhoff offered a 70/30 blend yesterday.
([Dyckhoff bot gestern ein 70/30 Mischgewebe an.])
→ Finished action in the past.

2) Continuous (Progressive) = Action in Progress, Temporary, Ongoing

We use the continuous form when something is:

  • happening right now
  • in progress at a specific moment
  • temporary or not permanent
  • interrupted by another action (past)

Present Continuous

We are discussing the blend ratio right now.
([Wir besprechen gerade das Mischungsverhältnis.])
→ Action happening at this moment.

Past Continuous

We were discussing the blend ratio when the buyer interrupted.
([Wir besprachen gerade das Mischungsverhältnis, als der Käufer unterbrach.])
→ Action was in progress, then something happened.

Key Contrast

Simple = What happens (routine or finished)

Dyckhoff produces blends for hotels.
([Dyckhoff produziert Mischgewebe für Hotels.])

They shipped the towels last week.
([Sie lieferten die Handtücher letzte Woche.])

Continuous = What is happening (in progress)

They are producing towels this week.
([Sie produzieren diese Woche Handtücher.])

They were shipping towels when the delay occurred.
([Sie lieferten gerade Handtücher, als die Verzögerung auftrat.])

Quick Rule Summary

Use Simple Continuous
Habit / routine ✅ ❌
General fact ✅ ❌
Action happening now ❌ ✅
Temporary situation ❌ ✅
Finished past event ✅ ❌
Past action interrupted ❌ ✅

Super-Compact Memory Trick

Simple = regular or finished

Continuous = happening now or in progress

 

 

1. IN (in – in Zeiträumen)

Use in for longer periods of time:

  • parts of the day (Tageszeiten)

  • months (Monate)

  • seasons (Jahreszeiten)

  • years (Jahre)

  • future time periods (Zukunftsangaben)

Examples:

  • in the morning (am Morgen)

  • in summer (im Sommer)

  • in January (im Januar)

  • in three days (in drei Tagen)

2. ON (on – an Tagen und Daten)

Use on for:

  • days (Tage)

  • dates (Daten)

Examples:

  • on Friday (am Freitag)

  • on Monday morning (am Montagmorgen)

  • on the day of travel (am Reisetag)

3. AT (at – zu genauen Zeiten)

Use at for:

  • exact times (Uhrzeiten)

  • special expressions (besondere Zeitangaben)

Examples:

  • at 6 o’clock (um 6 Uhr)

  • at midnight (um Mitternacht)

  • at night (in der Nacht)

4. BEFORE / AFTER (before/after – vor/nach)

Use before and after to show the order of events:

  • before = earlier (vorher)

  • after = later (nachher)

Example:

  • Check in before departure (Checke vor der Abreise ein.)

5. DURING (during – während)

Use during for something happening inside a time period:

Examples:

  • during the flight (während des Fluges)

  • during the layover (während des Zwischenstopps)

6. FOR (for – für eine Dauer)

Use for to talk about duration (how long):

Example:

  • delayed for two hours (für zwei Stunden verspätet)

Quick Summary (Kurzübersicht)

  • in = part of day, month, season, future period (Zeitraum)

  • on = day, date (Tag/Datum)

  • at = exact time, night (genaue Uhrzeit)

  • before/after = sequence (Reihenfolge)

  • during = inside a period (während)

  • for = duration (Dauer)

 

Flight Booking – Time Prepositions Quiz (1–25)

✈️ Flight Booking – Time Prepositions Quiz (1–25)

Click on the correct answer OR click the blank. The counter only works if you click on the correct preposition. Not when clicking on the blanks

Correct answers: 0 / 25

1. You book the flight ______ the morning. (parts of the day → in)
[Du buchst den Flug am Morgen.]

a) on
b) in
c) at

2. The plane departs ______ 6 o’clock. (exact time → at)
[Das Flugzeug startet um 6 Uhr.]

a) at
b) in
c) on

3. We usually travel ______ summer. (seasons → in)
[Wir reisen normalerweise im Sommer.]

a) in
b) at
c) on

4. Online check-in opens 24 hours ______ departure. (earlier than an event → before)
[Der Online-Check-in öffnet 24 Stunden vor dem Abflug.]

a) after
b) before
c) during

5. The return flight is scheduled ______ Friday. (days of the week → on)
[Der Rückflug ist am Freitag geplant.]

a) on
b) in
c) at

6. I prefer flying ______ night. (night → at)
[Ich fliege lieber nachts.]

a) on
b) at
c) in

7. Many passengers arrive ______ the airport early ______ the morning. (place + part of day → at / in)
[Viele Passagiere kommen früh am Flughafen am Morgen an.]

a) at / in
b) in / on
c) on / at

8. You check your baggage allowance ______ booking. (prior action → before)
[Du prüfst die Gepäckgrenze vor dem Buchen.]

a) before
b) during
c) after

9. The boarding pass shows the gate ______ the boarding time. (specific time point → at)
[Die Bordkarte zeigt das Gate zur Boarding-Zeit.]

a) in
b) on
c) at

10. We wait ______ the departure lounge ______ two hours. (location + duration → in / for)
[Wir warten zwei Stunden in der Abflughalle.]

a) in / for
b) at / during
c) on / in

11. The flight leaves ______ Monday morning. (day + morning → on)
[Der Flug geht am Montagmorgen.]

a) in
b) on
c) at

12. I book my ticket ______ January. (months → in)
[Ich buche mein Ticket im Januar.]

a) on
b) at
c) in

13. Passengers often feel tired ______ long flights. (within a period → during)
[Passagiere fühlen sich während langer Flüge oft müde.]

a) during
b) before
c) for

14. The plane lands safely ______ midnight. (exact time → at)
[Das Flugzeug landet sicher um Mitternacht.]

a) at
b) in
c) on

15. You can relax ______ the layover. (happening in the middle → during)
[Du kannst dich während des Zwischenstopps entspannen.]

a) before
b) during
c) for

16. We meet ______ the afternoon. (parts of the day → in)
[Wir treffen uns am Nachmittag.]

a) in
b) on
c) at

17. Boarding starts ______ 30 minutes. (time from now → in)
[Das Boarding beginnt in 30 Minuten.]

a) at
b) in
c) on

18. The airline announces delays ______ the evening. (parts of the day → in)
[Die Airline meldet Verspätungen am Abend.]

a) on
b) at
c) in

19. We arrive ______ the airport ______ time. (place + punctuality → at / on)
[Wir kommen pünktlich am Flughafen an.]

a) in / at
b) at / on
c) on / in

20. The pilot speaks to us ______ the flight. (within the flight period → during)
[Der Pilot spricht während des Fluges mit uns.]

a) during
b) before
c) for

21. I always feel excited ______ the day of travel. (specific day → on)
[Ich bin am Reisetag immer aufgeregt.]

a) in
b) on
c) at

22. The flight is delayed ______ two hours. (length of time → for)
[Der Flug hat zwei Stunden Verspätung.]

a) for
b) during
c) before

23. We book the tickets ______ the weekend. (weekend (BrE) → at)
[Wir buchen die Tickets am Wochenende.]

a) on
b) in
c) at

24. Passengers must be ready ______ boarding time. (exact moment → at)
[Passagiere müssen zur Boarding-Zeit bereit sein.]

a) at
b) on
c) in

25. The next flight is ______ three days. (future time period → in)
[Der nächste Flug ist in drei Tagen.]

a) on
b) in
c) at