Simple Present Tense
- Regular Actions or Events: It is used to describe actions that happen regularly, habits, or general truths.
- Example: She writes emails every day.
- Facts or Generalizations: When stating facts or making generalizations.
- Example: The Earth revolves around the Sun.
- Instructions or Directions: Often used in giving directions or instructions.
- Example: First, you take a right, then you see the store on your left.
- Scheduled Events in the Near Future: Particularly in formal contexts like timetables, schedules.
- Example: The train leaves at 9 PM tonight.
- Conditional Statements: In the first conditional or in clauses with 'if'.
- Example: If it rains, we will cancel the trip.
Present Continuous Tense
- Actions Happening Now: For actions that are happening at the moment of speaking.
- Example: She is writing an email right now.
- Temporary Actions: For actions that are happening around the present time but are not necessarily happening at the moment of speaking.
- Example: I am reading a fascinating book these days.
- Future Plans or Arrangements: To talk about planned or arranged future events, often with a specified time.
- Example: I am meeting John for lunch tomorrow.
- Changing or Developing Situations: To describe changes that are currently happening.
- Example: The climate is changing rapidly.
Key Differences
- Time Frame: Simple present is for regular or habitual actions, while present continuous is for current, ongoing actions.
Choose the Simple Present or Present Continuous
1. Every day the Sun ______ in the east.
rises
a) rises
b) is rising
2. She ______ dinner at the moment.
is cooking
a) cooks
b) is cooking
3. Water ______ at 0 degrees Celsius.
freezes
a) freezes
b) is freezing
4. They ______ soccer in the park at the moment.
are playing
a) play
b) are playing
5. Cats often ______ during the day.
sleep
a) sleep
b) are sleeping
6. I ______ a book right now.
am reading
a) read
b) am reading
7. Some birds ______ south every year.
fly
a) fly
b) are flying
8. We ______ a movie this evening.
are watching
a) watch
b) are watching
9. Fish ______ in water.
live
a) live
b) are living
10. He is in his room______ his homework.
and is doing
a) does
b) and is doing
11. Birds ______ south for the winter.
fly
a) fly
b) are flying
12. The dog ______ on the sofa.
is sleeping
a) is sleeping
b) sleep
13. She ______ three languages fluently.
speaks
a) speaks
b) is speaking
14. She ______ an email to her friend.
is writing
a) is writing
b) writes
15. They ______ to the gym regularly.
go
a) go
b) are going
16. They ______ to music in their room.
are listening
a) are listening
b) listens
17. The library ______ at 8 PM on weekdays.
closes
a) closes
b) is closing
18. I ______ to play the piano.
am learning
a) learns
b) am learning
19. He ______ reading science fiction novels.
loves
a) loves
b) is loving
20. He ______ a marathon this weekend.
is running
a) runs
b) is running