Present Simple vs Present Continuous: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ in a bank. (permanent job) → work

A permanent situation takes the present simple.

2. I ___ from home this week because the office is closed. → am working

This week signals a temporary arrangement, which takes the continuous.

3. She usually ___ to work by bus. → goes

Usually signals a habit, so the present simple is correct.

4. Look — it ___ outside! → is snowing

Something happening at this moment takes the present continuous.

5. Water ___ at a hundred degrees. → boils

General and scientific truths take the present simple.

6. I ___ what you mean. → don't understand

Understand is a stative verb and stays in the simple even about right now.

7. He ___ tennis every Saturday morning. → plays

Every Saturday signals a repeated habit, so the simple is used.

8. Be quiet — the baby ___. → is sleeping

An action in progress right now takes the continuous.

9. Which sentence is correct? → I want a coffee.

Want is stative and is not normally used in the continuous.

10. They ___ in Madrid at the moment, but they live in Seville. → are staying

At the moment marks a temporary situation, so the continuous is used.

11. My sister ___ three languages. → speaks

An ability is a permanent fact, so the present simple is correct.

12. Which time expression goes with the present continuous? → at the moment

At the moment points to right now, which is exactly what the continuous describes.

13. "What ___ ?" — "I'm a teacher." → do you do

What do you do asks about a permanent job; what are you doing asks about this moment.

14. "What ___ ?" — "I'm reading the paper." → are you doing

The continuous asks about the activity happening right now.

15. He ___ his brother very much. → doesn't like

Like is stative and is not normally used in the continuous.

16. The shop ___ at nine every morning. → opens

A timetable or fixed schedule takes the present simple.

17. I ___ this book at the moment — it's excellent. → am reading

At the moment marks an activity in progress, so the continuous is used.

18. Which sentence describes a temporary situation? → She is teaching French this term.

This term marks a limited period, which the continuous expresses.

19. We ___ dinner at eight most evenings. → have

Most evenings signals a habit, so the present simple is correct.

20. Which sentence is correct? → I know the answer.

Know is a stative verb and does not take the continuous form.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. My father ___ in a hospital. He has been there for years. (work) → works

A permanent job takes the present simple, with the third-person -s.

2. Be quiet — the children ___ upstairs. (sleep) → are sleeping

An action in progress right now takes the present continuous.

3. She usually ___ to the gym after work. (go) → goes

Usually signals a habit, so the simple is correct.

4. Look out of the window — it ___ ! (rain) → is raining

Something happening at this instant takes the continuous.

5. I ___ what you mean at all. (not understand) → don't understand

Understand is stative and stays in the simple even about the present moment.

6. The train ___ at seven every morning. (leave) → leaves

A fixed timetable takes the present simple.

7. We ___ in a hotel while our flat is painted. (stay) → are staying

A temporary arrangement takes the continuous.

8. He ___ tennis every Saturday morning. (play) → plays

Every Saturday signals a habit, so the simple is used with the -s.

9. I ___ a coffee, please — I have been awake since five. → want

Want is a stative verb and is not used in the continuous, even about this moment.

10. My sister ___ for a new job at the moment. (look) → is looking

At the moment marks a temporary activity, so the continuous is correct.

11. Ice ___ in warm weather, so keep the box in the shade. (melt) → melts

A general physical fact takes the present simple, and ice is a singular subject.

12. "What ___ ?" — "I'm an engineer." (you do) → do you do

The simple asks about a permanent job rather than the present moment.

13. They ___ television in the living room right now. (watch) → are watching

Right now calls for the continuous form.

14. She ___ three languages fluently. (speak) → speaks

An ability is permanent, so the present simple is used.

15. I ___ this novel this week — it's very long. (read) → am reading

This week marks a limited period, which the continuous expresses.

16. He ___ coffee at all — only tea. (not drink) → doesn't drink

A permanent habit in the negative takes doesn't plus the base verb.

17. The bank ___ at half past four on weekdays. (close) → closes

A fixed schedule takes the present simple, and a singular subject adds the third-person -s.

18. My brother ___ to move to Canada next year. (plan) → is planning

A current arrangement takes the continuous, and plan doubles its final n.

19. I ___ the answer, I'm afraid. (not know) → don't know

Know is stative and never appears in the continuous.

20. My family ___ dinner at about eight most evenings. (have) → has

Most evenings signals a habit, so the present simple is used; family takes a singular verb in British English when it acts as one unit.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Describe your permanent job. → I work in a bank in the city.

Describe your permanent job.

2. Describe a temporary arrangement. → I am working from home this week.

Describe a temporary arrangement.

3. Describe a girl's normal routine. → She usually walks to school.

Describe a girl's normal routine.

4. Draw attention to the weather right now. → Look, it is snowing outside!

Draw attention to the weather right now.

5. State a fixed opening time. → The shop opens at nine every day.

State a fixed opening time.

6. Explain why the house must be quiet. → The baby is sleeping at the moment.

Explain why the house must be quiet.

7. Reject a story, using a stative verb in the simple. → I don't believe a word of it.

Reject a story, using a stative verb in the simple.

8. Describe temporary accommodation. → We are staying with friends this month.

Describe temporary accommodation.

9. Describe a weekly habit. → He plays football every Saturday.

Describe a weekly habit.

10. Say what some people are doing at this instant. → They are watching a film right now.

Say what some people are doing at this instant.

11. Describe a permanent ability. → My sister speaks very good Italian.

Describe a permanent ability.

12. Describe a temporary activity over several days. → I am reading a long novel this week.

Describe a temporary activity over several days.

13. State a scientific fact. → Water boils at one hundred degrees.

State a scientific fact.

14. Describe a woman's current search. → She is looking for a flat at the moment.

Describe a woman's current search.

15. Ask about somebody's permanent job. → What do you do for a living?

Ask about somebody's permanent job.

16. Ask about somebody's activity right now. → What are you doing in the kitchen?

Ask about somebody's activity right now.

17. Describe a permanent habit in the negative. → He doesn't drink coffee in the evening.

Describe a permanent habit in the negative.

18. Describe a relative's current arrangement. → My brother is planning to move abroad.

Describe a relative's current arrangement.

19. State a timetable fact. → The train leaves at seven every morning.

State a timetable fact.

20. Make a request using a stative verb. → I want a glass of water, please.

Make a request using a stative verb.