Grammar reference and practice 4.2

4.2 ■ Present simple or present continuous

We use the present simple to talk about:

• ■general truths

  ■habits and routines

We often use frequency expressions, e.g. sometimes, never, every week, once a month with the present simple.

We use the present continuous to talk about:

• ■activities that are happening now.

  ■temporary situations.

We often use expressions like right now and at the moment with the present continuous.

1Read the sentences and decide if they are present simple or present continuous. 

• 1I never go to bed before 10 p.m.Present simplePresent continuous

• 2I'm not getting up now. I'm staying in bed for a bit longer.Present simplePresent continuous

• 3We're playing cricket in the park at the moment.Present simplePresent continuous

• 4We usually play football after school on Wednesdays.Present simplePresent continuous

• 5She isn't talking to me.Present simplePresent continuous

• 6She doesn't talk very much. I think she's quite shy.Present simplePresent continuous

• 7Giraffes don't eat meat.Present simplePresent continuous

• 8The giraffes are eating that man's picnic!Present simplePresent continuous

2Choose the correct options to complete the sentences. 

• 1A:Do you usually phoneAre you usually phoning your cousin on Fridays?

  B:Yes, I doI am.

• 2My parents cookare cooking in the kitchen at the moment.

  3He doesn't readisn't reading a book. He listens's listening to music right now.

  4We visitare visiting my aunt every Sunday.

  5I often watcham watching TV programmes about animals.

  6A:'What do you doare you doing?'

  B:'I write'm writing an email to my friend.'

 3Complete the sentences with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs in brackets. 

You need to use normal letters and capital letters correctly in this task.

• 1She usually  (drink) tea in the morning, but today she  (have) some orange juice.

• 2I  (not / ride) my bike to school in the mornings. I usually  (take) the bus.

• 3A: she  (swim) at the moment?

• B:No, she . She never  (go) swimming before lunch.

• 4We  (not / study) in the classroom today. We  (visit) a farm on a school trip.

• 5A: you usually  (meet) up with friends at the weekend?

• B:Yes, I . But today, I  (stay) at home.

• 6My friends  (work) in the library today.

• 7A:What  (you / do) after school on Mondays?

  B:I usually  (go) to the park.

• 8They  (watch) a great film on TV at the moment.