Simple Present Present Progressive

in general (regularly, often, never) right now

Colin plays football every Tuesday. Look! Colin is playing football now.
present actions happening one after another also for several actions happening at the same
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
always at the moment
every ... at this moment
often today
normally now
usually right now
sometimes Listen!
seldom Look!
never
first
then
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Simple Present Present Progressive
action set by a timetable or schedule arrangement for the near future
The film starts at 8 pm. I am going to the cinema tonight.

Simple Present Present Progressive

daily routine only for a limited period of time (does not have to happen directly at
Bob works in a restaurant. the moment of speaking)
Jenny is working in a restaurant this week.

The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present (not in the progressive form).

STATE: cost, fit, mean, suit Example: We are on holiday.

POSSESSION: belong, have Example: Sam has a cat.
SENSES: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch Example: He feels the cold.
FEELINGS: hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish Example: Jane loves pizza.
BRAIN WORK: believe, know, think, understand Example: I believe you.
Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).

1. Look! He (leave) __is living__ the house.

2. Quiet please! I (write) _______________ a test.
3. She usually (walk) _______________ to school.
4. But look! Today she (go) ____________ by bike.
5. Every Sunday we (go) ______________ to see my grandparents.
6. He often (go) _____________ to the cinema.
7. We (play) ___________ Monopoly at the moment.
8. The child seldom (cry) ______________.
9. I (not / do) ___________ anything at the moment.
10. (watch / he) ____________ the news regularly?

Complete the story. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.

1. It (be) _______ early in the morning.

2. Sally (get) ________ out of bed, (open) _______ the window and (go) _____ into the
bathroom.
3. Then she (have) ____________ breakfast.
4. After breakfast, Sally usually (cycle) __________ to school.
5. After school, she (go) ___________ back home.
6. Sally usually (eat) ____________ her lunch at home.
7. In the afternoons, she first (do) _________ her homework and then she (meet) _______
her friends in the park.
8. What (do / she) _________ now?
9. She (play) __________ the guitar.
10. Her friends (listen) _______ and some of them (sing) _______ along.
11. When Sally (come) _________ home in the evening, she (have) _______ dinner and then
she (watch) _________ TV.
12. She (go) __________ to bed at about 8 o'clock every day.

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.

1. Look! Jenny (go) _________ to school.
2. She (wear) ______ a raincoat and wellies and she (carry) _______ an umbrella.
3. Jenny usually (cycle) ______ to school, but today she (take) ______ the bus because
it (rain) ________.
4. The bus (leave) _________ at 7.35 and (arrive) ________ at Jenny's school at 7.45.
5. The first lesson (begin) _________ at 8 o'clock.