Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Review the difference between the Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses. Revisit the rules in these lessons.

Choose the correct option in each sentence.

{"buttons":[],"questions":[{"text":"I often ... flowers in spring.","answer":1,"explanation":"I often pick flowers in spring. Often describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I often <<pick>> flowers in spring.","buttons":["am picking","pick"]},{"text":"We ... flowers in winter.","answer":0,"explanation":"We do not pick flowers in winter. This sentence describes a general habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"We <<don’t pick>> flowers in winter.","buttons":["don't pick","aren't picking"]},{"text":"Train ... at 10 a.m.","answer":0,"explanation":"The train leaves at 10 a.m. Use the Present Simple for timetables.","correct_text":"Train <<leaves>> at 10 a.m.","buttons":["leaves","is leaving"]},{"text":"Look! The children ... flowers now.","answer":1,"explanation":"Look! The children are picking flowers now. Look and now indicate an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"Look! The children <<are picking>> flowers now.","buttons":["pick","are picking"]},{"text":"... flowers for your mum?","answer":1,"explanation":"Are you picking flowers for your mother now? Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"<<Are you picking>> flowers for your mum now?","buttons":["Do you pick","Are you picking"]},{"text":"They ... a book now.","answer":0,"explanation":"They are not reading a book now. Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"They <<aren't reading>> a book now.","buttons":["aren't reading","don't read"]},{"text":"My dad ... leaves every autumn.","answer":0,"explanation":"My dad rakes leaves every autumn. Every autumn describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"My dad <<rakes>> leaves every autumn.","buttons":["rakes","is raking"]},{"text":"We ... leaves in summer.","answer":1,"explanation":"We do not usually rake leaves in summer. Usually describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"We <<don’t usually rake>> leaves in summer.","buttons":["aren't usually raking","don't usually rake"]},{"text":"... leaves in the garden?","answer":1,"explanation":"Does your brother often rake leaves in the garden? Often describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"<<Does your brother often rake>> leaves in the garden?","buttons":["Is your brother often raking","Does your brother often rake"]},{"text":"I often ... in the snow when it’s cold and snowy.","answer":1,"explanation":"I often play in the snow when it is cold and snowy. Often describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I often <<play>> in the snow when it’s cold and snowy.","buttons":["am playing","play"]},{"text":"People ... in the snow in May.","answer":0,"explanation":"People do not play in the snow in May. This sentence presents a general statement, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"People <<don't play>> in the snow in May.","buttons":["don't play","aren't playing"]},{"text":"... in the snow with your friends when it's cold and snowy?","answer":1,"explanation":"Do you play in the snow with friends when it is cold and snowy? Use the Present Simple to ask about habits and repeated actions.","correct_text":"<<Do you play>> in the snow with your friends when it's cold and snowy?","buttons":["Are you playing","Do you play"]},{"text":"Mary often ... picnics with her friends in summer.","answer":0,"explanation":"Mary often goes on picnics with friends in summer. Often describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"Mary often <<has>> picnics with her friends in summer.","buttons":["has","is having"]},{"text":"She ... a picnic right now.","answer":1,"explanation":"She is having a picnic right now. Right now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"She <<is having>> a picnic right now.","buttons":["has","is having"]},{"text":"... a picnic near the lake now?","answer":0,"explanation":"Is Mary having a picnic by the lake now? Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"<<Is Mary having>> a picnic near the lake?","buttons":["Is Mary having","Does Mary have"]},{"text":"We usually ... camping in July.","answer":1,"explanation":"We usually go camping in July. Usually describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"We usually <<go>> camping in July.","buttons":["are going","go"]},{"text":"I never ... camping in winter.","answer":0,"explanation":"I never go camping in winter. Never describes how often an activity happens, so use the Present Simple here.","correct_text":"I never <<go>> camping in winter.","buttons":["go","am going"]},{"text":"My brother ... very well.","answer":0,"explanation":"My brother skis well. This is a general fact about his ability, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"My brother <<skis>> very well.","buttons":["skis","is skiing"]},{"text":"Look! He ... down the hill.","answer":0,"explanation":"Look! He is skiing down the slope. Look draws attention to an action happening now, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"Look! He <<is skiing>> down the hill.","buttons":["skis","is skiing"]},{"text":"He ... on a new project this week.","answer":1,"explanation":"He is working on a new project this week. This is a temporary activity during the current period, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"He <<is working>> on a new project this week.","buttons":["works","is working"]},{"text":"... with your sister now?","answer":0,"explanation":"Are you skating with your sister now? Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"<<Are you skating>> with your sister?","buttons":["Are you skating","Do you skate"]},{"text":"I often ... books in the evening.","answer":1,"explanation":"I often read books in the evening. Often describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I often <<read>> books in the evening.","buttons":["am reading","read"]},{"text":"My friend ... books every day.","answer":0,"explanation":"My friend does not read books every day. Every day refers to a regular activity, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"My friend <<doesn’t read>> books every day.","buttons":["doesn't read","isn't reading"]},{"text":"My grandpa ... every weekend.","answer":1,"explanation":"My grandfather goes fishing every weekend. Every weekend describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"My grandpa <<fishes>> every weekend.","buttons":["is fishing","fishes"]},{"text":"... in winter?","answer":0,"explanation":"Does your dad go fishing in winter? Use the Present Simple to ask about a habit or repeated activity.","correct_text":"<<Does your dad fish>> in winter?","buttons":["Does your dad fish","Is your dad fishing"]},{"text":"The children ... a snowman outside now.","answer":0,"explanation":"The children are making a snowman outside now. Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"The children <<are making>> a snowman outside now.","buttons":["are making","make"]},{"text":"People ... a snowman in summer.","answer":1,"explanation":"People do not make snowmen in summer. This sentence presents a general statement, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"People <<don’t make>> a snowman in summer.","buttons":["aren't making","don't make"]},{"text":"I ... a tie when I go to school.","answer":1,"explanation":"I wear a tie when I go to school. This describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I <<wear>> a tie when I go to school.","buttons":["am wearing","wear"]},{"text":"What ... now?","answer":0,"explanation":"What are you wearing now? Now refers to the current moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"What <<are you wearing>> now?","buttons":["are you wearing","do you wear"]},{"text":"He ... a suit at home.","answer":0,"explanation":"He does not wear a suit at home. This describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"He <<doesn’t wear>> a suit at home.","buttons":["doesn't wear","isn't wearing"]},{"text":"... mittens in winter?","answer":0,"explanation":"Do you usually wear mittens in winter? Usually describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"<<Do you usually wear>> mittens in winter?","buttons":["Do you usually wear","Are you usually wearing"]},{"text":"I ... a new swimsuit every summer.","answer":1,"explanation":"I buy a new swimsuit every summer. Every summer describes a repeated action, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I <<buy>> a new swimsuit every summer.","buttons":["am buying","buy"]},{"text":"We always ... flip flops on the beach.","answer":1,"explanation":"We always wear flip-flops at the beach. Always describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"We always <<wear>> flip flops on the beach.","buttons":["are wearing","wear"]},{"text":"... flip flops at home?","answer":0,"explanation":"Do you wear flip-flops at home? Use the Present Simple to ask about a habit.","correct_text":"<<Do you wear>> flip flops at home?","buttons":["Do you wear","Are you wearing"]},{"text":"I always ... fine when I walk.","answer":0,"explanation":"I always feel good when I go for a walk. Always describes a regular experience, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I always <<feel>> fine when I walk.","buttons":["feel","am feeling"]},{"text":"... to me now?","answer":0,"explanation":"Are you talking to me now? Now indicates an action happening at this moment, so use the Present Continuous.","correct_text":"<<Are you speaking>> to me now?","buttons":["Are you speaking","Do you speak"]},{"text":"I often ... dresses.","answer":1,"explanation":"I often wear dresses. Often describes a habit, so use the Present Simple.","correct_text":"I often <<wear>> dresses.","buttons":["am wearing","wear"]},{"text":"Jess ... apples.","answer":0,"explanation":"Jess does not like apples. Use the Present Simple to describe preferences.","correct_text":"Jess <<doesn't like>> apples.","buttons":["doesn't like","isn't liking"]},{"text":"This shop ... at 9 a.m.","answer":0,"explanation":"This shop opens at 9 a.m. Use the Present Simple for schedules.","correct_text":"This shop <<opens>> at 9 a.m.","buttons":["opens","is opening"]}]}