Simple Present – Present Progressive

Form

Simple Present Present Progressive

infinitive form of 'be' and verb + ing

(3rd person singular: infinitive + 's')

I speak I am speaking
you speak you are speaking
he / she / it speaks he / she / it is speaking
we speak we are speaking
they speak they are speaking

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 's' : Exceptions when adding 'ing' :
 For can, may, might, must, do not add s.  Silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)
Example: he can, she may, it must Example: come - coming
but: agree - agreeing
 After o, ch, sh or s, add es.
Example: do - he does, wash - she washes  After a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled.
Example: sit - sitting
 After a consonant, the final consonant ybecomes ie.
(but: not after a vowel)  After a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British English
Example: worry - he worries (but not in American English).
but: play - he plays Example: travel - travelling (British English)
but: traveling (American English)

 Final ie becomes y.
Example: lie - lying

See also explanations on Simple Present and Present Progressive

Use

In general or right now?

Do you want to express that something happens in general or that something is happening right now?

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 time

First Colin plays football, then he watches TV. 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

Timetable / Schedule or arrangement?

Do you want to express that something is arranged for the near future? Or do you refer to a time set by a timetable
or schedule?

Simple Present Present Progressive

arrangement for the near future

action set by a timetable or schedule
I am going to the cinema tonight.
The film starts at 8 pm.

Daily routine or just for a limited period of time?

Do you want to talk about a daily routine? Or do you want to emphasis that something is only going on for a limited
(rather short) period of time?

Simple Present Present Progressive

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

Certain Verbs

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

 state: be, 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.

 Introductory clauses for direct speech: answer, ask, reply, say

Example: “I am watching TV,“ he says.

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Test your knowledge on Simple Present and Present Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how
well you have done in the test.

Form

Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak - I

2. jump - you

3. bake - she

4. play - they

5. run - we

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be - it
2. have - he

3. eat - she

4. can - he

5. wash - she

Use

When to use which tense?

1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use .

2. For actions happening now, we use .

3. The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in .

4. The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use .

5. The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use .

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They (leave) the house.

2. Brian (cycle) 30 km every day.

3. Samantha (do) her homework at the moment.

4. My parents (shop) right now.

5. He usually (get up) early in the morning.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. You (see / not) her every day.

2. The baby (sleep / not) at the moment.

3. I (read / not) a book now.

4. We (go / not) to school on Sundays.

5. He (watch / not) the news every day.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. (you / go) on holiday by plane sometimes?

2. (they / play) computer games every day?

3. (she / eat) dinner at the moment?

4. What (they / do) right now?

5. (she / visit) her grandma very often?

Text

Sieh dir das Bild von Jenny an und ergänze die sentences (Simple Present oder Present Progressive).

1. Look! Jenny (go) to school.

2. On her back, Jenny (carry) her school bag.

3. The school bag (be) very heavy

4. Normally, Jenny (wear) black shoes, but today she (wear) red wellies.

5. And look, she (wear) a raincoat because it (rain) outside.

6. Jenny (not / want) to get wet.

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Evaluation and Correct Answers
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Form

Write the verbs in Present Progressive.

1. speak - I am speaking

2. jump - you are jumping

3. bake - she is baking

4. play - they are playing

5. run - we are running

Write the verbs in Simple Present, 3rd person singular.

1. be - it is

2. have - he has

3. eat - she eats

4. can - he can
5. wash - she washes

Use

When to use which tense?

1. For actions happening regularly, often or never, we use Simple Present.

2. For actions happening now, we use Present Progressive.

3. The verbs 'be', 'have', 'like' and 'want' are normally only used in Simple Present.

4. The signal word 'usually' indicates that we have to use Simple Present.

5. The signal word 'now' indicates that we have to use Present Progressive.

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Look! They are leaving the house.

2. Brian cycles 30 km every day.

3. Samantha is doing her homework at the moment.

4. My parents are shopping right now.

5. He usually gets up early in the morning.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. You do not see her every day.

2. The baby is not sleeping at the moment.

3. I am not reading a book now.

4. We do not go to school on Sundays.

5. He does not watch the news every day.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Do you go on holiday by plane sometimes?

2. Do they play computer games every day?

3. Is she eating dinner at the moment?

4. What are they doing right now?

5. Does she visit her grandma very often?

Text

Sieh dir das Bild von Jenny an und ergänze die sentences (Simple Present oder Present Progressive).
1. Look! Jenny is going to school.

2. On her back, Jenny is carrying her school bag.

3. The school bag is very heavy

4. Normally, Jenny wears black shoes, but today she is wearing red wellies.

5. And look, she is wearing a raincoat because it is raining outside.

6. Jenny does not want to get wet.

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Test your knowledge on Simple Present and Present Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how
well you have done in the test.

Form

Present Progressive

Write the ing-form of the following verbs.

1. walk -

2. make -

3. wash -

4. lie -

5. stop -

Simple Present

Schreibe die folgenden Verben in der 3. Person Einzahl.

1. write - she

2. kiss - he

3. must - she

4. laugh - she

5. go - he

Use

When to use which tense?

1. For present actions happening one after another, we use .

2. For actions happening while speaking, we use .

3. For arrangements for the near future, we use .

4. For actions set by a schedule or timetable, we use .

5. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: sometimes, never, every day?

6. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Listen!, at the moment, right

now?

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. The lesson (start) at 9 o'clock.

2. He often (wear) a black cap.

3. I (meet) my friends in the youth club tonight.

4. My friend (move) house tomorrow.

5. My birthday (be) in September.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. She (not / ride) her bike right now.

2. We (not / stay) at home tonight.

3. I (not / like) bananas.

4. They (not / know) the answer.

5. I (not / sit) in the garden at the moment.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. When (arrive / the plane) ?

2. (visit / you) Jane in hospital today?

3. What time (get up / you) in the mornings?

4. Why (cry / she) now?

5. (swim / they) in the pool at the moment?

Text

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. I (live) in London.

2. This weekend, I (visit) my friends in Brighton.

3. The train to Brighton (leave) London at 6.45 in the morning.

4. In the early afternoon, we (want) to go on a sightseeing tour.

5. In the evening, we (go) to a concert.

6. The concert (start) at 8 o'clock.

7. I (come) back to London on Sunday.

8. My train (arrive) in London at 7.50 in the evening.

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Evaluation and Correct Answers
You answered 0 out of 39 (0%) questions correctly. That is 6.

Hold the mouse pointer over the in order to get an explanation on the correct answer. Is the correct answer
coloured in brown, hold the mouse pointer over the correct answer to see what your wrong answer.

Form

Present Progressive

Write the ing-form of the following verbs.

1. walk - walking

2. make - making

3. wash - washing

4. lie - lying

5. stop - stopping

Simple Present

Schreibe die folgenden Verben in der 3. Person Einzahl.

1. write - she writes

2. kiss - he kisses

3. must - she must

4. laugh - she laughs

5. go - he goes

Use

When to use which tense?

1. For present actions happening one after another, we use Simple Present.

2. For actions happening while speaking, we use Present Progressive.

3. For arrangements for the near future, we use Present Progressive.

4. For actions set by a schedule or timetable, we use Simple Present.

5. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: sometimes, never, every day?Simple Present

6. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Listen!, at the moment, right now? Present Progressive

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. The lesson starts at 9 o'clock.

2. He often wears a black cap.

3. I am meeting my friends in the youth club tonight.

4. My friend is moving house tomorrow.

5. My birthday is in September.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. She is not riding her bike right now.

2. We are not staying at home tonight.

3. I do not like bananas.

4. They do not know the answer.

5. I am not sitting in the garden at the moment.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. When does the plane arrive ?

2. Are you visiting Jane in hospital today?

3. What time do you get up in the mornings?

4. Why is she crying now?

5. Are they swimming in the pool at the moment?

Text

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. I live in London.

2. This weekend, I am visiting my friends in Brighton.

3. The train to Brighton leaves London at 6.45 in the morning.

4. In the early afternoon, we want to go on a sightseeing tour.

5. In the evening, we are going to a concert.

6. The concert starts at 8 o'clock.

7. I am coming back to London on Sunday.

8. My train arrives in London at 7.50 in the evening.

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Test your knowledge on Simple Present and Present Progressive. After submitting your answers, you will see how
well you have done in the test.

Form

Present Progressive

Write the ing-form of the following verbs.

1. fly -

2. book -

3. hit -

4. take -

5. lie -

Simple Present

Write the 3rd person singular of the following verbs (in Simple Present).

1. do - he

2. worry - she

3. play - she

4. watch - he

5. might - she

Use

When to use which tense?

1. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Look!, now?

2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom, never?

3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use .

4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use .

5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use .

6. For arrangements for the near future, we use .

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. We (help) in the canteen this week.

2. Martin usually (drive) to work.

3. But today, he (take) the bus.

4. Listen! She (practise) the piano.

5. My friend (play) the guitar every evening.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. He (not / spend) his holidays in Spain each year.

2. I (not / meet) Francis tonight.

3. They (not / fly) to London tomorrow.

4. We (not / work) this week.

5. The film (not / begin) at 7 o'clock.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. (leave / you) the party now?

2. (have / you) any brothers or sisters?

3. (love / she) him?

4. Who (cook) dinner tonight?

5. (send / he) you an e-mail every day?

Text

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Maria (want) to improve her English.

2. Therefore, she (do) a language course in London at the moment.

3. She (stay) with a host family and (must) take the tube to get to her language school.

4. It (be) only a five-minute walk to the nearest tube station.

5. The tube (leave) at half past eight.

6. The first lesson (begin) at 9 o'clock.

7. In the afternoons, the school (offer) sightseeing tours in and around London.

8. Tomorrow, the students of the language school (go) to Windsor.

Check answ ers

English Test Simple Present and Present Progressive

Evaluation and Correct Answers
You answered 0 out of 40 (0%) questions correctly. That is 6.

Hold the mouse pointer over the in order to get an explanation on the correct answer. Is the correct answer
coloured in brown, hold the mouse pointer over the correct answer to see what your wrong answer.

Form

Present Progressive

Write the ing-form of the following verbs.

1. fly - flying

2. book - booking

3. hit - hitting

4. take - taking

5. lie - lying

Simple Present

Write the 3rd person singular of the following verbs (in Simple Present).

1. do - he does

2. worry - she worries

3. play - she plays

4. watch - he watches

5. might - she might

Use

When to use which tense?

1. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Look!, now? Present Progressive
2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom, never? Simple Present

3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use Present Progressive.

4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use Simple Present.

5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use Simple Present.

6. For arrangements for the near future, we use Present Progressive.

Positive sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. We are helping in the canteen this week.

2. Martin usually drives to work.

3. But today, he is taking the bus.

4. Listen! She is practising the piano.

5. My friend plays the guitar every evening.

Negative sentences

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. He does not spend his holidays in Spain each year.

2. I am not meeting Francis tonight.

3. They are not flying to London tomorrow.

4. We are not working this week.

5. The film does not begin at 7 o'clock.

questionn

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Are you leaving the party now?

2. Have you got any brothers or sisters?

3. Does she love him?

4. Who is cooking dinner tonight?

5. Does he send you an e-mail every day?

Text

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.

1. Maria wants to improve her English.

2. Therefore, she is doing a language course in London at the moment.

3. She is staying with a host family and must take the tube to get to her language school.
4. It is only a five-minute walk to the nearest tube station.

5. The tube leaves at half past eight.

6. The first lesson begins at 9 o'clock.

7. In the afternoons, the school offers sightseeing tours in and around London.

8. Tomorrow, the students of the language school are going to Windsor.