Simple Present or Present

Progressive

Introduction
We use the simple present and the present progressive to talk about things that take place in
the present. The simple present is used for permanent actions, to describe daily events, facts
or as a narrative form for stories that take place in the present. The present progressive is
used for temporary actions and to describe what is happening at the moment of speaking.

Example

The Smiths are going on holiday. They usually go on holiday by train. They take a taxi to
the station, check the timetable and get on the train.

At the moment, they are standing in front of the timetable. The train departs at 15:12
and arrives in Brighton at 16:45.

At 6pm the Smiths are meeting Ben’s aunt in Brighton. She studies law in London, but

she is working as a waitress in Brighton during the summer holiday.

Usage
 Simple Present Present Progressive
actions that are in progress at the moment of
actions that occur in a sequence speaking

Example: Example:

They take a taxi to the station, check the The Smiths are going on holiday.

timetable and get on the train. At the moment, they are standing in
front of the time table.
actions that occur according to an official schedule actions that occur at a time that is personally
or programme arranged or organized

Example: Example:
The train leaves at 15:12 and arrives in At 6 pm they are meeting Ben’s aunt
Brighton at 16:45. in Brighton.
permanent actions that occur regularly with signal temporary actions that occur for a short or
words such as always, often, never fixed time period

Example: Example:
She studies law in London. She is working as a waitress in
They always go on holiday by train. Brighton during the summer holiday.

Signal Words: Simple Present vs. Present

Progressive
Signal words can help us to recognise which tense to use in a sentence. Below is a list of
signal words for the simple present and present progressive tenses.

Signal Words for Simple Present

Signal Word Example
always I always take the train to work.
every
My grandma watches the news every evening.
day/month...
first First cook the onions in some oil.
hardly ever I hardly ever go to bed after twelve o’clock.
never You can never find your keys when you're in a hurry.
normally It normally rains in the UK.
 Signal Word Example
often We often go to the cinema.
rarely I rarely drink wine, I prefer beer.
I sometimes meet friends after work if the weather is
sometimes
good.
then First fry the onions in some oil, then add the garlic.
usually My dad usually watches the football at the weekend.

Signal Words for Present Progressive

Signal Word Example
I live in France but at the moment I'm working in
at the moment
London.
currently He’s currently living in Australia.
I’m staying with a friend for now but I’m looking
for now
for my own place.
Listen! Listen! They are playing my favourite song!
Look! Look! The kids are dancing!
now Now we’re planning a bigger party.
right now Right now I’m working on a new project.
this
He’s travelling around Europe this summer.
week/summer...
today Today people are watching more online content.

Verbs that are not used in the Present Progressive

The following verbs are not generally used in a progressive form.

 stative verbs
be*, cost, fit, mean, remain, suit

Example:
They are on holiday.
 verbs that show possession/belonging
belong, have*

Example:
The luggage belongs to the family.
 verbs of sensation
feel*, hear, see*, smell*, taste*, touch
 Example:
They hear the loudspeaker announcement.
 verbs that express emotions
hate, hope, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish

Example:
Ben loves going by train.
 verbs of thought and recognition
believe, know, realise, recognise, seem, think*, understand

Example:
He knows where they have to get off the train.
 clauses accompanying direct speech
answer, ask, reply, say

Example:
“We must hurry to get the train”, Ben’s father says.

*change of meaning

Some stative verbs also have a progressive form, but the meaning of the progressive form is
sightly different.

stative form progressive form

verb meaning example meaning example
She is happy about deliberate
be state She is being silly.
the holiday. behaviour
He has two in particular
have possession He’s having a good time.
suitcases. expressions
I feel that’s a bad
opinion feel (health) He’s not feeling well.
idea.
feel
feel It feels like you have I’m feeling inside my
touch
(sense) a temperature. suitcase to find my passport.
be together
I see the train Nigel and Beatrice are
sight with
coming. seeing each other.
somebody
see
have an
understan I see what you We’re seeing our aunty this
appointmen
d mean. afternoon.
t or meeting
 stative form progressive form
verb meaning example meaning example
smell
smel smell You smell like a Why are you smelling your
something
l (sense) summer breeze. sunglasses?
(action)
This
taste try, test I am tasting the soup to see if
taste soup tastes delicious
(sense) (action) it’s been poisoned.
.
think, I think it’s going to What are you thinking about
think contemplate
believe be hot today. ?

No. 1- Complete with present simple or present continuous tense.

1. The children ………………………… (play) outside now.

are playing
play

2. She usually ……………………… (read) the newspaper in the morning.

reads
is reading

3. I …………………………… (do) my homework now.

do
am doing

4. …………………………… (you / want) to come with me?

Are you wanting
Do you want

5. I …………………………… (not / like) spaghetti.

am not liking
don't like

6. He …………………… (write) a letter to his pen-friend every month.

 writes
is writing

7. The baby ………………………… (sleep) now.

is sleeping
sleeps

8. My mother usually ………………… (cook) dinner in the evening.

cooks
is cooking

9. Mary ………………………… (listen) to music now.

listens
is listening

10. We ……………………… (go) to the disco tonight.

are going
go

11. ………………………… (he / go) to work by bus everyday?

Is he going
Does he go

12. What time ………………………… (you / get up) in the morning?

are you getting up
do you get up

13. How often ………………………… (your brother / take) a shower?

does your brother take
is your brother taking

14. Where ………………………… (you / work) at present?

do you work
are you working
 15. Listen! somebody ………………………….
is whistling
whistles

No. 2 - Present simple VS Present

Progressive Exercise
Direction: Put the verbs in parenthesis into the present simple or present
progressive/continuous form.

1. When the curtain rises (rise) we see (see) Dane and Laina
sitting on a fallen tree.
2. Why are you walking (walk) so fast? You usually (walk)
slowly.
3. She always borrows (borrow) money from me and never
remembers (remember) to pay me back.
4. What are you looking (look) at?
5. What is he doing (do) to his car now?
I think (think) he is polishing (polish) it.
6. How is Dane getting (get) on at school?
7. This story is about a boy who makes (make) friends with a
snake which he finds (find) in his garden.
8. Do You feel (feel) sorry for her?
9. No, please look (look) at her. She is laughing (laugh) over
there with her new friend.
10.I am waiting (wait) for the shop to open.
11.Buses usually run (run) along the street, but today they are
not running (not run).
 12.She usually sits (sit) at the back of the class but today she is
sitting (sit) in the front row.
13.I rarely carry (carry) an umbrella, but I am carrying (carry)
one now because it is raining.
14.John is still doing (do) her homework. Her sister, who always
works (work) more quickly, plays (play) in the garden.
15. He generally comes (come) to my office every day, but today
he is visiting (visit) his parents in the country.

NO. 3 - Use the verbs in the box in either Simple present or Present

continuous tense.(use a slash (/) to separate the blanks)

Do (x2) Wash Study Work Wear

Take Have Run Want Like
Dislike Design Open Close Be

1. My father works as an architect. At the moment he is desingning a living room.

2. Anna and I don’t take (not often) the bus to school but today we want to arrive
early.

3. Look! Peter is washing the dishes although he isn't doing daily chores .

4. My sister has a very important exam, so she is studying hard these days.

5. Sandra is wearing a jacket today in case it rains.

6. Banks open at 9am and close at 7pm but holiday schedules be different.

7. Tina isn’t at home at the moment. She is talking a walk with her mother.

8. Sophie and Kate run three times a week because they like exercising.

9. My brother always does his homework after dinner but today he is doing it
earlier.
No . 4 - Exercises
A. Choose the correct tense (simple present or present progressive).

is reading
1. Oliver   a book at the moment.
w rites
2. Caroline   an SMS to her boyfriend every day.
get up
3. I usually   at seven.
are going
4. Look, the kids   to the zoo.
meet
5. We   every Tuesday.

B. Complete the sentences. Decide if you need to use the simple present or

the present progressive.

1. (he/wear/a hat/often) , but

(he/not/wear/a hat)  today.
2. (we/have/breakfast/now)  although
(we/not/have/breakfast/normally)  at this time.
3. (while/Grace/clean/the house) ,
(her kids/play/in the garden) .
4. I must hurry to the bus stop because (I/meet/Ian)  in an hour
and (the bus/leave)  in ten minutes.
5. Listen! (you/hear/that noise) ?
6. I grew up with dogs but now (I/have/a cat) .

1. He wears a hat often, but he's not wearing a hat today.

2. We are having breakfast now, although we don't have breakfast normally at
this time.
3. While Grace is cleaning the house, her kids are playing in the garden.
4. I must hurry to the bus stop because I am meeting Ian in an hour and the
bus leaves in ten minutes.
5. Listen! Can you hear that noise?
6. I grew up with dogs but now I have a cat.