Present simple or present continuous?

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 1

Present simple or present continuous? 

When do you use which? And how do you make them?

When do you use the present simple?

When do you use the present continuous?

1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous

1. Present Simple
2. Present Continuous

I'm working at the moment.

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous

They never tell me anything.

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous

Present simple and present continuous

De present simple gebruik je als iets altijd, vaak, regelmatig, soms of nooit gebeurt.

De present continuous gebruik je als iets nu gebeurt.

Present simple 

Present continuous

Often

Always

Sometimes

Today

Now

At this moment

Present simple and present continuous

Present simple:

I always walk to school. He never buys lunch at school.

Present continuous:

I am walking to school now. He isn't answering his phone today.

Present simple

Present continuous

He never plays football with us.

Do we always sing the national anthem?

I am having a cup of tea today.

Is your cat sleeping right now? 

Let's practice. 

You have to fill in the gaps. 

Look out for signal words!

He often (... to play ...) football.

1. plays
2. play
3. is playing

I ... (to go - not) ... to the game tonight.

1. is not going
2. am not going
3. go not
4. not to go

She never (... to buy ...) me anyting.

1. buys
2. is buying
3. buy
4. are buying

Marc (... to make ...) pizza tonight.

1. is making
2. makes
3. is make
4. am making

She ... (to talk) ... to her friend right now.

1. talks
2. talk
3. are talking
4. is talking

Anthony (... to sit ...) in the chair now.

1. sits
2. sit
3. is sitting
4. are sitting

... football today?

1. Are you playing
2. Are John playing
3. Play you
4. Plays John

I always (... to go ...) to school on Wednesdays.

1. to go
2. go
3. am going
4. goes

Does he always (... to play ...) the guitar at night?

1. plays
2. play

Kate never (... to leave ...) me alone.

1. leaves
2. leave
3. is leaving
4. are leaving

Do you understand how to use the present simple and the present continuous?

Yes

No

Yes, a little bit

Yes, I almost completely understand it

Do you have any questions about the present simple or the present continuous?

What's next?

If I call out your name, you have to do exercise 6 of 3.5 again. I have erased all your answers.

The rest of you can start doing your homework. Your homework for Friday is to do 3.5: exercise 4, 9 and 10.