Tense Contrasts

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Practice choosing between the present simple and present continuous in context.

The Core Decision

Use the present simple for habits, routines, facts, and things that are generally true.

Use the present continuous for actions happening right now or temporary situations around the present moment.

	Present Simple	Present Continuous
Use when	The action is a habit, routine, schedule, or a general fact that is always true.	The action is happening at this moment or is temporary and in progress these days.
Signal words	always, usually, often, every day, never, on Mondays, sometimes	now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, look!, listen!
Example	She walks to work every day.	She is walking to work right now.

Using the present continuous for habits: say I go to the gym every morning, not I am going to the gym every morning, when it's a routine.
Using the present simple for an action in progress now: say Look! It is raining, not Look! It rains, for something happening at this moment.
Stative verbs (know, like, want, believe, own) normally take the present simple even now: say I know the answer, not I am knowing the answer.

Practice

Listen! The baby in the next room.

Look! It outside, so take an umbrella.

Be quiet, please. I to study right now.

Put the words in the correct order:

Click words from the bank to place them here

Because of the train strike, a lot of peoplefrom home right now.

Hint: work

Snowin the mountains every January.

Generally, this machine smoothly, but today it a strange noise.

Please don't interrupt; the committee the final budget at the moment.

The Eartharound the Sun once a year.

Hint: travel (permanent scientific fact)

My brother rarely early, so I was surprised to see him up at dawn.

Generate 5 more practice questions

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Past Simple vs. Past Continuous