1. B1 Basic – Simple Present & Present Progressive
1
Adapted from ELS Grammar Book
EXERCISE : Use either the Simple Present or the Present Progressive of the verbs given in
parentheses.
1. A: What................you (do) ................ here in the kitchen?
B: I (taste) ...........................the soup to see if it (have) ..........................
enough salt.
2. A:..................you (know) .................... the woman who (talk) .....................to
Peter over there?
B: No, I (not recognize) ........................ her, but I (suppose)
............................ that she is his guest from Germany.
3. A: Hi! How are you?
B: Fine! Why...............you (whisper) ................................?
A: The baby (sleep) .........................and I (try) ............................. not to wake her.
B: Oh. Which room ......... she (sleep) .................... in?
A: Upstairs, in my bedroom.
B: Well, I (not think) ......................... we (be) ............................. close
enough to disturb her, anyway.
4. A: Why...........you (take) ..............your umbrella? It (not, rain) ..................
B: I (always, take) ...........................it. Just in case!
A: But it (never, rain) .........................here in July.
B: Oh, well. You (never, know) .........................Today might be different!
5. Nearly everybody in this town (work) ...................... at the local car factory. In fact,
the company (rely) .....................................................on the townspeople for its
workforce, so to stop them looking elsewhere, it (pay)……………… really well and
(provide) .....................................................................lots of extra facilities. Currently,
it (build).......................................................................a play-center for the children of
the working mothers.
6. I (look) .............................like our mother and my sister (take)
............................after our father, but our brother (not resemble)
............................either of them.
7. Prices (rise) ...........................so quickly nowadays that we (even, consider)
............................selling our car just to keep up.
8. Mum (weigh) ...........................herself again because she (try)
............................ to lose weight in time for her holiday next month.
9. My brother (weigh) ............................. about 70 kg, but he (seem)
............................heavier because he (always, wear) ....................... such
bulky clothes.
10. These cultivated roses (look) ........................so beautiful, but they (not smell)
........................................................................at all.
11. Our guests (arrive) .......................... shortly, and Sarah (still, wrap)
............................the presents.
12. Jack is lucky. He (listen) ......................... to Brahms's music live at the Albert Hall at
this very moment while we (sit)…………… here in the office
listening to the BBC orchestra on the radio.
13. This powdered pudding is strawberry flavor, but actually, it (not taste)
.............................fruity at all.
2. B1 Basic – Simple Present & Present Progressive
2
Adapted from ELS Grammar Book
14. The Earth (get) ..........................warmer and warmer, which (raise)
............................the sea-level.
15. What lovely quality this baby outfit is! It (feel) .................... nice and thick.
16. A: You (look) .............................very worried. I (hope) ..........................
nothing bad has happened!
B: Well, I've broken Grandma's favorite mug, and now I (think)
............................. about how to explain it to her.
Answer Key: 1. are you doing – am tasting – has
2. Do you know – is talking – don't recognize – suppose
3. are you whispering – is sleeping – am trying – is she sleeping – don't think – are
4. are you taking – isn't raining – always take – never rains – never know
5. works – relies – pays- provides – is building
6. look – takes – doesn't resemble
7. are rising – even consider
8. is weighing – is trying
9. weighs – seems – always wears
10. look – don't smell
11. are arriving – is still wrapping
12. is listening – are sitting
13. doesn't taste
14. is getting – raises
15. feels
16. look – hope – am thinking
