This document provides information on the simple present and present progressive tenses in English. It includes examples of when to use each tense, such as using the simple present for general truths and habits and the present progressive for ongoing or temporary actions. Signal words that indicate each tense are listed. Exercises are then provided for learners to practice forming and using these tenses in different contexts.

1. Simple Present Present Progressive
in general (regularly, often, never)
Colin plays football every Tuesday.
present actions happening one after another
First Colin plays football, then he watches TV.
right now
Look! Colin is playing football now.
also for several actions happening at the same time
Colin is playing football and Anne is watching.
Signal words
 always
 every ...
 often
 normally
 usually
 sometimes
 seldom
 never
 first
 then
 at the moment
 at this moment
 today
 now
 right now
 Listen!
 Look!
Note: The following verbs are usually only used in Simple Present:
be, have, hear, know, like, love, see, smell, think, want
Exercise 4
Look at the picture on the right and complete the sentences (Simple Present or
Present Progressive).
1. Joe and Dennis (be) best friends.
2. They often (meet) in the afternoon.
3. What (do / they) at the moment?
4. They (play) football.
5. They (love) football.
6. Joe (practise) with his father every weekend, but Dennis (not / play) football very often.
Exercise 7

2. Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1. I (be) very busy today.
2. At noon I (visit) my friend Tanya.
3. We (want) to have lunch together.
4. In the afternoon I (play) squash with Emily.
5. In the evening, I (meet) Rob.
6. We (go) to the cinema.
7. The film (start) at 8 pm.
Exercise 8
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1. Look! Jenny (go) to school.
2. She (wear) a raincoat and wellies and she (carry) an umbrella.
3. Jenny usually (cycle) to school, but today she (take) the bus because it (rain) .
4. The bus (leave) at 7.35 and (arrive) at Jenny's school at 7.45.
5. The first lesson (begin) at 8 o'clock.
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).

3. 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? Simple
PresentPresent Progressive
2. Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: often, seldom,
never? Simple PresentPresent Progressive
3. For actions happening at the moment of speaking, we use Simple PresentPresent
Progressive.
4. For actions set by a timetable or schedule, we use Simple PresentPresent Progressive.
5. In a story, for present actions happening one after another, we use Simple
PresentPresent Progressive.
6. For arrangements for the near future, we use Simple PresentPresent Progressive.
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

4. 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.