Present Simple vs. Present Continuous Exercises (+pdfs)
The exercises on this page will help you practice and understand the difference between these common English verb tenses.
All the exercises are free and you can download pdf worksheets to print.
Exercise 1
1 . We always _____ my parents on Sundays.
visit / are visiting
✅visit
Why?
We use the present simple because this is a regular routine/habit.
2. We _________ my father in hospital later today.
visit / are visiting
✅are visiting
Why?
We use the present continuous because this a future plan.
3. Mike has been at the same company for 10 years. He usually _______ 40 hours a week.
works / is working
✅ works
Why?
This is a routine. Something that Mike always does.
4. Mike’s office is usually quiet, but this week it’s very busy so he ___________ a lot more hours to help.
works / is working
✅ is working
Why?
We use the present continuous because this situation is more temporary.
5. Amy: Where is Sarah?
Phil: She _______ in the park at the moment. She will be back soon.
runs / is running
✅is running
Why?
This is something that is happening now in the present moment.
6. Phil: Sarah ______ every morning. She absolutely loves it!
runs / is running
✅runs
Why?
This is Amy’s strong routine. Something she does habitually every morning.
7. They usually _______ football on Friday evenings.
play / are playing
✅play
Why?
This is a regular routine/habit.
8. Steve doesn’t really like football, but tonight he _______with his friends just for fun.
plays / is playing
✅ is playing
Why?
This situtation sounds temporary and not something that is habitual.
9. Recently, I have noticed something different about you. You ______ more healthy food. I think it’s great!
eat / are eating
✅are eating
Why?
We use the present continuous for new habits.
10. He normally _______ at McDonalds every weekend.
eats / is eating
✅eats
Why?
This is a regular habit.
11. Maria ________ in Barcelona. She loves her job and has been with the same company for 5 years.
works / is working
✅works
Why?
This is a permanent situation for Maria.
12. This week, Maria _______ as a taxi driver, but next week she goes back to her main job.
works / is working
✅is working
Why?
This is a temporary situation for Maria.
13. We_____ to Italy on holiday every summer.
go / are going
✅go
Why?
We use the present simple because this is a habitual thing this family does every year.
14. They _____ a holiday in Italy now and will return next week.
have / are having
✅are having
Why?
This is something that is happening now.
15. We ________ approximately 100 Euros on food a week.
spend / are spending
✅spend
Why?
This is a regular habit, so we use the present simple.
16. Prices have recently risen, so we ________ more money on food.
spend / are spending
✅are spending
Why?
This is a new habit that is evolving, so we use the present continuous.
17. Peter ________ every Monday and Wednesday evening.
teaches / is teaching
✅teaches
Why?
This is something Peter does as routine and a schedule.
18. Peter always teaches English, but this week he ________ science because another teacher is ill.
teaches / is teaching
✅is teaching
Why?
This is a temporary situation.
19. We ___________ TV after dinner every day.
watch / are watching
✅ watch
Why?
This is regular routine and habit.
20. We ___________ a great TV series at the moment. We are addicted to it.
watch / are watching
✅ are watching
Why?
This is something that happens around now, but not now or at a specific time.
21. He usually _______ at 4pm.
sleeps / is sleeping
✅ sleeps
22. However, today he _______ at 6pm.
sleeps / is sleeping
✅ is sleeping
Why?
This sounds temporary.
23. She always eats fish on Fridays, but today she _______ another dish.
tries / is trying
✅ is trying
Why?
This is a new habit and also sounds temporary.
24. She always ________ chocolate on Saturday night.
eats / is eating
✅ eats
Why?
This is a strong routine and habit.
Exercise 2
In these conversations you have to choose between the present simple and present continuous verb tenses.
Exercise 3
This exercise shows a day in the life of a journalist who meets a famous celebrity. You have to choose the correct tense.
1 . Rick is a journalist. Normally, he ___________ his day at 8am.
starts / is starting
✅ starts
ℹ️ This a routine, so we use the present simple.
2. However, today is different, and he ___________ earlier at 7am.
starts / is starting
✅ is starting
ℹ️ The present continuous is more appropriate because this is a temporary situation.
3. Later, he ______ a famous celebrity who he will interview.
meets / is meeting
✅ is meeting
ℹ️ The present continuous is used because this is a future plan.
4. Every day, he ________ to work by bike because he lives close to his work.
travels / is travelling
✅ travels
ℹ️ We use the present simple because this is a routine.
5. When he is on the train he thinks to himself “Why am I __________ ? Today will be a good day”.
worry / worrying
✅ worrying
ℹ️ He uses the present continuous because he is worrying in the present moment.
6. Usually, he _______ the people he interviews in the conference room at work.
meets / is meeting
✅ meets
ℹ️ This is a routine/Something that habitually happens.
7. However, today he __________ this special guest in a different room which has cameras and lighting equipment in it.
meets / is meeting
✅ is meeting
ℹ️ We use the present continuous because this is a temporary situation.
8. When he gets to the room, he is surprised. Taylor Thomas _________ in a chair and says hello to him.
sits / is sitting
✅ is sitting
ℹ️ This is something that is happening now.
9. Usually, Rick ___________ famous guests, but even he is surprised by how famous his guest is today.
interviews / is interviewing
✅ interviews
ℹ️ This is a normal routine for Rick, so we use the present simple.
10. After he greets her and makes her feel welcome, he says “_______ you want to start now or after a coffee?”.
Do / Does
✅ Do
💡 Remember, ‘want’ is a stative verb and we do not use it in the present continuous.
11. Taylor then says “Let’s start now because I__________ later today, and I can only speak for a few minutes.”
perform / am performing
✅ am performing
ℹ️ She uses the present continuous to show a future arranged plan.
12. Rick says “Ok great. So, let me ask you the first question. _____ you like being in the UK?”
Do / Does
✅ Do
ℹ️ Rick uses the present simple because he is asking her about her general opinion.
13. Taylor: “Yes. I love the UK and I really _________ being here.”
enjoy / am enjoying
✅ enjoy
ℹ️ She uses the present simple to express her opinion. This is not a temporary opinion, but a more fixed feeling. The present continuous is possible, but it sounds more temporary.
14. Rick: “That’s great. Are you _________ in the London for very long?”.
stay / staying
✅ staying
ℹ️ We use the present continuous because the situation is also temporary.
15. Taylor: “No. We are leaving tomorrow, but we always __________ in the same hotel in the centre of London. I really like London”
stay / staying
✅ stay
ℹ️ She uses the present simple because this is a habit she always does.
16. Rick: What music ________________ on at the moment?
do you work / are you working
✅ are you working
ℹ️ The present continuous describes things happening around now that continue.
17. Taylor: At the moment, I’m working on a new album, which is fun. Also I ______________ later in the year with another artist, but I can’t tell you who it is!
perform / am performing
✅ am performing
ℹ️ She uses the present continuous to talk about a future plan.
18. Rick: Ok, no problem! So, _____________ songs from your latest album later today?
do you play / are you playing
✅ are you playing
ℹ️ This is a question about a future plan.
19. Taylor: Yes! My fans like my old music, but during this tour, I ____________ them to my songs whenever I can.
introduce / am introducing
✅ am introducing
ℹ️ She uses the present continuous because this is an ongoing process is happening around now (the tour).
20. Rick: Ok great. So what _________ you motivated to write new music all the time?
keeps / is keeping
✅ keeps
ℹ️ Rick uses the present simple because it indicates a constant habitual motivation. The present continuous is also possible, but this sounds more temporary.
21. Taylor: That’s a good question. Well, I ________ to tell stories about my life and I like to share this experience with my fans.
love / am loving
✅ love
ℹ️ She uses the present simple because love is a state of mind. 💡 Please note, ‘love’ is a stative verb, which isn’t normally used in the present continuous tense.
22. Rick: Ok. When _____ you find time to relax and write music? You always seem very busy!
do / does
✅ do
23. Taylor: “Haha. Yes I am busy. However, I always _________ time to focus on writing music and this is a very special time for me. I am sorry Rick, but we have to go now.”
make / am making
✅ make
ℹ️ She uses the present simple because this is a strong routine/a regular habit.
24. Rick: Ok. Well thanks Taylor for this interview. My daughter _________ all your songs and she will watch your performance later.
Taylor: That’s wonderful. It was nice to speak to you. Bye!
knows / is knowing
✅ knows
ℹ️ He uses the present simple because this is a state of being. 💡 Again, this another stative verb that we rarely use in the present continuous.
