Do you get confused between the present simple tense and the present continuous tense? If you do, this short guide and exercises will help you.
What Is the Present Simple Tense?
The present simple tense shows a habitual or frequent action. It may also express a fact.
We form the simple present tense by adding -s or -es to the verb if the subject is singular and in the third-person point of view. Otherwise, we use the base form of the verb.
Here are some examples:
- I bathe my dog every week to keep them clean and fresh.
- The bell rings every 3 PM to gather all the students.
- People line up every day to buy his famous cookies.
- She loves drinking tea.
- Tulips grow in early spring.
What Is the Present Continuous Tense?
The present continuous tense is a way to convey an action that is currently happening. The present continuous form of the verb uses is, are, or am with the present participle verb form.
Below are some sentence examples.
- She is waiting for you at home.
- Julius and Miguel are driving to Hartford.
- I am sitting on the floor with Naomi.
- Is she doing her homework?
- You are writing an essay.
Do not use the present continuous tense and other continuous tenses with stative verbs or verbs that show a state of being.
Let’s Review Present Simple vs. Present Continuous
I hope these exercises helped you master two of the most confusing verb tenses in English. Don’t forget to use the answer key to check your answers. Remember:
- The present simple tense expresses habitual actions and general truths.
- The present continuous tense expresses ongoing actions.