The Present Simple and the Present Continuous 1A

By Rosamund Place | March 29, 2012

If you understand the difference between the present simple and the present continuous, you can apply the differences to all verb forms, not just to the present tense.

The present simple generally refers to

  • facts that are always true – The sun rises and goes down every day.
  • habits – Spaniards eat a lot of fish and seafood.
  • states – She doesn’t belong to a riding club.

State verbs describe a continuing state, so do not usually have a continuous form. Typical examples are:

believe, belong, consist, contain, doubt, fit, have, know, like, love, matter, mean, need, own, prefer, recognise, seem, suppose, suspect, understand, want, wish.

The present continuous generally refers to actions which are in progress at the moment.

  • They may be temporary: They’re living in a caravan until their house is ready to move into.

  • actually in progress: The taxi is waiting outside.

  • generally in progress but not actually happening at the moment: She’s going to Spanish classes this year.

  • or they may be an event in the near future: The London Philharmonic is coming up to Newcastle in the spring.

Can you decide between these two present tenses in the examples given?

 

1. [Multiple choice]

We ………… our holidays in Scotland every year.

Answers for Quiz [1].

  • 1. spend (correct)
  • 2. are spending

2. [Multiple choice]

The metro ………… until just after midnight.

Answers for Quiz [2].

  • 1. runs (correct)
  • 2. is running

3. [Multiple choice]

Peter Fox has been unwell recently, so his deputy ………… with the company’s finances.

Answers for Quiz [3].

  • 1. deals
  • 2. is dealing (correct)

4. [Multiple choice]

Mr James ………… in hospital and should be back soon.

Answers for Quiz [4].

  • 1. recovers
  • 2. is recovering (correct)

5. [Multiple choice]

We ………… to go to the cinema this evening.

Answers for Quiz [5].

  • 1. plan
  • 2. are planning (correct)

6. [Multiple choice]

What ………… this weekend?

Answers for Quiz [6].

  • 1. do you do
  • 2. are you doing (correct)

7. [Multiple choice]

These shoes …………… any more.

(This verb is mentioned in the list of state verbs which describe a continuous state anyway, so do not usually have a continuous form)

Answers for Quiz [7].

  • 1. don’t fit (correct)
  • 2. are not fitting

8. [Multiple choice]

You’re John, I ………… ?

Answers for Quiz [8].

  • 1. presume (correct)
  • 2. am presuming

9. [Multiple choice]

I ………… you from the photo on the wall.

(This verb is mentioned in the list of state verbs which do not usually have a continuous form. ‘Know’ and ‘remember’ are very similar in their use.)

Answers for Quiz [9].

  • 1. recognise (correct)
  • 2. am recognising

10. [Multiple choice]

Northern Opera ………… up here soon.

Answers for Quiz [10].

  • 1. comes
  • 2. is coming (correct)
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