The Present Simple and the Present Continuous 1B

By Rosamund Place | March 30, 2012

The Present Simple and the Present Continuous B

The differences between the present simple and the present continuous apply to all verb forms, not just to the present tense.

The present simple generally refers to

  • facts that are always true – Water freezes at 0 0 Celsius and boils at 100 0 Celsius
  • habits – He attends a clinic twice a week. She doesn’t practise the violin as often as she should.
  • states – I need to take more exercise. She has an amazing memory.

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

Believe, belong, consist, contain, deserve, 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: She’s renting a flat in Lincoln.

    actually in progress: Richard is washing the car – could he ring you back?

    generally in progress but not actually happening at the moment: We‘re joining a bookclub.

    or an event in the near future: Leeds Contemporary Dance is performing some new ballets next season.

Can you select the correct form of the present in these examples?

1. [Multiple choice]

They ………… Britten’s Peter Grimes.

Answers for Quiz [1].

  • 1. do
  • 2. are doing (correct)

2. [Multiple choice]

He ………… to earn more than I do because he works harder than I do.

(Deserve is a state noun which hardly ever has a continuous form.)

Answers for Quiz [2].

  • 1. deserves (correct)
  • 2. is deserving

3. [Multiple choice]

He ……… to think the firm will downsize next year.

(Seem is one of the state verbs which do not usually have a continuous form)

Answers for Quiz [3].

  • 1. seems (correct)
  • 2. is seeming

4. [Multiple choice]

I ……… if that is actually the case.

(Doubt is one of the state verbs which do not usually have a continuous form)

Answers for Quiz [4].

  • 1. doubt (correct)
  • 2. am doubting

5. [Multiple choice]

We ………… fish twice a week.

Answers for Quiz [5].

  • 1. cook (correct)
  • 2. are cooking

6. [Multiple choice]

The film ………… about 2 hours.

Answers for Quiz [6].

  • 1. lasts (correct)
  • 2. is lasting

7. [Multiple choice]

They ………… Italy pretty well every year.

Answers for Quiz [7].

  • 1. visit (correct)
  • 2. are visiting

8. [Multiple choice]

We ………… lots of salads and vegetarian food.

Answers for Quiz [8].

  • 1. usually eat (correct)
  • 2. are usually eating

9. [Multiple choice]

I don’t know why Mary is giving up her job at the greengrocer’s. I hope she ………… what she’s doing…..

(Know is one of the state verbs which do not usually have a continuous form. Believe is another one you’ll have noticed.)

Answers for Quiz [9].

  • 1. knows (correct)
  • 2. is knowing

10. [Multiple choice]

Matthew ………. chemistry at university.

Answers for Quiz [10].

  • 1. studies
  • 2. is studying (correct)
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