Simple Present / Present Progressive Exercises

Usage: When to use which tense?

1) For present actions happening one after another, we use .
2) For actions happening while speaking, we use .
3) For arrangements for the near future, we use .
4) For actions set by a schedule or timetable, we use .
5) Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words:
sometimes, never, every day?
6) Which tense do you have to use with the following signal words: Listen!, at
the moment, right now?
Positive sentences: Complete the sentences.
1) The lesson (start) at 9 o'clock.
2) He often (wear) a black cap.
3) I (meet) my friends in the youth club tonight.
4) My friend (move) house tomorrow.
5) My birthday (be) in September.
Negative sentences
1) She (not / ride) her bike right now.
2) We (not / stay) at home tonight.
3) I (not / like) bananas.
4) They (not / know) the answer.
5) I (not / sit) in the garden at the moment.
Question
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) When (arrive / the plane) ?
2) (visit / you) Jane in hospital today?
3) What time (get up / you) in the mornings?
4) Why (cry / she) now?
5) (swim / they) in the pool at the moment?
Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence. Use Present Progressive
a) Ashley is going to a restaurant. Where is Ashley going?
b) Gareth is reading the paper. ____________________________________
c) Stacey is playing in the garden. _________________________________
d) She is wearing a red dress. _____________________________________
e) Britney is doing her homework. _________________________________
f) Mandy is leaving at nine. ____________________________________
g) Joe is repairing his bike. ____________________________________
h) Amanda is going out with Dan. __________________________________
i) They are meeting at two o'clock. _______________________________
j) Sandy is looking for Phil. ________________________________
Context
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) I (live) in London.
2) This weekend, I (visit) my friends in Brighton.
3) The train to Brighton (leave) London at 6.45 in the morning.
4) In the early afternoon, we (want) to go on a sightseeing tour.
5) In the evening, we (go) to a concert.
6) The concert (start) at 8 o'clock.
7) I (come) back to London on Sunday.
8) My train (arrive) in London at 7.50 in the evening.
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.
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1) James (live) in a little village.
2) He (be) in his last year at school.
3) After school, James (want) to become a banker.
4) So this week, he (do) a practical course in a bank.
5) There (be) a bank in a nearby town, but James (have) to take the bus to
get there.
6) The bus (leave) at 5.30 in the morning and (return) at 8.15 in the evening.
7) James (not / like) to spend so much time in town before and after work,
waiting for the bus.
8) Therefore, this week he (stay) with his aunt, who (live) in town.
9) James usually (wear) jeans and t-shirts, but while he (work) for the bank
now, he (wear) a suit and a tie.
Answers
Usage
When to use which tense?
1) Simple Present.
2) Present Progressive.
3) Present Progressive.
4) Simple Present.
5) Simple Present
6) Present Progressive
Positive sentences
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) starts (action set by a timetable or schedule - Simple Present)
2) wears (in general Simple Present)
3) am meeting (arrangement for the near future - Present Progressive)
4) is moving (arrangement for the near future - Present Progressive)
5) is (in general Simple Present)
Negative sentences
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) is not riding
2) are not staying
3) I do not like
4) They do not know
5) I am not sitting
Question
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) When does the plane arrive ?
2) Are you visiting Jane in hospital today?
3) What time do you get up in the mornings?
4) Why is she crying now?
5) Are they swimming in the pool at the moment?
Context
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present or Present Progressive.
1) I live in London.
2) This weekend, I am visiting my friends in Brighton.
3) The train to Brighton leaves London at 6.45 in the morning.
4) In the early afternoon, we want to go on a sightseeing tour.
5) In the evening, we are going to a concert.
6) The concert starts at 8 o'clock.
7) I am coming back to London on Sunday.
8) My train arrives in London at 7.50 in the evening.
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1) I am very busy today.
2) At noon I am visiting my friend Tanya.
3) We want to have lunch together.
4) In the afternoon I am playing squash with Emily.
5) In the evening, I am meeting Rob.
6) We are going to the cinema.
7) The film starts at 8 pm.
Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.
1) James lives in a little village.
2) He is in his last year at school.
3) After school, James wants to become a banker.
4) So this week, he is doing a practical course in a bank.
5) There is a bank in a nearby town, but James has to take the bus to get
there.
6) The bus leaves at 5.30 in the morning and returns at 8.15 in the evening.
7) James does not like to spend so much time in town before and after work,
waiting for the bus.
8) Therefore, this week he is staying with his aunt, who lives in town.
9) James usually wears jeans and t-shirts, but while he is working for the
bank now, he is wearing a suit and a tie.