Simple Present or Present Continuous 1

Question 1

We use it when the action is not finished?

Answer 1

We use it when the action is not finished? Present continuous

• We‘re enjoying the party.
• I‘m reading.

Question 2

We normally use it with like, love, want, need, prefer, know, realize, suppose, understand, believe, remember, seem, mean, fit, etc.

Answer 2

Simple present. With use it with non continus verb (APE: abstract verbs, possessive verbs, emotion verbs)

• I want something to eat.
• Do you understand what I mean?
• She doesn’t seem very happy.

Question 3

We use it about changes happening around now.

Answer 3

We use it about changes happening around now. Present continuous.

• Is your English getting better?
• The population is increasing very fast.

Question 4

We use it for something happens all the time or repeatedly (fact).

Answer 4

Simple present

The Earth goes around the Sun.

The coffee shop opens at 7:00 in the morning.

Question 5

We use it wtih today, this week, this year, etc. (periods around now).

Answer 5

Present continuous.

• The company isn’t doing so well this year.
• You’re working hard today.

Question 6

We use in in the middle of doing something.

Answer 6

Present continuous.

• Some friends of mine are building their own house.

Question 7

Which category of important verbs cannot use with present continuous?

Answer 7

The non-continuous verbs.

Abstract verbs such to be, to want, to cost, to seem, to need, to care, to contain, to owe, to exist…

Possession verbs such to have (= to posses), to possess, to own, to belong…

Emotion verbs such to like, to love, to hate, to dislike, to fear, to envy, to mind…

Question 8

We use it to talk about permanent situations.

Answer 8

Simple present.

• My parents live in Quebec.
• She works hard most of the time.

Question 9

We use it to talk about thing in general (generalization).

Answer 9

Simple present. (generalization)

• It doesn’t rain very much in Summer.
• Most people don’t like pain.

Question 10

We use it with ‘‘promise’’, ‘‘apologize’’, “refuse”, “suppose”, “insist”, “advise”, etc.

Answer 10

Simple present. Non-continuous verbs (abstract verbs).

• I promise I won’t be late.

Question 11

We use it around the time of speaking.

Answer 11

Present continuous.

• (On the phone) I_‘m reading_ a good book at the moment.

Question 12

We use it (with always) for things arrive very often, too often or more often that normal (bad habit).

Answer 12

Present continuous. _{(bad habit)}

• I_‘m_ always losing my keys.
• He_‘s_ always complaining.

Question 13

We use it to talk about temporary situations.

Answer 13

Present continuous.

• I_‘m leaving_ with some friends until I find a place.
• You’re working hard today.

Question 14

We use it at the time of speaking.

Answer 14

Present continuous.

• He’s taking a shower.
• It isn’t raining anymore.

Question 15

We use it to say how often we do things _{(repeated actions)}.

Answer 15

Simple present. _{(repeated actions)}

• I get up at 7:00 every morning.
• She doesn’t drink coffee very often.

Question 16

We use for something is true in general.

Answer 16

Simple present

• Most people don’t like pain.
• Nurses take care of patient in hospitals.

Question 17

Air _____ (consist) mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Answer 17

Air consists _{<em>(fact)</em>} mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Question 18

Can you ear those peoples? What _____ (they / talk) about?

Answer 18

Can you ear those peoples? What are they talking about? _{<em>(at time of speaking)</em>}

Question 19

Rachel is in New York right now. She _____ (stay) a the Park Hotel. She always _____ (stay) there when she’s in Big Apple.

Answer 19

Rachel is in New York right now. She’s staying a the Park Hotel _{(time of speaking)}. She always stays _{(repeated action)}there when she’s in Big Apple.

Question 20

Oh, I forget my glasses again! That’s typical! You _____ (always / forget) your glasses.

Answer 20

Oh, I forget my glasses again! That’s typical! You’re always forgetting your glasses _{(bad habit)}.

Question 21

Why isn’t Steve at work today? _____ (he / be) sick?

Answer 21

Why isn’t Steve at work today? Is he sick? _(state)

Question 22

I usually _____ (enjoy) parties, but I _____ (not / enjoy) this one very much.

Answer 22

I usually enjoy _(fact) parties, but I’m not enjoying _{(time of speaking)} this one very much.

Question 23

I can’t understand why he _____ (be) so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.

Answer 23

I can’t understand why he’s being _(behaving) so selfish. He isn’t usually like that.

Question 24

You’re usually very patient, so why _____ (you / be) unreasonable about waiting 10 more minutes?

Answer 24

You’re usually very patient, so why are you being _{<em>(</em>behaving)} unreasonable about waiting 10 more minutes?

Question 25

Paul is never late. He \_\_\_\_\_ (always / get) to work on time.

Answer 25

Paul is never late. He always _gets_ _{(repeated action)} to work on time.

Question 26

They don't get along well. They _____ (always / argue).

Answer 26

They don't get along well. They'_re_ always _arguing_. _{(bad habit)}

Question 27

I _____ (always / drive) to work.

Answer 27

I always _drive_ to work. _{(repeated action)}

Question 28

Are you hungry? __________ (you / want) something to eat?

Answer 28

Are you hungry? _Do you want_ _{(mental operation)} something to eat?

Question 29

Alan says he's 80 years old, but nobody ____ (believe) him.

Answer 29

Alan says he's 80 years old, but nobody _believes_ him. _{(abstract verb)}

Question 30

Don't put the dicionnary away. I _____ (use) it.

Answer 30

Don't put the dictionnary away. _I'm using_ it. _{(at the time of speaking)}

Question 31

She told me her name, but I _____ (not / remember) it now.

Answer 31

She told me her name, but I _don't remember_* * _{(abstract verb)} it now.

Question 32

I _____ (feel) hungry. Is there anything to eat?

Answer 32

_I'm feeling_ _(behaving) hungry. Is there anything to eat?

Question 33

The Moon _____ (go) around the Earth in about 27 days.

Answer 33

The Moon _goes_ _(fact) around the Earth in about 27 days.

Question 34

I usually _____ (drive) to work.

Answer 34

I usually _drive_ _{(repeated action)} to work.

Question 35

Nicky _____ (think) of giving up her job.

Answer 35

Nicky _is thinking_ _{(to consider)} of giving up her job.

Question 36

What _____ (your brother / do)? He's an architect, but he _____ (not / work) right now.

Answer 36

What _does_ your brother _do_ _(fact)? He's an architect, but he _isn't working_ right now _{(at time of speaking)}.

Question 37

Look! That man _____ (try) to open the door of your car.

Answer 37

Look! That man **_is trying_** _{(at time of speaking)} to open the door of your car.

Question 38

The car has broken down again. That car is useless. It _____ (always / break down).

Answer 38

The car has broken down again. That car is useless. _It's always breaking_ down *(bad habit)*.

Question 39

"Hurry up! It's time to leave." "OK, I ____ (come)."

Answer 39

"Hurry up! It's time to leave." "OK, _I'm coming_ _{(at time of speaking)}."

Question 40

I hear you've got a new job. How _____ (it / go)?

Answer 40

I hear you've got a new job. How'_s_ it _going_? _{(action around now)}

Question 41

Water _____ (boil) at 100 degrees Celsius.

Answer 41

Water **_boils_** _(fact)* *at 100 degrees Celsius.

Question 42

Can we stop walking soon? I ______ (start) to feel tired.

Answer 42

Can we stop walking soon? _I'm starting_ to feel tired. _{(change happening around now)}