Students struggle with this on a regular basis so it is necessary for them to have a lot of practice. Present simple is used for habitual action and things that are always true; however, present continuous is used for things that are in progress. For example:
"The queen lives in England." - This is something that is always true present continuous.
"I brush my teeth every morning." - This is an habitual action.
"I am eating a hamburger." - This is something that I am doing now.
Remember the form of the present simple and the present continuous:
Present continuous has the subject+verb+-ing eg. "I am playing"
Present simple has subject plus verb eg. "I play"
Remember that the third person singularhe/she/it takes -s in the present simple eg. "He/she/it plays."
Try this exercise for practice. The tense in each sentence is incorrect change the verb so that the tense in each sentence will be correct. Write the correct sentence in the space below. Remember to include full-stops (periods).
I am playing soccer every day.
She sings now.
Do you play tennis at the moment?
We are going to school every day.
He eats his lunch now.
They are playing soccer every Wednesday.
Obama is saying a speech once a week.
Mary is singing every Sunday.
My aunt is going to choir every Monday.
My brother is playing soccer three times a week.
Show Correct SentencesHide Sentences
I play soccer every day.
She is singing now.
Are you playing tennis at the moment?
We go to school every day.
He is eating his lunch now.
They play soccer every Wednesday.
Obama says a speech once a week.
Mary sings every Sunday.
My aunt goes to choir every Monday.
My brother plays soccer three times a week.
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