PRESENT SIMPLE AND CONTINOUS - KEY

1 Choose the most suitable tense.

a I’m cooking ; b Do you like; c flows; d Are you waiting; e You are always borrowing!


2 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous.

a do you do

 b are you looking at;  Am I wearing?

c  are you reading?

d I still have; it is getting better.

e What  do the people here do?

f The light from the Sun takes

g I am looking  after; do you want?

h Who  is  Sue dancing with?

i That plant I bought  is not  growing very much. And I water it every day.

j Which hotel  do you stay in whenever you  come here?

k This flower smells wonderful.

l I am just  tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt.

m She thinks  that I would be happier in another job.

n We are thinking  of buying a new car.

o They usually have  breakfast at home, but today they  are having  it at work.

p Bob is being  rather difficult at the moment.


3 Put each verb in brackets into either the present simple or the present continuous.

Dear Aunt Jean,

I am just writing to tell you how much I appreciate the money you sent me, and to tell you how I am
getting on in my first term at university. Actually, I am really enjoying myself! I am studying
quite hard as well, but at the moment I am spending  a lot of time just making friends. I  am still
staying with my friend Sue, and I am looking for  somewhere of my own to live. Only a few of the
first-year students live in college here, and I seem  to be spending a lot of time travelling
backwards and forwards. I go  to lectures every morning, and most afternoons I study in the
library. In fact I am writing  this letter instead of an essay on ‘Hamlet’! I think  I’ll buy some
new clothes with the money you sent. Everything costs  a lot here, and I am saving to buy a winter
coat. It is getting really cold here in the evenings. I know lots of other students and generally
speaking we have  quite a good time socially! I am also learning to drive.

See you soon, Katherine



4  Put each verb in brackets into the most appropriate future time form (use either the present
simple or the present continuous).

a I cannot see you on Thursday afternoon. I am visiting our Birmingham branch.

b What time  does your plane leave?

c Can you call me at 7:00, because we are leaving tomorrow.

d According to this timetable, the bus arrives at 6:00.

e I have to finish it now because I am meeting Jack in two hours.

f When does the concert  starts? – It  starts at seven.