Practice distinguishing between the simple present and present continuous with the following exercises. You can test your ability to understand the context and choose the most suitable tense!

Feel free to review the lesson and watch the videos on this topic to refresh your memory!

The exercises

Exercise 1

Complete the verb in parentheses using the simple present tense:

1. He ________ (not / to like) chocolate, he ________ (to prefer) candy.
2.  I usually ________ (not / to work) on weekends.
3. She often ________ (to read) before bed.
4. We ________ (to run) every day.
5. Cats ________ (to eat) mice.

Exercise 2

Put the verb in parentheses in present continuous :

1. ________ (they / to come) with us tonight?
2. They ________ (not / to sleep) right now. 
3. Excuse me, ________ (you / to talk) to me?
4. I ________ (to have) a hard time these days.
5. The kids ________ (to play) in the garden at the moment.

Exercise 3

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses (simple present or present continuous)

1. She ________ (to study) for her exams right now.
2. We ________ (not / to go) to the beach this weekend.
3. He ________ (to visit) his grandparents every Sunday.
4. It ________ (to sound) like someone ________ (to cry).
5. We’re _________ (to go) to Canada this summer.

Exercise 4

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses (simple present or present continuous) to complete the questions.

1. ________ (you / to enjoy) the party?
2. Is he _______ (to eat)?
3. ______ (they / to take) the bus to work every day?
4. What ________ (you / to do) for a living?
5. Does it look like it ________ (to rain)?