Basic Questions (1A)
Freddy always ____ (wash) his car every week.
washes
Present simple (habitual/regular action)
Billy: "I'm ____ (work) on my English essay."
Dad: "That's great. How's it going?"
working
Present continuous:
Action in progress at time of speaking
Roxanne ____ (take) the dog for a walk this morning.
took
past simple: finished action in the past
At 1:45 PM, the 3ºESO students _____ (study) in class.
At 1:45 PM, the 3ºESO students were studying (study) in class.
Past continuous: action in progress at a certain time in the past.
I ____ (watch) The Simpsons all the time as a teenager.
I used to watch The Simpsons all the time as a teenager.
Many species of birds ____ (migrate) thousands of miles each year in order to find the best climate in which to live.
migrate
Present simple (general truth/fact)
Lynn _____ (pursue) a two-year masters in culinary arts. She will graduate in 2026.
Pursuing
Pres. Continuous: Unfinished action in progress at time of speaking
A: "Do you play with legos?"
B: "I ____ (play) with legos when I ____ a little kid."
played, was
past simple: past routine, habits, situation
I _____ (try) to remember Abby's last name, when the principal walked in and called her by her full name.
I was trying (try) to remember Abby's last name, when the principal walked in and called her by her full name.
past continuous: past routine/habits/situation
Dave ____ (read) electrical engineering textbooks in his free time.
Dave used to read electrical engineering textbooks in his free time.
departs
Present simple as a future tense for timetables.
My grandparents ____ (make) lunch for our whole family at their house this Sunday.
Present continuous:
Planned action in the future
I ___ (wake up), _____ (get) out of bed, and ____ (run) a comb across my head. Then I ____ (leave) for school.
I woke up, got out of bed, and ran a comb across my head. Then I left for school.
Past simple: several actions in the past that all started, finished, and happened one after another.
Matilda ____ (prepare) the paint brushes while Tashawn was _____ (wipe down) the wall. Later the two started painting the wall orange.
Matilda was preparing the paint brushes while Tashawn was wiping down the wall. Later the two started painting the wall orange.
Past continuous: Two actions in progress at the same moment in the past.
Did you ______ (act) as a child? You're very good at it.
NQ
Did you used to act as a child? You're very good at it.
Sports commentator:
"Ronaldinho ___ (kick) the ball with his foot, and it ___ (go) in the goal! He ____ (score)!!!!!"
kicks, goes, scores
Present simple: Dramatic narration of a sports event event, or the dramatic telling of a story.
Shawn __ always ______ (clip) his fingernails during class. I can't stand the clicking sound of the nail clippers!
Shawn is always clipping
Present Continuous: to describe an annoying habit that a person continues doing.
Jennifer ___ (jump) down from the box and ____ (look) at her phone. 9:17, the boat would leave in 5 minutes and she still hadn't recovered the missing documents in the dark storage room.
Jennifer jumped (jump) down from the box and looked (look) at her phone. 9:17, the boat would leave in 5 minutes and she still hadn't recovered the missing documents in the dark storage room.
Past simple: main events in a story
I _____ (cook) dinner when the dog ____ (start) barking.
Trick question!!
Past continuous: One action in progress interrupted by another
My grandfather ____ (walk) to work at the shipyard everyday when he was young.
My grandfather would walk to work at the shipyard everyday when he was young.
Sally ____ (enjoy) the mountains with her family, but what she really likes is eating out at a restaurant with her friends.
enjoys
Present simple: Stative verbs use simple not continuous form. (WB98)
My sister is forever ____ (leave) all of her big assignments until the last minute. She procrastinates so much that she is always really stressed
leaving
Present continuous for something annoying someone down in accurately that are near habitual (with forever and always).
When Tommy ____ (walk) in the door, Zora was still _____ (read).
When Tommy walked in the door, Zora was still reading.
Past simple and past continuous
We ____ (eat) at the restaurant, the band ____ (play) live jazz and it ____ (to be) raining outside. What a cozy evening!
We were eating at the restaurant, the band was playing live jazz and it was raining outside. What a cozy evening!
Past continuous: background information or description in a story
Back in those days I would take public transit whenever I could.