Present Simple Rules
Complete the sentence and name the rule:
“My father ______ to work by bus every day.” (go)
Answer: goes. With he/she/it in the present simple, we usually add -s or -es to the verb.
Complete the question:
“Why ______ Laura ______ her phone?” (check)
Answer: is / checking
“Why is Laura checking her phone?”
Present continuous form: am/is/are + verb-ing.
Which verb is normally stative?
a) run
b) contain
c) write
d) cook
Answer: b) contain. It describes a state, not an action.
Choose the correct form:
“We ______ lunch with our grandparents at the moment.”
a) have
b) are having
Answer: b) are having.
Here, have lunch means eating, an action.
Find and correct the mistake:
“I’m knowing the answer, but I won't tell you.”
Answer: I know the answer, but I won't tell you.
Know is normally a state verb.
Make a correct question:
“what time / the train / leave / tomorrow?”
Answer: What time does the train leave tomorrow?
Use does + subject + base verb in present simple questions. The present simple can describe a timetable.
Choose the correct sentence:
a) “I am not working this week.”
b) “I don’t working this week.”
Answer: a) I am not working this week.
Negative present continuous: am/is/are + not + verb-ing.
Correct the sentence:
“This bag is containing my books.”
Answer: This bag contains my books.
Contain is normally a state verb, so we do not usually use it in the continuous.
Choose the correct form:
“We ______ three cats.”
a) have
b) are having
Answer: a) have.
Here, have means own or possess, so it is stative.
Choose the correct form:
“Why ______ you ______ so rude today?”
a) are / being
b) do / be
Answer: a) are / being.
We can use be + being to talk about temporary behaviour.
Correct the sentence and explain both mistakes:
“Maria don’t studies English on Fridays.”
Answer: Maria doesn’t study English on Fridays.
With she, use doesn’t. After does/doesn’t, use the base form: study, not studies.
Write the correct -ing forms:
Answer:
Choose the correct form:
“I ______ your point, but I don’t agree with you.”
a) see
b) am seeing
Answer: a) see.
Here, see means understand, so it is stative.
Explain the difference:
Answer:
Complete the dialogue.
A: “Why ______ you ______ that coat?” (wear)
B: “Because it ______ very cold today.” (be)
Answer:
A: “Why are you wearing that coat?”
B: “Because it is very cold today.”
Rule: Wear is an action, but be describes a state.
Choose the correct form and explain why:
“Water ______ at 100°C.”
a) boils
b) is boiling
Answer: a) boils.
We use the present simple for facts and general truths.
Choose the best option and explain the difference:
“Our plane ______ at 9:15 tomorrow, but we ______ the taxi at 6:30.”
a) leaves / are taking
b) is leaving / take
Answer: a) leaves / are taking.
We use present simple for a fixed timetable and present continuous for a personal arrangement.
Complete both sentences with the correct form of weigh:
Answer:
Rule: In sentence 1, weigh describes a state/measurement. In sentence 2, it describes an action.
Complete both sentences with the correct form of think:
Answer:
Rule: Think meaning “have an opinion” is stative. Think about meaning “consider” is an action.
Find and correct the three mistakes.
“Ahmed is usually walk to school, but this week he walks by bus because he is having a broken leg.”
Answer:
“Ahmed usually walks to school, but this week he is going by bus because he has a broken leg.”
Complete the text with the correct present simple forms:
“My cousin ______ (study) architecture. She ______ (not live) near the university, so she ______ (take) two buses. Her first class ______ (start) at 7:00 a.m.”
Answer:
“My cousin studies architecture. She doesn’t live near the university, so she takes two buses. Her first class starts at 7:00 a.m.”
Correct all the mistakes:
“This month, my parents are work from home. They work on a special project, so they are usually finishing late.”
Answer:
“This month, my parents are working from home. They are working on a special project, so they are usually finishing late.”
Rules: Use be + verb-ing for temporary situations. Usually can be used with present continuous to describe a temporary repeated situation.
Complete both sentences with the correct form of come:
Answer:
Rule: Come from means “live in/be from,” so it is stative. Is coming describes movement or travel.
Choose the correct sentence and explain the meaning.
a) “Daniel is helpful.”
b) “Daniel is being helpful today.”
Answer: Both can be correct.
Complete the text with the correct forms.
“Normally, I ______ (not enjoy) large parties, but I ______ (have) a great time tonight. My friends ______ (dance), and I ______ (talk) to some new people. I ______ (think) this party is much better than I expected.”
Answer:
“Normally, I don’t enjoy large parties, but I am having a great time tonight. My friends are dancing, and I am talking to some new people. I think this party is much better than I expected.”
Rules: Enjoy usually describes a general preference in present simple; am having a great time describes a current experience; actions happening now use present continuous; think here means “have an opinion.”