PRESENT SIMPLE vs PRESENT CONTINUOUS:

1. Complete the sentences with the Present Simple or the Present Continuous form of the
same verb:

a) My brother usually ------------------------- jeans and a sweater but he

----------------------------- a suit today.
b) Tony -------------------------- for the Disney Corporation in Long Beach. He
-------------------------------- with another engineer this afternoon.
c) I ----------------------------- a lot of coffee but I ------------------------------- a glass of
water right now.
d) I --------------------------- lessons with a local driving school. I usually
-------------------------- three lessons a week.
e) Shirlee never ------------------------- TV during the day. She
-------------------------------- the news at the moment because her children are
asleep.
f) I ------------------------- every night in bed and I --------------------------- a really
good book at the moment.
g) John --------------------------- at New York University. He ------------------------------
English Literature II this semester.
h) Donna and Brenda --------------------- to salsa clubs every Friday night. They
------------------------------- to salsa classes to learn to dance salsa.

2. Here are some exchanges from an interview between an American jounalist and a
French actor. Complete them with the correct tenses (Present Simple or Present
Continuous):

- How do you start to work on a film?

- I --------------------------------- the script and -------------------------------- notes. (read/

make)

- I ---------------------------------- notes of our interview. I hope you don’t mind. (make)

- No, that’s OK.

- What languages-----------------------------------------? (you/ speak)

- English, French and Spanish.

- I’m glad we --------------------------------------- this interview in English. My French isn’t

very good. (do)

- Who ---------------------------------- the guitar? (play)

- My son, when he has time.

- Who ----------------------------------- the piano upstairs? (play)

- My sister. She’s got a concert tomorrow.

- What --------------------------------------------? (she/ play)

- I think it’s a piece by Mozart.

- ------------------------------------------- anything else? (she/ play)

- The violin. She is very musical.

- Your daughter is very keen on sport, isn’t she?

- Yes, she ----------------------------------------- tennis. (play)

- Where is she now?

- She ------------------------------------------- tennis, as usual. (play)

- What’s that delicious smell?

- My wife --------------------------------------------- (cook)

- Is that usual?

- Yes, normally I ------------------------------------- and my wife

------------------------------------ (shop/ cook)

- What a lovely clock!

- It --------------------------------------, I’m afraid. It’s been broken for years. (work)

- Could I use your phone?

- I’m afraid it --------------------------------- at the moment. (work)

- ------------------------------------------------- making films? (you/ enjoy)

- Yes, I love it!

- --------------------------------------------------- this last film? (you/ enjoy)

- Mmh, not so much. I don’t like the script.

- OK, that’s it. Thanks a lot for your time!

- Thank you!
A LOT OF, MANY and MUCH:
THERE IS- THERE ARE/ SOME- ANY:
WILL vs. BE+ GOING TO: