2.

Present Simple and Present

Continuous
When do we use the Present Simple and
Present Continuous?
We use the Present Simple for facts and routines and the Present
Continuous for something happening at the moment of
speaking.
I always play football on Thursdays, but today
I’m sitting at home.

We also use the Present Continuous for something happening

around now but maybe not at the moment of speaking.

Is she enjoying school at the moment?

He isn’t talking to his dad these days.
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 Read the text below and find examples of:
a) a routine or habit b) a general fact
c) something happening now or around now

I often meet my friend Daisy in town on Saturdays,

and we go clothes shopping together. Clothes cost
a lot of money, so we don’t always buy anything,
but it’s fun to look! In winter, we look for cool coats
and winter hats. But it’s hot at the moment, so we
aren’t wearing coats when we go out. Today we’re
looking for nice cotton tops.

Look at the underlined examples.

a) b) c)

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How do we choose between Present
Simple and Present Continuous?
Present Simple Present Continuous
For facts and routines For something happening at the moment of
speaking

Bro lives
(live) in Hollywood. What are(you/do)
you doing under the table?

plays his guitar every day.

Lee (play) I ’m (look
looking
for) for my earring.

Amy and Sam don’t tidy their room.

(not tidy) For something happening around now but
maybe not at the moment of speaking
What time do you get
(you/get up)up ?
Is she(she/enjoy)
enjoying school at the moment?

Time expressions He isn’t talking to his dad these days.

(not/talk)
these days, at the moment,
this week/month

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 Practice Time
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the words in brackets.

’s raining
1. Oh no! It __________________ (rain) again!

Do you live (you/live) here in Berlin?

2. A: __________________

don’t
B: No, I __________________. ’m visiting
I __________________ (visit) the city for the weekend.

’s saving
3. He __________________ (save) money at the moment to buy a leather jacket.

often goes
4. Gemma __________________ (often/go) to Tenerife on holiday.

don’t speak (not/speak) much French, but we __________________

5. Jim and I __________________ ’re trying (try)
to learn more before our trip to Paris.

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