Wider World 3 - Unit 1.2 - Grammar check worksheet - Free Printable

Let's solve the grammar exercise step by step and explain the correct answers.

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UNIT 1: Grammar Check

#### 1.2 Present Simple, Present Continuous, and State Verbs

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Part 1: Circle the correct form of the verbs

We need to choose between Present Simple (for habits, general truths) and Present Continuous (for actions happening now or around now).

1. My parents are sometimes listening / sometimes listen to the radio in the evenings.
✔ Answer: sometimes listen
👉 "Sometimes" indicates a habit → use Present Simple.
"Are sometimes listening" is grammatically incorrect because "sometimes" doesn't go with continuous tense like this. We say "listen sometimes" or "are listening sometimes" only if it's a temporary action, but here it's a regular habit.

2. Tom doesn’t play / isn’t playing computer games every day.
✔ Answer: doesn’t play
👉 "Every day" = habitual action → Present Simple.
"Isn’t playing" would be for an action not happening right now, but "every day" makes it a routine.

3. What do you do / are you doing this morning?
✔ Answer: are you doing
👉 "This morning" suggests something happening *now* → Present Continuous.
If it were "What do you do?" (general job), it would be simple present, but "this morning" implies current activity.

4. We aren’t visiting / don’t visit my cousin today. We’re at home.
✔ Answer: aren’t visiting
👉 "Today" + "We’re at home" → we're not doing it now → Present Continuous for planned future or current time.
"don’t visit" would imply they never visit, which contradicts the context.

5. Are you skateboarding / Do you skateboard at the park now?
✔ Answer: Are you skateboarding
👉 "Now" → action happening at this moment → Present Continuous.

6. I hate / I’m hating this film. Let’s watch something else!
✔ Answer: I hate
👉 "Hate" is a state verb (emotions). We don’t use continuous with state verbs. So "I’m hating" is incorrect.

7. Sara doesn’t often go / isn’t often going shopping in town. It’s expensive!
✔ Answer: doesn’t often go
👉 "Often" = frequency → Present Simple.
"Isn’t often going" is awkward and not standard; we use "doesn’t often go".

8. I don’t understand / I’m not understanding the teacher’s question.
✔ Answer: I don’t understand
👉 "Understand" is a state verb (mental state). We don’t use continuous with these. So "I’m not understanding" is incorrect.

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✔ Part 1 Answers:

1. sometimes listen
2. doesn’t play
3. are you doing
4. aren’t visiting
5. Are you skateboarding
6. I hate
7. doesn’t often go
8. I don’t understand

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Part 2: Use the verbs in brackets to complete the sentences. Use Present Simple or Present Continuous

0. My brother is working (work) this morning.
→ "This morning" = action happening now → Present Continuous

1. Harry always ________ (go) to the beach on Saturdays.
✔ goes
→ "Always" + "on Saturdays" = habitual action → Present Simple

2. What ________ you usually ________ (do) at the weekend?
✔ do / do
→ "Usually" = routine → Present Simple
Structure: "What do you usually do?"

3. Sara ________ (not / like) the skatepark in town.
✔ doesn’t like
→ "Like" is a state verb → use Present Simple
Negative: doesn’t like (subject is third person singular)

4. ________ Ali ________ (study) in his room now?
✔ Is / studying
→ "Now" = action happening at this moment → Present Continuous
Question: "Is Ali studying?"

5. ________ you ________ (see) what I mean about our difficult homework?
✔ Do / see
→ "See" = perception, but here it's asking if you understand → Present Simple
But note: "Do you see?" is acceptable for checking understanding.
So: "Do you see what I mean?"

6. Skateboarders ________ always ________ (not / wear) helmets at the park.
✔ don’t / wear
→ "Always" = habitual action → Present Simple
Negative: "don’t wear" (plural subject)

7. Sam and Petra ________ (not / practise) for the concert this morning.
✔ aren’t practising
→ "This morning" = action happening now → Present Continuous
Negative: "aren’t practising"

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✔ Part 2 Answers:

1. goes
2. do / do
3. doesn’t like
4. Is / studying
5. Do / see
6. don’t / wear
7. aren’t practising

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🔍 Summary of Key Rules:

- Present Simple: Habits, routines, general truths, facts.
- e.g., "She works", "They go to school", "I like coffee"
- Present Continuous: Actions happening now, temporary situations, planned future events.
- e.g., "He is reading", "They are coming tomorrow"
- State Verbs (like *know, understand, hate, like, believe*) → NOT used in continuous tenses
- ✘ I’m knowing the answer → ✔ I know the answer

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✔ Final Answer Sheet:

#### Part 1:
1. sometimes listen
2. doesn’t play
3. are you doing
4. aren’t visiting
5. Are you skateboarding
6. I hate
7. doesn’t often go
8. I don’t understand

#### Part 2:
1. goes
2. do / do
3. doesn’t like
4. Is / studying
5. Do / see
6. don’t / wear
7. aren’t practising

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