Present simple / Present continuous - ESL worksheet by catarina ... - Free Printable

Task: Complete the sentences using the Present Simple and Present Continuous tenses as instructed.

#### 1. Complete the sentences using the Present Simple.

- a. My mother ________ (not / like) cooking.
- Answer: My mother does not like cooking.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for habitual actions or general truths. To form a negative sentence in the Present Simple, we use "do/does + not" followed by the base form of the verb. Since the subject is "My mother" (third person singular), we use "does not."

- b. Today it ________ (be) very cold.
- Answer: Today it is very cold.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense can also be used to describe current conditions or states. For the verb "be," the correct form for the third person singular is "is."

- c. I always ________ (wake) up at eight o'clock.
- Answer: I always wake up at eight o'clock.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for regular habits. Since the subject is "I" (first person singular), the verb remains in its base form.

- d. ________ (you / drink) milk every day?
- Answer: Do you drink milk every day?
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for habitual actions. For questions with the Present Simple, we use "do/does" followed by the subject and the base form of the verb. Since the subject is "you" (second person), we use "do."

- e. Jack and John ________ (go) to school by car.
- Answer: Jack and John go to school by car.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for regular habits. Since the subject is plural ("Jack and John"), the verb remains in its base form.

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#### 2. Complete the sentences using the Present Continuous.

- a. Richard ________ (have) a shower now. He can’t come to the phone.
- Answer: Richard is having a shower now. He can’t come to the phone.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking. It is formed by using "am/is/are + verb-ing." Since the subject is "Richard" (third person singular), we use "is."

- b. Anna ________ (not / watch) a film.
- Answer: Anna is not watching a film.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions. To form a negative sentence, we use "am/is/are + not + verb-ing." Since the subject is "Anna" (third person singular), we use "is not."

- c. Look, Michael ________ (play) football over there. Let’s talk to him.
- Answer: Look, Michael is playing football over there. Let’s talk to him.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking. Since the subject is "Michael" (third person singular), we use "is."

- d. ________ (the baby / sleep) now?
- Answer: Is the baby sleeping now?
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used for ongoing actions. For questions, we use "am/is/are + subject + verb-ing." Since the subject is "the baby" (third person singular), we use "Is."

- e. Look at all those people over there. I don’t know what ________ (happen).
- Answer: Look at all those people over there. I don’t know what is happening.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions. Since the subject of the verb "happen" is implied (it is an action happening right now), we use "is happening."

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#### 3. Complete the sentences using the verbs in brackets in the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

- a. I ________ (listen) to music every day.
- Answer: I listen to music every day.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for regular habits. Since the subject is "I" (first person singular), the verb remains in its base form.

- b. Look, Silvia ________ (cry). Let’s see what’s wrong.
- Answer: Look, Silvia is crying. Let’s see what’s wrong.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking. Since the subject is "Silvia" (third person singular), we use "is."

- c. That Maths exercise that you ________ (do) looks very difficult.
- Answer: That Maths exercise that you are doing looks very difficult.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe ongoing actions. Since the subject is "you" (second person), we use "are."

- d. He usually ________ (go) jogging on Sundays.
- Answer: He usually goes jogging on Sundays.
- Explanation: The Present Simple tense is used for regular habits. Since the subject is "He" (third person singular), we use "goes."

- e. I ________ (read) this fantastic book now.
- Answer: I am reading this fantastic book now.
- Explanation: The Present Continuous tense is used to describe actions happening at the moment of speaking. Since the subject is "I" (first person singular), we use "am."

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Final Answers:

1.
- a. My mother does not like cooking.
- b. Today it is very cold.
- c. I always wake up at eight o'clock.
- d. Do you drink milk every day?
- e. Jack and John go to school by car.

2.
- a. Richard is having a shower now. He can’t come to the phone.
- b. Anna is not watching a film.
- c. Look, Michael is playing football over there. Let’s talk to him.
- d. Is the baby sleeping now?
- e. Look at all those people over there. I don’t know what is happening.

3.
- a. I listen to music every day.
- b. Look, Silvia is crying. Let’s see what’s wrong.
- c. That Maths exercise that you are doing looks very difficult.
- d. He usually goes jogging on Sundays.
- e. I am reading this fantastic book now.

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Final Answer Box:

\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
1. \text{a. does not like, b. is, c. wake, d. Do you drink, e. go} \\
2. \text{a. is having, b. is not watching, c. is playing, d. Is the baby sleeping, e. is happening} \\
3. \text{a. listen, b. is crying, c. are doing, d. goes, e. am reading}
\end{array}
}