Present Simple or Present Continuous

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

How do I know when to  use the

 present simple or

 present continuous?

Learning objective

After this lesson you:

• can use the present simple and continuous correctly.

Messi is playing football.
(right now)

Messi plays football.
(but NOT at the moment)

1. I like scary movies.

2. He is walking the dog.

3. We are dancing all night long.

4. She plays the piano.

5. They are my parents.

Present Simple

Present Continuous

1

2

3

4

5

Present simple or present continuous?

Wanneer je het hebt over iets wat nu, op dit moment, aan het gebeuren is gebruik je de

1. present simple
2. present continuous

Present Simple

signal words

Present Continuous

signal words

Never

Now

Listen!

At the moment

Often

Every day

Sometimes

Mrs. Jones (to drink) ... tea every Sunday.

1. drinks
2. drink
3. is drinking
4. am drinking

Now she (to drink) ... hot chocolate.

1. drink
2. drinks
3. is drinking
4. am drinking

Susan (to play)... a nice song on the piano.

1. play
2. plays
3. is playing
4. are playing

He (to play)... the guitar in a band every Friday.

1. play
2. plays
3. is playing
4. am playing

We always (to eat) ... chicken on Monday.

1. eat
2. eats
3. are eating
4. is eating

We use the ______ for something that always or regularly happens.

1. Present simple
2. Present continuous
3. Past simple
4. Past continuous

Choose the right answer: present simple or present continuous.

Janey ... cats.

1. loves
2. is loving

signaalwoorden

Wanneer je deze woorden ziet, weet je meteen bij welke tense ze horen. Belangrijke tip!

Present simple vs present continuous

SIMPLE!

Hoe? Verb

He, she, it? Verb + S

Use: gewoonte, routine,

vaak of juist nooit

In combinatie met always,

often, never, every day/week

CONTINUOUS

Hoe? To be + verb+ ING

Use: als iets NU bezig is en nog even duurt

In combinatie met: now, right now, at this moment

Present simple vs present continuous

SIMPLE!

I work every day

She never eats pizza

CONTINUOUS

I am working today

She is eating spaghetti right now

Well, maybe not today but certainly this week.  
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