English Grammar Exercises for A2 – Contrast: present simple and present continuous

1. Complete the dialogues with the correct present simple form of the verbs in brackets.

1   A:   ………………………… (you / go) to the gym every day?

     B:   No, I ………………………… (not go) every day. I ………………………… (go) three times a week.

2   A:   ………………………… (Sam / study) at your school?

     B:   No, he ………………………… (not study) there. He ………………………… (study) at a private school.

3   A:   Does your mother ………………………… (teach) English?

     B:   Yes, she does. She also ………………………… (teach) French and Spanish. She ………………………… (be) very good at languages.

4   A:   ………………………… (your parents / work) in London?

     B:   No, they don’t. They both ………………………… (work) in Oxford.

5   A:   ………………………… (you / practise) much before you perform a new play?

     B:   Yes, we ………………………… (practise) for weeks before the first performance, and the director ………………………… (make) a lot of changes.

2. Complete the voice message with the correct present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

Hi Steve! It’s Sean. How are things? I hope you are well. 1………………………… (you / have) a good time in Hull? I 2………………………… (call) from my grandparents’ house in Cornwall. My sister and I 3………………………… (stay) here for a couple of weeks, and we 4………………………… (enjoy) it a lot. I 5………………………… (plan) to study for my exams later, but now I 6………………………… (relax). I’m not totally lazy, though – I 7………………………… (run) every morning. Jake and I 8………………………… (think) about spending a month in Spain. Would you like to go with us? Let me know! Well, the sun 9………………………… (shine) so I think I’ll go for a walk. Bye!

3. Match sentences a-f with the uses of the present tense (1-6).

a   I am leaving for London at 6 a.m. tomorrow.

b   The Earth goes around the sun.

c   I always play basketball on Saturdays.

d   They are spending a lot of time together these days.

e   I need some help with homework.

f   Look outside – it’s snowing!

4. Complete the sentences with the correct present simple or present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.

1   Josh ………………………… at least one point in every game he plays. (score)

2   I ………………………… that they will give Kate a place on the team. (believe)

3   Susan ………………………… to finish her homework today. (try)

4   My dad ………………………… Chinese food tonight. (cook)

5   My brother loves books. He ………………………… a book every week. (read)

6   I ………………………… all of my old Friends DVDs this week. (watch)

7   Sam ………………………… before 7 a.m., even on Sundays. (get up)

8   Look out of the window. A big storm …………………………! (come)

9   Lisa usually ………………………… video games when she gets home. (play)

10   I ………………………… what you’re saying, but I don’t agree with it. (understand)

5. Complete the email with the correct present simple or present continuous form of the verbs in brackets.