PRESENT CONTINUOUS (BE + -ING) vs PRESENT SIMPLE

	PRESENT (BE + -ING)	PRESENT SIMPLE
Main use	Action which is being done at the same moment	Permanent situations; regular habits and daily routine; feelings
Affirmative	AUXILIARY BE + verb ending in -ING eg: I am playing, you are playing, he/she/it is playing, we are playing, you are playing, they are playing	In the positive form, add an 's' to the base form of the 3rd person singular. eg : I play, you play, he/she/it plays, we play, you play, they play
Exceptions	1) If the verb ends in "-e", remove the "-e": smoke -> he is smoking 2) If the verb has one syllable AND if it ends in "consonant-vowel-consonant", double the final consonant: run -> running	1) If the verb ends in "ch", "s", "sh", "x", "z", "o", add "-es" to the base forme of the 3rd p sg: she goes, he catches 2) If the verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change the "-y" to "-ies": study -> he studies.
Negative	Use NOT eg: I am not playing	Use DO NOT / DON'T or DOES NOT / DOESN'T (3rd p sg) eg: I don't play, she doesn't play
Questions	Auxiliary BE at the beginning of the question eg: Are you playing football?	Auxiliary DO or DOES at the beginning of the question eg: Do you play football? Does he play football?
Short answers	Use BE eg: Yes, I am. No, he isn't.	Use DO or DOES eg: Yes, I do. No, he doesn't.

TEST : Fill in the gaps with the verb (choose the correct present):

1. We _______________ (not/think) that you should buy this dress.
2. At the moment, he _______________ (learn) German for his job.
3. We usually _______________ (take) a taxi to go to work.
4. How often _______________ (you go) to the swimming-pool?
5. The cinema _______________ (close) at 7 pm.
6. Look! She _______________ TV.
7. Courses generally _______________ (begin) on the third of September.
8. When _______________ (he arrive) home in the evenings?
9. What _______________ (you/read) at the moment?
10. They _______________ (not/live) in Washington; they _______________ (live) in New York.
11. We usually _______________ (take) a taxi to go to work.
12. It _______________ (work). I think it's broken.
13. He _______________ (get up) early on Mondays.
14. I _______________ (not/believe) in witches.
15. The Sun's rays _______________ (take) eight minutes to reach the Earth.
16. They _______________ (study) at the moment.

ANSWERS

1. We don't think that you should buy this dress.
2. At the moment, he is learning German for his job.
3. We usually take a taxi to go to work.
4. How often do you go to the swimming-pool?
5. The cinema closes at 7 pm.
6. Look! She is watching TV.
7. Courses generally begin on the third of September.
8. When do you arrive home in the evenings?
9. What are you reading at the moment?
10. They don't live in Washington; they live in New York.
11. We usually take a taxi to go to work.
12. It is not working. I think it's broken.
13. He doesn't get up early on Mondays.
14. I don't believe in witches.
15. The Sun's rays take eight minutes to reach the Earth.
16. They are studying at the moment.