Present Simple or Present Continuous

Choose the correct form (Present Simple or Present Continuous) to complete these sentences.

When do we use each tense?

Present Tense: Explanation, Rules & Examples

Use it for routines, facts, permanent situations, timetables and stative verbs.
She takes the bus every day.
The train leaves at 7:30.

Tip: Watch for clues such as usually, every morning, most evenings.

Rule 1: Add –s to the verb. (Most verbs)

Examples:
• work → works (He works in an office.)
• read → reads (She reads a book.)

Rule 2: Add –es when the verb ends with o, ch, sh, s, x.

Examples:
• go → goes (He goes to school.)
• watch → watches (She watches TV.)
• wash → washes (She washes the dishes every evening.)
• pass → passes (He passes the ball to his teammate.)
• fix → fixes (He fixes the broken chair in the living room.)

What is a Vowel and a Consonant? (This is important for Rule 3.)

Vowels are a, e, i, o, u.
Consonants are all letters other than vowels.

Rule 3: If the verb ends in consonant + y, remove –y and add –ies.

Examples:
• study → studies (He studies English.)
• carry → carries (The waiter carries the dishes carefully.)
• try → tries (She tries new recipes on weekends.)

But (Important Note): If the verb ends in vowel + y, just add –s.

Examples:
• play → plays
• enjoy → enjoys

Present Continuous: Explanation, Rules & Examples

Use it for actions happening now and temporary situations around the present time.
Look! They are playing.
She is taking a taxi this week.

Tip: Watch for clues such as now, look!, today, this week.

1. Use the subject to decide am / is / are:
I → am
He / She / It and one person / one thing (cat, dog, student) → is
You / We / They / Plural nouns (cats, dogs, students) → are

2. Use the -ing form of the main verb.
After am / is / are, always use verb + ing.
Example: They are playing.

Verb Spelling Rules When Adding -ing

Rule 1: Most verbs → add -ing
play → playing
read → reading

Rule 2: Verb ends in -e → remove -e, add -ing
write → writing
make → making
take → taking

Rule 3: Double the final consonant only when the verb ends with one vowel + one consonant AND the vowel sound is short.

Examples:
• sit → sitting (short vowel)
• run → running (short vowel)
• stop → stopping (short vowel)

NOTE: No doubling the final consonant:
• eat → eating (long vowel sound)
• read → reading (long vowel sound)

Rule 4: Verb ends in -ie → change -ie to -y
lie → lying
die → dying

Rule 5: Verb ends in -y → just add -ing
carry → carrying
play → playing
obey → obeying
enjoy → enjoying

Use present simple for routines, facts, timetables and stative verbs: She takes the bus every day. Use present continuous for actions happening now and temporary situations: Look! They are playing.