Present Continuous, Be Going To or Present Simple Practice Tests with A2 Grammar Rules & Examples

Present Continuous, Be Going To or Present Simple

When do we use Present Continuous, be going to, or Present Simple? These three forms can all talk about the present or the future, but we use them in different situations. In this lesson, we will learn exactly when to use each one — with simple stories, clear rules, and helpful tables.

Let's meet Sam and Lisa. They are friends. We will use their lives to understand the three forms.

What Are These Three Forms?

Before we look at the rules, let's see a quick example of each form:

• Present Continuous: Sam is eating lunch right now.
• Be Going To: Lisa is going to visit her grandmother tomorrow.
• Present Simple: The train leaves at 8 o'clock every morning.

Each sentence has a different meaning. Don't worry — we will explain everything step by step!

Form 1: Present Continuous

What is the Present Continuous?

We use the Present Continuous to talk about something that is happening right now, at this moment. It is also used for something that is happening around this time (this week, these days), even if not at the exact second of speaking.

Think of Sam. It is 1 o'clock in the afternoon. Sam is sitting at a table with a sandwich. You ask: "What is Sam doing?" The answer is:

Sam is eating a sandwich.

The action is happening NOW. This is the Present Continuous.

How Do We Form the Present Continuous?

Subject + am / is / are + verb-ing

I am working.
You are working.
He / She / It is working.
We / You / They are working.

Subject	Form	Example
I	am + verb-ing	I am reading a book.
You	are + verb-ing	You are studying English.
He / She / It	is + verb-ing	She is cooking dinner.
We / You / They	are + verb-ing	They are playing football.

When Do We Use the Present Continuous?

1. Actions happening right now (at this moment):

Lisa is talking on the phone. (She is on the phone at this exact moment.)

2. Actions happening around now (but maybe not at this exact second):

Sam is learning to drive this month. (He has lessons this month, not necessarily right now.)

3. Future arrangements — a plan that is already organised:

Lisa is meeting her friend on Saturday. (She has already arranged this — for example, she has sent a message and her friend agreed.)

Time Words Often Used with Present Continuous

• right now
• at the moment
• now
• today
• this week / this month / this year
• tonight (when it is a fixed arrangement)

Form 2: Be Going To

What is Be Going To?

We use be going to to talk about plans and intentions — things we have decided to do in the future. We have already thought about them. We also use be going to when we can see something is about to happen because of what we see right now.

Think of Lisa. She looked at her calendar last week. She wrote: "Visit Grandma – Sunday." She has made a decision. Now she says:

I am going to visit my grandmother on Sunday.

This is a plan she decided before. This is be going to.

How Do We Form Be Going To?

Subject + am / is / are + going to + verb (base form)

I am going to travel.
You are going to travel.
He / She / It is going to travel.
We / You / They are going to travel.

Subject	Form	Example
I	am going to + verb	I am going to buy a new phone.
You	are going to + verb	You are going to love this film.
He / She / It	is going to + verb	He is going to start a new job.
We / You / They	are going to + verb	They are going to move to London.

When Do We Use Be Going To?

1. A plan or intention (a decision made before now):

Sam is going to study medicine at university. (He has already decided this.)

2. A prediction based on what we can see (evidence):

Look at those dark clouds! It is going to rain. (We can see the clouds — this is the evidence.)

Be careful! You are going to drop that glass! (I can see the glass is almost falling.)

Time Words Often Used with Be Going To

• tomorrow
• next week / next month / next year
• soon
• in the future
• this weekend (when it is a personal plan)

Form 3: Present Simple

What is the Present Simple?

We use the Present Simple to talk about things that are always true, habits, and routines. We also use it for fixed timetables and schedules — for example, transport, cinema times, or lesson times.

Think of Sam's morning routine. Every day:

• He wakes up at 7 a.m.
• He has breakfast.
• He catches the 8 o'clock train.

These things happen every day. This is the Present Simple.

Sam catches the 8 o'clock train every morning.

How Do We Form the Present Simple?

Subject + verb (base form) — Add -s or -es for he / she / it

I work.
You work.
He / She / It works.
We / You / They work.

Subject	Form	Example
I	verb (base form)	I start work at 9 a.m.
You	verb (base form)	You finish at 5 p.m.
He / She / It	verb + -s / -es	The film starts at 7 o'clock.
We / You / They	verb (base form)	Trains leave every hour.

When Do We Use the Present Simple?

1. Habits and routines:

Lisa goes to the gym every Monday. (This is her regular habit.)

2. Facts and things that are always true:

Water boils at 100 degrees. (This is always true.)

3. Fixed timetables and schedules (for transport, cinema, events, etc.):

The next bus leaves at half past four. (This is the official timetable.)

The concert starts at 8 p.m. (This is a scheduled event time.)

Time Words Often Used with Present Simple

• every day / every week / every morning
• always / usually / often / sometimes / never
• on Mondays / on weekends
• at (a specific time) — e.g. at 8 o'clock
• in the morning / in the evening

Comparing All Three Forms

Here is a helpful table to see all three forms side by side:

Form	When to Use It	Example
Present Continuous	Action happening NOW or around now; future arrangement (already organised)	Sam is studying at the moment. / We are having a party on Friday.
Be Going To	Future plan / intention (decided before now); prediction with evidence	Lisa is going to learn Spanish next year. / It is going to rain.
Present Simple	Habit / routine; fact; fixed timetable or schedule	Sam drinks coffee every morning. / The train leaves at 9.

Important Differences and Special Cases

Present Continuous vs Be Going To (Future Plans)

Both of these can talk about the future. The difference is small but important at A2 level:

Present Continuous is used for a future arrangement that has been organised with another person — like a meeting or appointment.

I am seeing the doctor at 3 p.m. (I have an appointment. It is in the calendar.)

Be Going To is used for a personal plan or intention — you have decided to do something, but it may not yet be arranged with someone else.

I am going to eat more vegetables. (I have decided this. It is my intention.)

Good news: In everyday English, especially at A2 level, both forms are often accepted for future plans. Focus on the main differences first!

Be Going To vs Present Simple (for the Future)

Use Present Simple for schedules and timetables — official times that don't change:

The shop opens at 9 a.m. (This is the official opening time.)

Use be going to for personal plans and decisions:

I am going to go to the shop at 9 a.m. (This is my plan.)

Stative Verbs — Important!

Some verbs are called stative verbs. This means they describe a state (a feeling or a situation), not an action. We do not usually use these verbs in the Present Continuous — we use the Present Simple instead.

Common stative verbs include: know, like, love, hate, want, need, believe, understand, seem, have (= possess).

❌ I am knowing the answer.
✅ I know the answer.

❌ She is wanting a coffee.
✅ She wants a coffee.

Common Mistakes

❌ I am going to visiting Paris next summer.
✅ I am going to visit Paris next summer. (After going to, use the base form of the verb — no -ing!)

❌ Look! He falls!
✅ Look! He is falling! (Something happening right now — use Present Continuous.)

❌ The train is leaving at 9 a.m. every day.
✅ The train leaves at 9 a.m. every day. (A regular timetable — use Present Simple.)

❌ I am loving chocolate ice cream.
✅ I love chocolate ice cream. (Love is a stative verb — use Present Simple.)

❌ Sam is go to study tomorrow.
✅ Sam is going to study tomorrow. (Don't forget going to — not just is go to.)

❌ She work at the moment.
✅ She is working at the moment. (Use am/is/are + verb-ing for actions happening now.)

Negative and Question Forms

Negatives

Present Continuous (negative):
Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + verb-ing
Sam isn't working right now. He is having lunch.

Be Going To (negative):
Subject + am not / isn't / aren't + going to + verb
I am not going to watch TV tonight. I am going to read.

Present Simple (negative):
Subject + don't / doesn't + verb
The bus doesn't leave until 10 o'clock.

Questions

Present Continuous (question):
Am / Is / Are + subject + verb-ing?
Is Lisa studying right now? Yes, she is.

Be Going To (question):
Am / Is / Are + subject + going to + verb?
Are you going to cook dinner tonight? No, I am not.

Present Simple (question):
Do / Does + subject + verb?
Does the film start at 8? Yes, it does.

Present Continuous, Be Going To or Present Simple: Quick Summary

Let's look at the key points from this lesson:

• Use Present Continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for actions happening now, around now, or for arranged future plans.
• Use Be Going To (am/is/are + going to + verb) for future intentions and plans you have already decided, and for predictions with evidence.
• Use Present Simple (verb / verb-s) for habits, routines, facts, and fixed timetables.
• After going to, always use the base form of the verb (no -ing!).
• Stative verbs (like know, love, want) are not used in the Present Continuous — use Present Simple instead.
• Look for time words — they can help you choose the right form!

Now practise Present Continuous, Be Going To and Present Simple in the exercises below.