Present Simple and Present Continuous – Summary Practice Tests with B1 Grammar Rules & Examples

Present Simple and Present Continuous – Summary

The present simple and the present continuous are two of the most important tenses in English. At B1 level, it is essential to understand not just how to form them, but also when and why we use each one. This lesson is a complete summary of both tenses — their forms, their uses, and the key differences between them.

Let's start with a quick example to show the difference:

"Maria works in a hospital. She is working in the emergency ward today."

Both sentences are about Maria and the present, but they tell us something different. Read on to find out exactly why!

Part 1: Present Simple – Form

We use the present simple to talk about things that are generally true, habits, routines, and facts.

Positive Sentences

For most subjects, we use the base form of the verb. For he / she / it, we add -s or -es to the verb.

Subject	Verb Form	Example
I	base form	I work every day.
You	base form	You play football.
He / She / It	base form + -s / -es	She works hard. He watches TV.
We	base form	We live in London.
They	base form	They study English.

Spelling Rules for He / She / It

• Most verbs: add -s → work → works, play → plays
• Verbs ending in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o: add -es → watch → watches, go → goes
• Verbs ending in consonant + y: change y → ies → study → studies, carry → carries
• Verbs ending in vowel + y: just add -s → play → plays, enjoy → enjoys

Negative Sentences

Use do not (don't) or does not (doesn't) + the base form of the verb.

Subject	Negative Form	Example
I / You / We / They	don't + base verb	I don't like coffee.
He / She / It	doesn't + base verb	She doesn't work on Sundays.

Questions

Use Do or Does at the beginning of the question, followed by the subject and the base verb.

Subject	Question Form	Example
I / You / We / They	Do + subject + base verb?	Do you live near here?
He / She / It	Does + subject + base verb?	Does he play tennis?

Part 2: Present Simple – When Do We Use It?

Here are the main situations where we use the present simple:

1. Habits and Routines

Things we do regularly — every day, every week, often, never, etc.

"I get up at seven o'clock every morning."
"She goes to the gym three times a week."

2. General Truths and Facts

Things that are always or generally true.

"Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius."
"The sun rises in the east."

3. Permanent Situations

Situations that are long-lasting or permanent (not expected to change soon).

"They live in Brazil."
"He works as an engineer."

4. Likes, Dislikes, and Opinions

We use the present simple with verbs like like, love, hate, prefer, think, believe.

"I love Italian food."
"She doesn't like loud music."

Common Time Expressions with Present Simple

• always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never
• every day / every week / every morning
• on Mondays / at weekends / in the morning
• twice a week / once a month

Part 3: Present Continuous – Form

We use the present continuous to talk about things happening now, around now, or temporary situations.

The present continuous is formed with: subject + am / is / are + verb-ing

Positive Sentences

Subject	Form	Example
I	am + verb-ing	I am working now.
You	are + verb-ing	You are studying hard.
He / She / It	is + verb-ing	She is watching a film.
We	are + verb-ing	We are learning English.
They	are + verb-ing	They are playing in the garden.

Spelling Rules for -ing

• Most verbs: just add -ing → work → working, play → playing
• Verbs ending in a single vowel + consonant (short vowel sound): double the consonant → run → running, sit → sitting, swim → swimming
• Verbs ending in -e: remove the -e and add -ing → make → making, write → writing
• Verbs ending in -ie: change ie → y and add -ing → lie → lying, die → dying

Negative Sentences

Use am not / isn't / aren't + verb-ing.

Subject	Negative Form	Example
I	am not + verb-ing	I am not working now.
You / We / They	aren't + verb-ing	They aren't listening.
He / She / It	isn't + verb-ing	He isn't coming tonight.

Questions

Move am / is / are to the beginning of the question.

Subject	Question Form	Example
I	Am I + verb-ing?	Am I doing this correctly?
You / We / They	Are + subject + verb-ing?	Are you coming with us?
He / She / It	Is + subject + verb-ing?	Is she working late?

Part 4: Present Continuous – When Do We Use It?

Here are the main situations where we use the present continuous:

1. Things Happening Right Now

Actions that are in progress at this exact moment.

"She is talking on the phone."
"It is raining outside."

2. Temporary Situations

Situations that are happening around now but are not permanent.

"I am staying with my cousin this week."
"He is working from home at the moment."

3. Changing or Developing Situations

Situations that are in the process of changing.

"Prices are rising quickly."
"More people are using electric cars."

4. Fixed Future Plans and Arrangements

At B1 level, we also use the present continuous for personal arrangements in the near future.

"We are meeting Tom for dinner tonight."
"She is flying to Paris on Friday."

Common Time Expressions with Present Continuous

• now, right now, at the moment
• currently, today, this week, this month, this year
• at present, still
• tonight, on Friday (for future arrangements)
• Look! Listen! (to draw attention to something happening now)

Key Differences: Present Simple vs Present Continuous

This is the most important section! Both tenses refer to the present, but they have different meanings. Study the table carefully.

Present Simple	Present Continuous
Habits and routines	Actions happening right now
General truths and facts	Temporary situations
Permanent situations	Changing or developing situations
Likes, dislikes, opinions	Fixed personal arrangements (future)
"She works in a school."	"She is working from home this week."
"I usually walk to work."	"I am taking the bus today."
"He plays football every Saturday."	"He is playing football right now."

Stative Verbs – An Important Special Case

Some verbs in English are called stative verbs (also called state verbs). These verbs describe a state or condition — not an action. We do not normally use stative verbs in the continuous form, even when talking about right now.

Common stative verbs include:

• Feelings and emotions: like, love, hate, prefer, want, need, fear
• Mental states: know, believe, think (= have an opinion), understand, remember, forget
• Senses: see, hear, smell, taste, seem, appear
• Possession: have (= own), own, belong, possess
• Other states: be, contain, depend, include, mean

Examples:

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

❌ She is wanting a new job.
✅ She wants a new job.

❌ He is having a car.
✅ He has a car.

Be Careful! Some Verbs Can Be Both

A few verbs can be stative or active depending on the meaning:

Verb	Stative Use (Present Simple)	Active Use (Present Continuous)
have	"I have a sister." (= own/possess)	"I am having lunch." (= eating)
think	"I think it's a good idea." (= believe/opinion)	"She is thinking about the problem." (= considering)
see	"I see a bird in the garden." (= perceive)	"I am seeing my dentist tomorrow." (= meeting)
smell	"The flowers smell beautiful." (= have a smell)	"She is smelling the flowers." (= sniffing)

Comparing Meanings: Side-by-Side Examples

Here are more examples to help you see the contrast clearly in real contexts.

Context	Present Simple	Present Continuous
Job / Work	"Lucas works in a bank."	"Lucas is working overtime this week."
Language	"She speaks French."	"She is learning German at the moment."
Transport	"I drive to work."	"Today I am taking the train."
Living	"They live in Manchester."	"They are staying in a hotel this week."
Reading	"He reads before bed."	"He is reading a great book right now."

Common Mistakes

These are the most common errors learners make with the present simple and present continuous. Check you don't make these mistakes!

Mistake 1: Using continuous with stative verbs

❌ I am knowing your teacher.
✅ I know your teacher.

❌ She is preferring tea to coffee.
✅ She prefers tea to coffee.

Mistake 2: Forgetting the -s with he / she / it in present simple

❌ He work in a restaurant.
✅ He works in a restaurant.

❌ She study every evening.
✅ She studies every evening.

Mistake 3: Using present simple for temporary situations

❌ I stay with my friend this month.
✅ I am staying with my friend this month.

❌ He works from home today (as a temporary situation).
✅ He is working from home today.

Mistake 4: Forgetting the auxiliary verb (am / is / are)

❌ She working right now.
✅ She is working right now.

❌ They playing football at the moment.
✅ They are playing football at the moment.

Mistake 5: Using present continuous with frequency adverbs

❌ I am usually taking the bus.
✅ I usually take the bus.

❌ She is never eating meat.
✅ She never eats meat.

Mistake 6: Using don't / doesn't with is / am / are

❌ She doesn't working today.
✅ She isn't working today.

❌ They don't playing right now.
✅ They aren't playing right now.

Contractions

In spoken and informal written English, we often use contractions. Here are the most common ones for both tenses:

Present Continuous Contractions

Full Form	Contraction	Example
I am working	I'm working	I'm working from home today.
She is reading	She's reading	She's reading a novel.
They are coming	They're coming	They're coming to the party.
He is not sleeping	He isn't sleeping	He isn't sleeping well.
We are not leaving	We aren't leaving	We aren't leaving yet.

Present Simple Contractions (Negatives)

Full Form	Contraction	Example
I do not like	I don't like	I don't like spicy food.
She does not work	She doesn't work	She doesn't work on Fridays.
They do not understand	They don't understand	They don't understand the question.

Present Simple and Present Continuous: Quick Summary

Present Simple – Use it for:

• Habits and routines ("I get up at 7am.")
• General truths and facts ("The earth moves around the sun.")
• Permanent situations ("She lives in Spain.")
• Likes, dislikes and opinions ("He loves jazz music.")
• Signal words: always, usually, often, sometimes, never, every day, on Mondays

Present Continuous – Use it for:

• Actions happening right now ("I am writing an email.")
• Temporary situations ("She is living with her parents at the moment.")
• Changing situations ("The weather is getting warmer.")
• Fixed future arrangements ("We are meeting tomorrow.")
• Signal words: now, right now, at the moment, currently, today, this week, still

Remember:

• Do not use stative verbs (like, want, know, understand, have = own) in the continuous form.
• Do not use frequency adverbs (always, usually, never) with the present continuous.
• He / She / It needs -s or -es in the present simple.
• All continuous forms need am / is / are + verb-ing.

Now practise present simple and present continuous in the exercises below.