Grammar Lessons (Verb Tenses): Simple Present and Present Continuous

SUMMARY

ENGLISH	FRENCH
Present tense: I work during weekdays.	Je travaille en semaine.
Present continuous: I am working (at the moment).	Je travaille en ce moment. Je suis en train de travailler.

I. SIMPLE PRESENT (examples: eats, plays)
Used when talking about regular routine and current facts.

A. REGULAR ROUTINE: I have oatmeal with fruits and a cup of black coffee every morning.
What do you usually do every day?

(Negative) I do not take the bus to work every day. à What don’t you do regularly?

B. FACT: Many French people love to eat cheese.
(Negative) This company does not have many employees.

II. PRESENT CONTINUOUS [IS/AM/ARE + ING] (Examples= is eating, are playing)
Used when talking about situations or activities happening now (as we speak)
- I am studying with you.
- It is raining.

Negative: I am not eating now.
Negative: It is not snowing at the moment.
What are you doing at the moment?

SIMPLE PRESENT	PRESENT CONTINUOUS
I send e-mails to our clients every day	I am sending some emails now so I am busy.
TIME MARKERS: Every day, every Tuesday, these days, nowadays, daily, weekly, etc.	TIME MARKERS: Now, right now, at the moment

Exercise (Multiple Choices):
Simple present tense and present continuous (is/am/are + ing)

1. Every Monday, Susan _____ her kids to basketball practice.

A. drives
B. drive
C. is driving
D. are driving

2. Usually, I [a] work [b] works [c] is working [d] am working as a secretary at ABT, but this summer I [a] studies [b] study [c] is studying [d] am studying French at a language school in Paris. That is why I am in Paris.

3. Shhhhh! Be quiet! John _____
A. sleep
B. sleeps
C. is sleeping
D. are sleeping

4. Don't forget to take your umbrella. It ____

A. rain
B. rains
C. are raining
D. is raining

5. I hate living in Seattle because it always _____

A. rain
B. rains
C. is raining
D. are raining

-Answers are below the picture

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ANSWERS

(1) A, (2) A, D, (3) C, (4) D, and (5) B.

A