Present Simple vs Present Continuous

Present Simple is for habits, routines, and permanent facts. Present Continuous is for actions happening right now, or temporary situations. Time words like usually, every day, and always point to Present Simple; right now, at the moment, and these days point to Present Continuous.

Review: Present Simple · Present Continuous

Practice sentences

1. Water ___ (boil) at 100°C. (boils / is boiling / boil)

   A permanent scientific fact — Present Simple.

2. Look! It ___ (rain) outside. (is raining / rains / rain)

   Happening right now — Present Continuous, signaled by "Look!"

3. I usually ___ (have) coffee in the morning. (have / am having / has)

   A daily routine — Present Simple, signaled by "usually".

4. She ___ (study) for her exam right now. (is studying / studies / study)

   In progress at this moment — Present Continuous, signaled by "right now".

5. He ___ (work) at a bank every weekday. (works / is working / work)

   A permanent fact about his job — Present Simple.

6. They ___ (stay) with relatives while their house is being repaired. (are staying / stay / stays)

   A temporary situation — Present Continuous, even with no obvious time marker.

7. The sun ___ (rise) in the east. (rises / is rising / rise)

   A permanent natural fact — Present Simple.

8. I ___ (not/understand) this sentence at the moment. (don't understand / am not understanding / doesn't understand)

   Understand is a state verb — even with "at the moment", state verbs stay in Present Simple.

9. We ___ (meet) my parents for dinner this evening. (are meeting / meet / meets)

   A fixed future arrangement — Present Continuous, common for planned events.

10. Cats ___ (be) independent animals. (are / is / am)

    A general truth about a category — Present Simple.