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Grammar explainer : Simple present or present continuous? And why?

 A new series of posts where we present a grammar activity and explain the correct answers.

Present simple or present continuous? Dad usually ______________________________________ (cook) dinner. I ________________________ (not do) anything at the moment. My parents ______________________________________ (go) to Italy every year. Peter ______________________________________ (not like) rap music. The moon ______________________________________ (go) round the earth. Be quiet. Jack __________________________________ (sleep). She _____________________________________(talk) to Pete at the moment. She _____________________________________ (wear) a dress today.

Answers

1. Dad usually cooks dinner. Correct use: simple present tense is used to express a habitual action or routine.

2. I am not doing anything at the moment. Correct use: present continuous tense is used to describe an action in progress or a temporary situation.

3. My parents go to Italy every year. Correct use: simple present tense is used to express a habitual action or routine.

4. Peter does not like rap music. Correct use: simple present tense is used to express a general opinion or belief.

5. The moon goes round the earth. Correct use: simple present tense is used to express a fact or a general truth.

6. Be quiet. Jack is sleeping. Correct use: present continuous tense is used to describe an action in progress or a temporary situation.

7. She is talking to Pete at the moment. Correct use: present continuous tense is used to describe an action in progress or a temporary situation.

8. She is wearing a dress today. Correct use: present continuous tense is used to describe an action in progress or a temporary situation, in this case, to describe what she is currently wearing.

Justification: The first rule to determine whether to use present simple or present continuous tense is to consider the context and the intended meaning of the sentence. For example, if the sentence describes a habitual action or routine, we use the simple present tense, while if it describes an action in progress or a temporary situation, we use the present continuous tense. Similarly, we use the simple present tense to express general opinions, beliefs, facts or general truths.