Present Simple vs. Present Continuous – English Grammar Exercises for A1

1  (C) works

• Why it’s correct: “Usually” indicates a habit or regular schedule. Since “Mr. Davis” is a 3rd person singular subject, we add “-s” to the verb.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “is working” (Common Mistake – wrong tense for a permanent routine). (A) “work” (Structural Error – missing the “-s”). (D) “does” (Strong Distractor – wrong meaning; we don’t say “does in his office”).

2  (A) is having

• Why it’s correct: “Right now” shows an action happening at the moment of speaking. “Have a meeting” is an action phrase, so it can be used in the continuous form.
• Analysis of mistakes: (C) “has” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (B) “having” (Structural Error – missing the “is” auxiliary verb). (D) “is making” (Strong Distractor – wrong collocation; English speakers say “have a meeting”, not “make a meeting”).

3  (B) answers

• Why it’s correct: “Always” points to a regular habit. The Present Simple is required.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “is answering” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (C) “answer” (Structural Error – missing “-s”). (D) “speaks” (Strong Distractor – wrong collocation; you “answer phone calls”, you don’t “speak” them).

4  (D) is talking

• Why it’s correct: “At the moment” indicates the action taking up the boss’s time right now.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “talks” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (B) “is talk” (Structural Error – missing “-ing”). (C) “is telling” (Strong Distractor – wrong structure; “tell” does not take the preposition “to” in this context).

5  (A) finishes

• Why it’s correct: “Normally” indicates a routine. Verbs ending in “-sh” take “-es” for 3rd person singular subjects.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “is finishing” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (D) “finish” (Structural Error – missing “-es”). (C) “stops” (Strong Distractor – “finish a meeting” is much more natural than “stop a meeting”).

6  (A) is driving

• Why it’s correct: The action is happening right now, preventing him from taking the call.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “drives” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (D) “is drive” (Structural Error – missing “-ing”). (C) “is riding” (Strong Distractor – you “drive” a car, you “ride” a bicycle or motorcycle).

7  (D) checks

• Why it’s correct: “Usually… in the morning” describes a daily habit.
• Analysis of mistakes: (C) “is checking” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (B) “check” (Structural Error – missing “-s”). (A) “looks” (Strong Distractor – requires the preposition “at” to mean “reviewing/reading”).

8  (B) is he doing

• Why it’s correct: Asking about an action happening “right now.” You must invert the auxiliary verb “is” and the subject “he”.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “does he do” (Common Mistake – this asks about someone’s general job/profession, which doesn’t fit the context). (C) “he is doing” (Structural Error – statement word order, not question word order). (D) “is he making” (Strong Distractor – wrong vocabulary; we ask “what are you doing?”).

9  (C) am looking

• Why it’s correct: You are actively searching for his schedule “right now”. The verb phrase “look for” takes the continuous form.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “look” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (D) “looking” (Structural Error – missing “am”). (B) “am seeing” (Strong Distractor – “see” is a state verb of perception and shouldn’t be continuous; actively searching requires “look for”).

10  (D) takes

• Why it’s correct: A scheduled break (“usually… at 10:00 AM”) requires the Present Simple.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “is taking” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (B) “take” (Structural Error – missing “-s”). (C) “does” (Strong Distractor – wrong collocation; English uses “take a break”, not “do a break”).

11  (A) is drinking

• Why it’s correct: Emphasizes the action happening “right now.”
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “drinks” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (D) “is drink” (Structural Error – missing “-ing”). (C) “eats” (Strong Distractor – wrong vocabulary; you “drink” or “have” coffee, you don’t “eat” it).

12  (B) is preparing

• Why it’s correct: The boss is busy getting a presentation ready “at the moment.”
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “prepares” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (C) “preparing” (Structural Error – missing “is”). (D) “is doing” (Strong Distractor – “prepare a presentation” is the accurate, professional collocation).

13  (D) Does he have

• Why it’s correct: Asking about possession (having free time). “Have” indicating possession is a State Verb and must be used in the Present Simple.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “Is he having” (Common Mistake – incorrectly using the continuous form for a state verb). (A) “Does he has” (Structural Error – you cannot use “-s” on the main verb when the auxiliary “does” is already present). (C) “Has he” (Structural Error – missing the auxiliary verb “does”).

14  (C) doesn’t receive

• Why it’s correct: “Usually” indicates a routine. The negative form for a 3rd person singular subject requires “doesn’t”.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “isn’t receiving” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (D) “not receive” (Structural Error – missing the auxiliary verb). (B) “don’t receive” (Structural Error – wrong auxiliary for “the manager”).

15  (C) needs

• Why it’s correct: “Need” is a State Verb. It must ALWAYS be in the Present Simple, even if the need is urgent and happening “immediately”.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “is needing” (Common Mistake – incorrectly adding “-ing” to a state verb). (B) “need” (Structural Error – missing “-s”). (D) “is wanting” (Strong Distractor – also violates the state verb rule).

16  (B) believe

• Why it’s correct: “Believe” (expressing an opinion or thought) is a State Verb. It remains in the Present Simple.
• Analysis of mistakes: (C) “am believing” (Common Mistake – incorrectly using a state verb in continuous form). (A) “believes” (Structural Error – wrong verb agreement for “I”). (D) “am thinking” (Strong Distractor – “think” used for opinions is also a state verb and shouldn’t be continuous here).

17  (A) is speaking

• Why it’s correct: “Listen!” is a context clue that the action is happening at the exact moment of speaking. “Speak to” is the correct phrase.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “speaks” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (C) “speaking” (Structural Error – missing “is”). (D) “is telling” (Strong Distractor – “tell” does not take the preposition “to” in this sentence structure).

18  (D) is reading

• Why it’s correct: The action of reviewing/reading the document is happening “right now”.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “reads” (Common Mistake – wrong tense). (C) “is read” (Structural Error – incorrect structure). (A) “is seeing” (Strong Distractor – “see” is a state verb and shouldn’t be continuous; furthermore, we “read” a proposal, we don’t “see” it).

19  (C) is he leaving

• Why it’s correct: Asking about a temporary exception to his normal routine (“so early today”). A temporary change requires the Present Continuous.
• Analysis of mistakes: (A) “does he leave” (Common Mistake – asking about a habit, which doesn’t fit the word “today”). (B) “he is leaving” (Structural Error – statement word order, not a question). (D) “leaves he” (Structural Error – completely incorrect question structure).

20  (A) know

• Why it’s correct: “Know” (cognition) is a pure State Verb. It must be used in the Present Simple.
• Analysis of mistakes: (B) “am knowing” (Common Mistake – incorrectly adding “-ing” to a state verb). (C) “knows” (Structural Error – wrong verb agreement for “I”). (D) “am understanding” (Strong Distractor – “understand” is also a state verb and cannot be used in the continuous form).

When talking to clients on the phone to explain why your boss cannot answer, remember these 3 golden rules:

1 Show Professionalism with the Present Simple

• Purpose: To reassure the client that the boss is working and has a reliable schedule.
• Keywords: usually, normally, always, every day.
• Example: He normally takes calls in the morning. (This shows he is reliable and has a routine).

2 Explain the Barrier with the Present Continuous

• Purpose: To give a valid, temporary reason why he cannot come to the phone right now.
• Keywords: right now, at the moment, listen!, today (for exceptions).
• Example: But right now, he is having a meeting. (This is the temporary action blocking the call).

3 The “State Verbs” Trap!

• Even if the boss is acting urgently right now, verbs of emotion, possession, and cognition (think, need, believe, know, want) NEVER take an “-ing” ending.
• Correct: He needs the report. I believe he is busy.
• Incorrect: He is needing the report. I am believing he is busy.
  (Note: Phrases like “have a meeting” or “have a break” are active events, not possession. Therefore, saying “is having” is perfectly correct!).