Choose between a regular activity and an action happening around the moment of speaking.
The idea
Use the present simple for a routine or regular fact: I walk to work every day. Use the present continuous for an action in progress now: I am walking to work right now. The continuous can also describe temporary situations or arrangements, so time words help but do not decide every case.
Examples
- I walk to work every day.
- I am walking to work right now.
- She usually cooks at home.
- She is cooking dinner at the moment.
- They play tennis on Saturdays.
- They are playing tennis now.
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Watch out
Do not rely on a single time word without considering the meaning. Some verbs, such as know, are not normally used in the continuous for a state.
Try it yourself
Every Monday, I ___ to work. (walk / am walking)
Show answer or example answer
walk
walk presents the journey as a regular habit.
Look! She ___ dinner now. (cooks / is cooking)
Show answer or example answer
is cooking
is cooking presents the action in progress now.
On Saturdays, they usually ___ tennis. (play / are playing)
Show answer or example answer
play
play describes the usual Saturday activity.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Every Monday, I ___ to work. (walk / am walking)
Look! She ___ dinner now. (cooks / is cooking)
On Saturdays, they usually ___ tennis. (play / are playing)
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write two true sentences about the same activity: one about your usual routine and one describing a particular action in progress now.