Simple and continuous tenses exercise

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate simple or continuous tense.
Use the simple present tense to talk about habitual actions, facts and general truths. Use the present continuous tense to talk about situations that are going on at the moment of speaking.

1. He ……………….. with his brother’s family.

a) stays
b) is staying

2. The kettle …………….

a) boils
b) is boiling

3. It ………………..

a) rains
b) is raining

4. She ………………… for the guests to arrive.

a) waits
b) is waiting

5. Birds ………………. in trees.

a) live
b) are living

6. Carpenters ……………….. furniture.

a) make
b) are making

7. Plants ……………. oxygen and ………….. carbon dioxide.

a) release, absorb
b) are releasing, are absorbing

8. The teacher …………… the lessons.

a) revises
b) is revising

9. I ……………….. for my exams.

a) prepare
b) am preparing

10. She ………………. for the results.

a) waits
b) is waiting

Answers

1. He stays with his brother’s family.

2. The kettle is boiling.

3. It is raining.

4. She is waiting for the guests to arrive.

5. Birds live in trees.

6. Carpenters make furniture.

7. Plants release oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide.

8. The teacher is revising the lessons.

9. I am preparing for my exams.

10. She is waiting for the results.